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Survey Results



Course Survey Results


Nodar   Sitchinava   ICS311, Spring 2019

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Course: ICS 311 - Algorithms
Department:   Information& Computer Sciences Crn (Section):   85573 (002)    


1.   Global appraisal: Overall how would you rate this INSTRUCTOR?

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Very Poor (1)  Poor (2)  Average (3)  Good (4)  Very Good (5) 
4.82 11 0.4   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 2(18%) 9(82%)
2.   The teaching assistant was available for consultation.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.82 11 0.6   0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 0(0%) 10(91%)
3.   Reading 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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
4.   The instructor communicates effectively.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
5.   The instructor is enthusiastic about teaching.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.64 11 0.5   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 4(36%) 7(64%)
6.   The instructor was clear with course requirements and grading expectations.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.64 11 0.5   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 4(36%) 7(64%)
7.   Considering everything, how would you rate this INSTRUCTOR?

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Very Poor (1)  Poor (2)  Average (3)  Good (4)  Excellent (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
8.   Did the instructor present material effectively?

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.82 11 0.4   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 2(18%) 9(82%)
9.   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) 
4.73 11 0.47   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 3(27%) 8(73%)
10.   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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
11.   The instructor was well organized and prepared for each session.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)
12.   The course objectives were clear.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
13.   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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
14.   The course was a valuable contribution to my education.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.82 11 0.4   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 2(18%) 9(82%)
15.   The instructor was available for consultation with students.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 10 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 10(100%)
16.   I learned a lot in this course.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)

17.   What two or three single words best describe this instructor?
Efficient, effective, caring
Fair, Knowledgeable, Fostering
enthusiastic
knowledgeable, effective, available.
knowledgeable, approachable
Logical. Competent. Methodical. - also has an intense gaze , doesn't blink
Hard-Working Passion Professionalism
Particular, precise, fair
Explains topics thoroughly

18.   My general evaluation of the instructor's teaching effectiveness.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Very Poor (1)  Poor (2)  Average (3)  Good (4)  Excellent (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
19.   The instructor treated students with respect.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
20.   The instructor demonstrated knowledge of the course content.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)
21.   This course challenged me intellectually.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)
22.   The instructor both sets high standards and helps students achieve them.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
4.82 11 0.4   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 2(18%) 9(82%)
23.   The instructor was available for consultation.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)
24.   Considering everything, how would you rate this COURSE?

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Very Poor (1)  Poor (2)  Average (3)  Good (4)  Excellent (5) 
4.55 11 0.52   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 5(45%) 6(55%)
25.   The instructor appears to have a thorough knowledge of the subject.

Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree (1)  Disagree (2)  Neutral (3)  Agree (4)  Strongly Agree (5) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)
26.   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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
27.   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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)

28.   Additional Comments
Even though I may fail this course, I must admit that Nodari is a brilliant instructor and one of the best that I've learned from. The only part of this course that I would have liked changed is the length of the exams. I've noticed that the biggest hurdle in homework assignments for many students is how to interpret the question and how to approach it. For students that don't have a great amount of experience with diverse algorithm questions, analyzing the problem can take a significant time and I don't believe that this was accurately accounted for.
thanks for everything :)
Class was difficult but very valuable, one of the best classes Iv'e taken.
This class was very difficult. I think that having people work on the in class exercises together, but in the end turn them in with the homework will be better. It will be more work, but I did not realize until I was into the class for a while the importance of understanding the in class exercise thoroughly before starting on the main problem set. Since most classes we did not get through the entire in class exercise, I think students would benefit from having to work all the way though the more basic problems.
n/a

29.   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) 
4.91 11 0.3   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 1(9%) 10(91%)
30.   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) 
5.0 11 0.0   0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 0(0%) 11(100%)

31.   What changes would you make in the lectures?
I wouldn't make any changes, I like the way the lectures were organized.
nothing, the lectures were focused around questions, and compared to my experience in Stelovsky's class (albeit with 80 something students), i walked away from each lecture actually understanding the material alot more. I think this is also due to the fact that i could take my time with the in class exercises because they weren't graded.
Maybe a different format for in class exercises. Google pages are not conductive to writing math.
Didn't care for the interactive group work. Videos had a monotonous lull to them. I and other students used them as sleep aids. The teacher is a walking algorithms textbook why is the university not capitalizing on him.
It would be great if HW contains more easy problems.
I would make the lab like the collaborative time to work on the homework(not copy homework but go over the broad strokes so everyone understands how to solve them, much more valuable than doing it after we already turned it in, homework should be to help us learn not to test us, that is for the exams) and have main class be a little more instructor led but still keep some of the collaborative work by forcing teams to answer questions as the teacher leads us through the material. The day with the sub ran really nicely because he went over the work sheet before letting us work on our own so we all head a better understanding and we're on the same page
Add a brief summary of topics covered that day


32.   Which aspects of the course were most valuable?
The most valuable aspects of the course for me was the group work in class. I felt that I learned the most through that because classmates would put out different perspectives to consider and we would work out why the approach would/wouldn't work, thus providing a better understanding of the material.
Office hours, HW discussion section, lecture notes, mandatory notes
Daily quizzes and exercises
Collaborative learning, challenging homework,
The screen casts and the classwork were very helpful.
The professor I suppose, he's a walking personification of algorithms.
I liked the system. First, every student need to study course material before each class. Second, students to discussion to solve difficult problems during the class. Professor and TA are always willing to help students very hard. Third, students are assigned to HWs with difficult problems. It was sad when I got bad grade on HWs, but they were actually really helpful. According to this system, students' algorithm skills should be improved. As long as they follow.
Required notes forced me to read before class
Learning how to modify algorithms to fit your problem's needs


33.   Which aspects of the course were least valuable?
Quizzes. Going over the solutions did help, but without being able to take the graded quizzes home to review, it was harder to absorb what was learned.
nothing that was necessarily useless but i personally didnt use the screencasts much
Recitation.
The forced notes did help but the grading on them was too strict for note taking
I didn't care for the group work , it's intended to cultivate discussion but I prefer engaging lectures.
HW is like a double-edged sword. If there is HW solutions for every single problem, most students would do plagiarism. On the other hand, if HW solutions are not available, students have problem solving them and become stressful.
I did not like that the youtube lecture videos were done by someone other than the instructor. This material was difficult and I would have rather had my own instructor doing the teaching.
Homework reviews after homework was done , time would be better spent having student collaborative on the homework problems that are coming up.
T.A. did not explain material clearly. He gave very vague answers to specific questions.


34.   What advice would you give to students, who might be taking this course in the future?
Attend office hours, you wont survive without it.
start your homework as soon as it's given, at least read it and be thinking about it!
Study and work on homework very early and very often.
Read the book and watch the screen casts
- self study is paramount, use additional resources to your advantage. - review your discrete math and maybe some calc 2 . - not a course where you can be passive in like other courses at UH. - do homework early and go to office hours. - if you posit any sort of statement be prepared to back it up with sound mathematical reasoning
Nodari is wonderful. If you want to get a job, take Algorithm class from him. He will definitely help you pass the Algorithm interview in the future.
find a group to work on the homework together
start homework early