CSCI 4061 Exit Survey Results
Table of Contents
Summary Statistics for Multiple Choice Questions
Freeform Feedback
Props to TAs
Special thanks were given to specific TAs in the free-from feedback as counted below.
| Thanks! | TA / Group |
|---|---|
| 9 | Andrew |
| 4 | Jaskaran |
| 2 | Minjun |
| 3 | Venkat |
| 13 | To all TAs for general awesomeness |
Frequent Comments / Suggestions
| Count | Comment | Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Give us Assignment Solutions! (after deadline) | You're welcome to visit office hours to inspect solutions |
| 7 | Lab check-offs were a pain (do online quizzes) | Likely to switch to lab exercise + quizzes + TA meeting for quiz points back |
| 4 | Wanted to do the version control assignment | This will happen in the future. Check back later if you like. |
| 7 | Hire more TAs, need more office hours | Alas, we are not likely to get more personnel devoted to 4061. |
| 4 | Want more coding in lab, less analysis | Will fix this for next time. |
Quotable Quotes from Free-form Feedback
The following were memorable comments with responses in italics.
About 80% of my time was spent trying to figure out HOW to debug, 10% of the time was spent effectively debugging, and 10% of the time was spent actually learning things about operating systems. If the U could cobble together a half-dozen 15-minute how-to videos about basic debugging in each of the languages used most in common courses (Python, Java, C, OCaml, C++, etc.), and referred students to those at the beginning of each course, I imagine that could save students and staff a great deal of energy.
This is a good idea and I have a TA I'll work with during the fall on this.
- I don't really like Bonus system because it pushed the students to have a competition, which wasn't a good experience overall.
I think that giving cards for answering the questions you posed is a good policy!
Bonus Cards are a divisive policy but I'll likely keep it going as I value the interaction it generates and it turns out my opinion matters.
- I thought talking with the TAs during checkoffs was incredibly helpful
About the quiz thing you should make it a couple or more attempts, since when TA's help check off, you are able to get feedback from them and get the right answer without penalty.
We're planning to do lab exercises to prepare for an online quiz. If the quiz goes badly, students can meet with a TA to talk about their mistakes to get credit back.
- I am an EE student, but still really enjoyed this class.
- If anyone did not get the grade they wanted then, respectfully, it is on them.
- A lot of this felt like a review of 2021 and lecture felt like it took forever to explain concepts.
- I have taken your classes before and this is the first session I've felt caught off guard during exams.
- It's a 'test of ultimate will', trying to wrap your head around some of these concepts.
It'd be nice for folks to get credit for asking/answering questions on Piazza too.
Participation credit for answering Piazza posts is mentioned in the syllabus and frequent answer contributors got extra cards though I didn't make a public announcement of it.
- Commando suxs. Blather was extremely fair though.
- My programming work from previous classes didn't prepare me (for assignments) - it wasn't a step or two up as much as 10 steps up.
For those of us who had a [CSCI 2021] professor with an obsession for assembly/y86 (not to say any names…. cough cough rhymes with Dish Cove of this cough cough) C projects were much more difficult.
C programming skills were definitely assumed. If I ever figure out who's name rhymes with 'Dish Cove' I'll chat them up about incorporating more into their 2021 runs.
If anyone ever says they are going to take 6 classes, all like this one, slap some sense into them and they'll thank you at the end of the semester.
Word.
The book is really good and thorough and helped my understanding. However, it is JUST SO LONG and took forever to read. Maybe there is an easier textbook that isn't written to be used as a reference?
Stevens/Rago is the best text I've found but I agree it can be a bit dense and dry. If you find something better, let me know.
"How the hell do you talk to another program?!?" Now I know!
That IS a good feeling! If only talking to other People were so easy…