History Department Response to Student Feedback
HSTY3699 - Public and Private: Britain 1700-1901 (2006)

Unit Coordinator: Dr. Cindy McCreery

I am both encouraged and inspired by the student feedback on HSTY 3699, Public and Private: Britain 1700-1901. While it was a small class, students provided relatively detailed responses on the USE survey forms which is very helpful as I consider how to improve the unit in the future. Students seemed to have enjoyed this unit greatly, and in particular appreciated the opportunity to develop intensive skills in locating and interpreting primary source material. We examined a wide range of primary source material: pamphlets, prints, paintings, newspaper articles etc., many of which were available via the web. Students found that engaging with this material proved useful not only for preparing their research essays but also for developing generic research skills. Students also commented positively on the relaxed and friendly nature of the class discussions. There were more mixed feelings about the length and weighting of the assessment. About half the class thought that the precis and essay worked well, while others wondered if it might be more useful to have an essay draft peer reviewed by classmates. I think that this is an excellent suggestion and plan to adopt it the next time I teach this or a similar unit of study. Overall this unit seems to have gone very well and I look forward to teaching it in the future.