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Survey Results



Course Survey Results


Nodar   Sitchinava   ICS311, Fall 2015

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Course: ICS 311 - Algorithms
Department:   Information& Computer Sciences Crn (Section):   79809 (002)    


1.   Class Level (pick one) - please note that by answering this question you could potentially jeopardize your anonymity

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Freshman (1)  Sophomore (2)  Junior (3)  Senior (4)  Grad (5)  Other (6) 
3.23 22 1.07   0(0%) 7(32%) 5(23%) 9(41%) 0(0%) 1(5%)
2.   Course - please note that by answering this question you could potentially jeopardize your anonymity

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Elective (1)  Required (2) 
2.0 22 0.0   0(0%) 22(100%)
3.   The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 23 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 23(100%)
4.   The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.57 23 0.73   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 7(30%) 15(65%)
5.   The instructor communicated effectively.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.57 23 0.73   0(0%) 0(0%) 3(13%) 4(17%) 16(70%)
6.   The instructor was consistently well-prepared and organized for class.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.74 23 0.69   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 3(13%) 19(83%)
7.   The instructor was accessible to students.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.52 23 0.67   0(0%) 0(0%) 2(9%) 7(30%) 14(61%)
8.   I gained a good understanding of concepts/principles in this field.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.61 23 0.58   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 7(30%) 15(65%)
9.   I deepened my interest in the subject matter of this course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.26 23 0.96   0(0%) 2(9%) 2(9%) 7(30%) 12(52%)
10.   I felt that this course challenged me intellectually.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.78 23 0.52   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 3(13%) 19(83%)
11.   I have become more competent in this subject area during this course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.65 23 0.57   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 6(26%) 16(70%)

12.   Which aspects of the course were most valuable?
The wide variety of available resources to understand the course material.
The group work and homework assignments
I really liked the in-class format where we worked in groups with other students while learning the material.
The in-class time (being able to ask questions)
Group work. Class time was used effectively
Dissecting problems
...
Everything
I learned a lot about algorithms, and while it was difficult, I feel I learned a lot from the whole experience overall. The difficulty helped in forcing me to truly understand everything.
the fact we covered so many different subjects with a method that allowed us to learn them quickly
The flipped classroom helped me out the most. I learned more by doing problems in class than I would have by sitting through a lecture.
Learning how to create an algorithm when given a specific problem is very valuable. Also analyzing the run-times of algorithms is crucial.
The difficulty of the homework is what really tested my understanding of the material.
The most valuable aspects were the in-class exercises and self-studying the material for the daily quizzes.
The videos were usually fairly easy to understand, explaining the material in simpler ways than the book.
In class exercise, homework, professor and TA office hours, and using a cheat sheet on exams.
Learning how to problem solve.


13.   Which aspects of the course were least valuable?
none
I felt like I was often waiting too long for the in-class quizzes to finish.
The homework
Assignments were really hard
Proof writing
...
Nothing
I feel the idea of working together on homeworks causes people to copy each other's homework, which takes away from the valuable learning opportunity.
homework assignments felt a little overbearing at times, you'd absolutely need the TAs help for the most part otherwise you'd score low but that's just me
Nothing comes to mind at the time. Sorry
Nothing was least valuable.
Homework, although useful, is not returned without speaking to the TA or the Professor. I believe it would be beneficial to return homework in class when they are finished being graded.
Often times, the homework problems were so much harder than the examples presented in the normal course material that I had almost no idea how to answer them. I felt like I gained very little from these problems.
While I appreciate that we have one week to work on the homework, sometimes it would have been great if the homework is due at 12:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 p.m. without any penalty.
The daily in class quizzes encouraged me to go over the material prior to class meetings, but I believe they could have been implemented differently as some of the questions seemed to require more extensive knowledge on the subject and became fairly stressful.

