From: steinr@msu.edu

Welcome to the ISP205 Lab comments page.
Please use this to ask questions, give comments, criticisms, compliments and to engage in a discussion with your lab mates.
I will read this page, answer questions and participate in discussions.
Bob Stein

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2001.09.04.11:58:15-EDT ,  From: perkins@pa.msu.edu

This is a test. Only a test.

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2001.09.17.14:32:21-EDT ,  From: ?

The Organization of the ISP 205l is aweful. The discussion that comes at the end of the lab is a huge waste of time for the majority of the class. Currently we have all checked our email, called people on our cell phones, and are still waiting, we have spent the last 20 minutes sitting here doing nothing. Most students in this class do not see the point of waiting for the discussion except for the fact that it is 25% of our grade. Is there any chance we can have this discussion at the beginning of class? I am going to urge my fellow students to also submit their complaints to hopefully change this class structure.

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2001.09.17.14:37:45-EDT ,  From: ?

Can you please change the discussion part of this course!!! At this point the class is all done except maybe 2 people. Some students have been sitting here for a half an hour. Students are checking their email, surfing the net, using cell phones. THis is a huge waste of time!!! Can we please have discussion at the beginning of class. It makes more sense, that is the way my other labs have worked in the past. This structure needs to change ASAP. Students hate this class because of the structure.

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2001.09.17.14:38:45-EDT ,  From: ?

I am a student in a section of ISP 205L that meets on Monday afternoons. While I am learning many things about the planets and the sky, I am disappointed in the overall structure in the course. The quiz and the lab are very useful parts of the class period, and I understand that; however, many students in this class get done with the lab very early in the three-hour block of time. Unfortunately, we are required to sit approximately one hour with idle time until the discussion begins. This time would be better used doing other things. Maybe we can move the discussion to the beginning of the class time?? Anything that would better utilize our time would be appreciated.

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2001.09.17.14:48:26-EDT ,  From: ?

I am enrolled in the 12:40-3:30 section of ISP 205, on monday afternoons. I am concerned about the fact that students wait anywhere from 15 to 45 mins. until the discussion session, just to find that the discussion session itself is only a competition to get a question answered as fast as possible, to go home as soon as possible. With only four discussion questions given out, how are we possibly supposed to have a beneficial discussion where we learn so much when 5 people or more will have to answer the same question. How interactive is that? I am also concerned with the lack of communication ability going on between the instructor of this course and the students. If we cannot understand eachother, we cannot learn from eachother! I was told by another instructor to simply 'talk slower'! Is this a fair solution to all involved? The communication barrier makes it difficult for the instructor to know our names and correctly mark them off at the end of a discussion period. Therefore, after we give our answer during discussion, we make a check mark by our own names. No matter what kind of comment is said, whether it be the same thing the ten people previous to you said, the instructor hands you the sheet to mark off your own name and you're free to go home. We are not advancing from this. My time at home, rather than sitting in class waiting for this type of discussion would be much more productive. I pose that we come into class each week with answers to our discussion questions written out, (since they are supposed to be handed out one week in advance). Upon completing the lab, we can individually, in pairs, whatever, speak to the instructor and go over any further questions we have regarding our discussion questions, which can also be handed in at that time and graded for decent participation. This current method will not survive the entire semester! It is not worth my time to sit here, sweating, waiting to have a discussion that is not advancing my learning in this class!

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2001.09.17.14:48:41-EDT ,  From: ?

while i understand that it is crtical for some students to use the entire class period for their lab, others get done at a much quicker pace. while this would normally not be a problem, because of the discussion it has created one. students now must sit for up to an hour and a half and wait for peole to finish their lab. at this time the students that are finished have nothing to do. while checking email and making phone calls is important, it does get boring after awhile. i would urge someone to look at the structure of this class and fix it to better accomodate the majority of the class. with better structure and organization, students will be more pleased, and inturn, get more out of their learning expierence.

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2001.09.17.14:50:49-EDT ,  From: ?

As a student of ISP205L I am very sad that a class that I looked forward to has become one that I dread. While I believe that the quizes and labs and useful, the main stutcture of this class that includes the discussion needs work. I understand the importance of discussion and what it was supposed to help with when established. However, while one or two students work on the lab the rest are bored and losing interest fast. I think that the idea of discussion can still be useful just the manner in which it is dealt with is disappointing. The only suggestion that is so far been offered is to bring other work to do after this class. This is unacceptable to me. I hope that this problem can be dealt with quickly and without having to be brought to a higher authority.

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2001.09.24.13:24:41-EDT ,  From: ?

This week we were able to do the disscussion at the beginning of class. This made the entire class period run so much smoother. Thank you for taking our opinions into consideration!

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2001.10.23.09:43:29-EDT ,  From: ?

I am in the 8 oclock class, and My time is still being wasted. I have been done with my lab for 10 minutes now, and it will probably be another 10 or so before we start the pointless discussion

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2001.10.25.15:19:10-EDT ,  From: ?

I don't mean to hurt her feelings, but our TA in the Thursday 3:00 class stutters. She is extremely difficult to understand. I was just wondering if anyone could help decipher her 'lectures.' Thanks.

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2001.11.20.12:59:01-EST ,  From: takacska@msu.edu

Are our grades up to date going to be posted any time soon? I'd really like to know where I'm at so I don't do the last lab if I don't have to. Please let us know.