14.   The instructor gives clear explanations.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.61 23 0.72   0(0%) 0(0%) 3(13%) 3(13%) 17(74%)
15.   The instructor seems to enjoy teaching.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.5 22 0.8   0(0%) 1(5%) 1(5%) 6(27%) 14(64%)
16.   The instructor seems knowledgeable in many areas.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.87 23 0.34   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 3(13%) 20(87%)
17.   The instructor was able to explain concepts clearly and effectively.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.65 23 0.57   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 6(26%) 16(70%)
18.   The instructor was effective in meeting the objectives of the course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.52 23 0.85   0(0%) 1(4%) 2(9%) 4(17%) 16(70%)
19.   The instructor was enthusiastic about the course material.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.52 23 0.79   0(0%) 0(0%) 4(17%) 3(13%) 16(70%)
20.   The instructor acknowledges all questions insofar as possible.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.7 23 0.56   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 5(22%) 17(74%)
21.   The instructor is willing to meet and help students outside class.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.7 23 0.56   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 5(22%) 17(74%)
22.   The instructor makes me feel free to ask questions.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.57 23 0.95   1(4%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 4(17%) 17(74%)
23.   The teaching-learning strategies used in the course encouraged active class participation.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.83 23 0.65   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 21(91%)
24.   The instructor was professional.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.78 23 0.67   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 2(9%) 20(87%)
25.   The instructor seems well prepared for each class.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.78 23 0.52   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 3(13%) 19(83%)
26.   The instructor presented the course materials in a clear and organized way.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.74 23 0.69   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 3(13%) 19(83%)
27.   In general, the course was well organized.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.65 23 0.71   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 5(22%) 17(74%)
28.   The instructor sets high standards for students.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.95 22 0.21   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(5%) 21(95%)
29.   The instructor makes the course difficult enough to be stimulating.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.61 23 0.78   0(0%) 1(4%) 1(4%) 4(17%) 17(74%)

30.   My overall evaluation of this instructor is....
Great instructor for the 311 course.
I thought he did an excellent job of teaching the class. I'm sure part of that had to do with the format of the in-class learning and also how much resources were available to us on Laulima but he explained answers very well and did a good job of helping us all learn.
Great, extremely knowledgeable.
This is one of the hardest class in the ICS program. Therefore one would need a teacher that understands what he/she is doing that has a lot of knowledge of the subject. The instructor must also be able to help students out with any questions and must use any class time effectively. Professor Nodari does all of this well. His specialty in this field helps to understand what he is saying when he explains things.
Great instructor that has a deep understanding of Algorithms
Very good. Requires specific attention to his way of grading.
pretty good
Superb. His presence of professionalism and demonstration of knowledge is excellent. I only disagree with his way of teaching this class. It could still improve.
10, he clearly knows the content really well and explains everything. The only downside is difficulty of passing the course, but I feel this is justified given the content.
he's a very smart man with great explanations but if you're stuck it feels like you can't really go much further without a certain key point of knowledge which was a little discouraging at times
He really knew what he was talking about when we asked him questions. And he wouldn't just let us get frustrated and guess at answers. When he noticed we started guessing, he would call us out on it so we were forced to stop and think about the actual answer before answering again.
Nodari Sitchinava is a good teacher overall. He clearly knows what he is talking about and does a good job at lecturing. My only problem is that when he lectures you one on one, he can be intimidating. I feel that it is hard for me to answer correctly because his expectations of you are so high.
Sitchinava is a Professor who respects his students on the intellectual level. Work is difficult but doable, which allows for one to truly test their knowledge.
Excellent teacher. One of the best I've had in the ICS department.
He's a great and fun professor, who is genuinely wants his students to learn and willing to go out of his way to help his students learn and understand the course materials. Given the difficulty of the course, his explanations of the course materials are clear and easy to understand. I'm a visual learner, so he really helps me understand the materials when he uses pictures/graphs and real life examples in his explanations.
Very knowledgeable, fairly enthusiastic, and willing to help when needed. Overall, a teacher that I would respect. However, the way homework and quizzes are handled may need some adjustment.
great instructor

31.   The TA gives clear and understandable explanations.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5)  N/A () 
3.91 23 1.12   1(4%) 2(9%) 3(13%) 9(39%) 8(35%) 0(0%)
32.   The TA was easy to talk with and available for consultation.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5)  N/A () 
4.26 23 1.05   1(4%) 1(4%) 1(4%) 8(35%) 12(52%) 0(0%)
33.   Assignments make students think.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.74 23 0.62   0(0%) 0(0%) 2(9%) 2(9%) 19(83%)
34.   Assignments are relevant to what is presented in class.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.61 23 0.72   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 6(26%) 16(70%)
35.   The instructional materials (e.g., texts, handouts, etc.) were relevant to course objectives.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.7 23 0.7   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 4(17%) 18(78%)
36.   The course is highly recommended if it were taught by this instructor.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.43 23 0.95   1(4%) 0(0%) 1(4%) 7(30%) 14(61%)
37.   Examinations cover the important aspects of the course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.7 23 0.7   0(0%) 1(4%) 0(0%) 4(17%) 18(78%)
38.   The examinations are graded very carefully and fairly.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.48 23 0.85   0(0%) 1(4%) 2(9%) 5(22%) 15(65%)
39.   The exams gave students an opportunity to demonstrate what they had learned.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.48 23 0.85   0(0%) 1(4%) 2(9%) 5(22%) 15(65%)
40.   Exams and assignments were returned promptly so that learning was reinforced.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.17 23 0.89   0(0%) 1(4%) 4(17%) 8(35%) 10(43%)
41.   Grades are assigned fairly and impartially.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.22 23 1.09   1(4%) 1(4%) 2(9%) 7(30%) 12(52%)
42.   My grades accurately represent my performance in the course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.04 23 1.11   1(4%) 2(9%) 1(4%) 10(43%) 9(39%)

43.   What changes would you make in the lectures?
Do more in class exercises.
Nothing.
Well there were no lectures... I don't really like the swapped classroom style but I understand that the high amount of content means that there is no time for both a lecture and question session, so I guess this method was better.
This class has a good lecture structure
I personally benefit from more in class/in person lecture time than screencasts online.
Go over what will be on quizzes before starting the quiz. Although this sounds silly, most people do not have a hard time understanding concepts; they just cannot memorize every detail that is in the book or lecture notes.
explain some of the material that is normally confusing for students so that they have a better understanding of how to do the in-class activities
I believe a flipped classroom environment should require more office hours so questions and clarifications are more encouraged. If a class has material that isn't that hard to understand then a flipped classroom environment is understandable so the instructor doesn't have to waste time explaining things that people can just read in their own time. However for Algorithms, almost none of the material is easy to comprehend by just an inexperienced individual alone and the sheer amount of material is also an issue. The big problem then is that there is a lack of direction of: 1. How to approach problems in the assignments. Normally during a lecture the instructor will introduce material and show why it's important and give examples. With a thorough explanation it becomes more apparent how this is useful and how to apply it. A lot of the online resources seems to be more focused on simply "getting the student to figure out what the CLRS textbook is saying." 2. Knowing what to expect for exams/quizzes. When an instructor goes over material in class, people can take notes and have a good indication of what topics are especially important and what we should know. Simply saying "we need to know everything" is intimidating even with a blank piece of paper to use for notes. In a sense I feel like it forces us to spread ourselves thin and grasp to remember the basic idea of every single thing we covered rather than feeling confident about focusing on certain difficult topics. In-class exercises are never fully finished by anyone during the length of class so I think they should be modified a little to be shorter. The difficulty and rushed pace only to be introduced to the solutions at the end of class makes our efforts feel inefficient. I believe it's better for assignments to be due at the beginning of the week rather than the end since normally other classes will be focused on during the week.
Nothing much.
there were no lectures it was great
I would change the group evaluations being included in homework. Thought it is one of the easiest ways to get the evaluations there is always the chance that someone doesn't turn in their homework at all, which then hurts the other student's grade through "participation" which can make a whole grade of difference. If possible it should be included at the last lecture of the week.
After quizzes are done, I wish that we would get a quick review of the notes before working on in-class exercises. Since some students may not fully understand how to do the in-class exercises, they are usually stuck on questions for the whole class time. Regardless if people have any questions, I think students should get a quick review of the material before attempting the in-class exercises.
No changes.
None. I truly appreciate the additional links to the discrete math materials in the lecture materials.
not flipped classroom


44.   My overall evaluation of this course is...
An otherwise difficult is more manageable because of the flip class. Along with the variety of ways to study the material, anyone can take the class and succeed if they put in the effort.
I learned a lot and enjoyed it. Some things were a little unnecessarily difficult. I wish some homework problems were a little clearer in what they were asking us to do for an answer.
Good.
Although the topics are hard, the overall class is good because the professor is effective at teaching and class time is used effectively.
A challenging course that pushes you to learn the material and can pay off if you put the time in.
Required for ICS, and a good reason to be so.
Very Difficult
The course is rigorous with a lot more material than I'm used to from other ICS classes. With that said I feel like there's an unreasonable amount of expectations to this class. Hours are spent thinking about the homework. Hours are spent studying the material. Hours are spent on the in-class exercises. And hours are spent worrying about the next daily quiz. This class doesn't give the student any breath of fresh air to catch up and review if he/she falls behind. Because of this I also think the material won't stick in the students that well after the semester is over.
10/10, good course that teaches material well.
definitely challenging but very rewarding
It's organized very well! Although staying on top of the work and lecture before the quiz at the beginning of the lecture can be rather difficult depending on a student's class load at the time, the class itself is still enjoyable and actually helped me meet other people in school and make friends rather than just learning class materials.
This course if very hard. The screencasts really helped when it came to learning the material. Of course the material is not easy to fully grasp if students don't remember concepts from previous classes.
Its a difficult course that requires the student to put time into the subject and really understand it.
The material itself is difficult, but Nodari and Maria did an excellent job of explaining the material, and helping students understand
It's an intense course that has lots of difficult materials. But with the guidance and teaching style of the professor and TA helps, the course is manageable.
The flipped classroom is great for learning, but it does not take into consideration that students also take other classes. I feel like I was taking 2 extra classes this semester since I had to lecture myself on my own before each class but if you didn't understand something you have to go into office hours since there is a quiz at the beginning of class. Then the homework is even more complex than the in class exercises so you are forced to go into office hours again. This class had interesting material but the amount of unnecessary work I felt could have been avoided through a bit of normal lecturing made learning feel like a chore.


45.   Other comments:
I really didn't like the TA and her grading.The grades for similar answers were extremely different in many cases, and it felt like you only got a good grade or had a better chance of getting a good grade JUST by writing more. It is for this reason that I do not believe the grades were given fairly.
Cool
A milestone for knowing whether ICS is the major you want.
I really wish we had more feedback for our assignments. During the latter half of the semester we had to wait weeks before getting assignments 7 through 10 back all at once. Although having the solutions posted does help, it doesn't help me understand very well what I did wrong in particular and how I could have improved the way I approached the solution. Also, it doesn't help that I only get back what score I got on each individual problem rather than giving actual feedback about what I could've done to improve. The schedule of ICS 311 on Mondays and Wednesdays is really inconvenient for studying the material. Normally students have other obligations on the weekends like taking the time to relax and focus on other activities. When homework is due on Friday nights, it makes the student want to take a break, but then Monday is around the corner with high expectations to already know the material for the next chapter. This is not only stressful but I don't feel like an adequate amount of time is given to process and remember the material naturally. Having limited office hours on Mondays is especially inconvenient because most students will probably have focused on other classes rather than attempting to do the homework that's due on Friday. Wednesday office hours in-between classes is a bit more reasonable but that's not a lot of time, especially if other students ask for help. The TA office hours on Friday are always flooded with students so there's very little time to ask for individual requests such as going over past solutions or looking at old quizzes.
less homework pls
As with any class, there were always those few students that tried to ride the wake of other students in their group and didn't really do any work. But I'm glad that we were able to evaluate the members of our group. Though because some group members could forget to turn in their homework or their group evaluation, it would be nice if the participation portion of our grade was a little smaller as it does depend on the other group members that may or may not be responsible enough to actually turn in things that can hurt the grades of others.
I think it would help students do better if there is a review session and/or a study guide for all the exams. There should be some feedback on returned homework, such as a point deduction break down of problems that students get wrong on the homework. This would help students understand what they did wrong and understand the materials better. Also, homework should return on time so students can study their mistakes on the homework and learn.
great instructor, sub par class structure