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Clemson University Student Evaluation of Teaching

Evaluation Report for Brian Croxall teaching ENGL 399 003 during Spring Semester 2010
   Respondents = 11 Enrolled = 20 Response rate = 55%

Global Questions

G1. The instructor clearly communicated what I was expected to learn.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%4   36.36%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4550.688511
Same Level4.2141.0505934
Same Discipline4.2500.98753012

G2. The instructor made the relevance of the course material clear.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%4   36.36%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4550.688511
Same Level4.2431.0595934
Same Discipline4.2291.01153008

G3. The course was well organized.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%4   36.36%4   36.36%1   9.09%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.2000.789410
Same Level4.0851.1424932
Same Discipline4.1931.05653006

G4. There was a positive interaction between the class and the instructor.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%0   0.00%3   27.27%8   72.73%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.7270.467511
Same Level4.3101.0915926
Same Discipline4.4170.94952987

G5. The instructor's teaching methods helped me understand the course material.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%4   36.36%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4550.688511
Same Level4.0101.2074929
Same Discipline4.0951.11442997

G6. The instructor's verbal communication skills helped me understand the course material.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%2   18.18%8   72.73%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.6360.674511
Same Level4.1371.1725926
Same Discipline4.2211.06852989

G7. The instructor clearly explained what was expected on assignments and tests
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%2   18.18%6   54.55%1   9.09%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4000.843510
Same Level4.1711.1455930
Same Discipline4.1861.09352995

G8. The instructor kept me informed about my progress in the course.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%5   45.45%3   27.27%3   27.27%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class3.8180.874411
Same Level4.1441.0854928
Same Discipline3.9661.14342992

G9. The feedback I received on assignments and tests gave me the opportunity to improve my performance.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%6   54.55%4   36.36%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.2730.647411
Same Level4.2031.0925929
Same Discipline4.1231.08842995

G10. Overall, the instructor is an effective teacher.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%0   0.00%4   36.36%7   63.64%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.6360.505511
Same Level4.1991.1395931
Same Discipline4.2611.04952995

G11. The instructor's grading procedures gave a fair evaluation of my understanding of the material.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%4   36.36%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4550.688511
Same Level4.1881.0605927
Same Discipline4.1491.07342983

G12. How much work did you put into this course relative to your other courses?
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%7   63.64%3   27.27%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.1820.603411
Same Level3.7811.0554930
Same Discipline3.8130.97042991

G13. How difficult was this course for you relative to your other courses?
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%2   18.18%1   9.09%6   54.55%2   18.18%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class3.7271.009411
Same Level3.1781.1783932
Same Discipline3.2991.09933000

G14. To what extent was this course a requirement for you?
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%9   81.82%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.8180.405511
Same Level4.4071.0105928
Same Discipline4.3161.02452994

G15. Was this course in your major?
        Type: Yes - No
YesNoNR
11   100.00%0   0.00%0   0.00%

G16. Was this course team-taught?
        Type: Yes - No
YesNoNR
1   9.09%10   90.91%0   0.00%

G17. Please indicate your satisfaction with the availability of the instructor outside the classroom by choosing one response from the scale. In selecting your rating, consider the instructor's availability via established office hours, appointments, and other opportunities for face-to-face interaction as well as via telephone, email, fax and other means.
        Type: Satisfaction
1234NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%5   45.45%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
This Class3.5450.522411
Same Level3.5300.7544934
Same Discipline3.5590.69743008

G18. Please comment on the strengths of the instructor and the course.
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - I liked how he gave us background information to connect the literature to what was going on at the time.
#2 - Liked the instructors obvious passion for the material he was teaching.
#4 - He makes the course as a whole tell a story about American literature. Therefore, everything is very well organized.
#5 - Incorporating technology and historical context so much into the literature discussion offered a new and different perspective on material that most students in the class are already familiar with.
#6 - Loved this course. Readings were interesting and entertaining. Class discussions were interactive. Great instructor and favorite class at Clemson.
#7 - The instructor made sure he got the class involved in the discussion instead of him just talking the whole time. It was very easy to participate as long as you read the stories and were prepared for class that day.
#8 - Professor Croxall was really animated in class, and he had a good relationship with his students, in that he was always available for help. I found his online office hours to be very helpful. I also liked the way he tied in modern technology with the texts we read.
#9 - Professor Croxall really knows his stuff. He makes the class really interesting and makes us students really think about what we are reading.
#10 - fantastic teacher. very knowledgeable, great use of technology to relate the material to the class. good choice of texts. clemson is stupid not to pay him more

G19. Please comment on the weaknesses of the instructor and the course.
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - I think he wanted to cover more pieces of literature than we had time for, but overall I still felt the course was really good.
#2 - What exactly we were expected to know could be improved upon, though I understand that this course and courses like this tend to be very open ended and based on our opinions and interpretations of text and readings.
#3 - a lot of additional assignments. ie wiki notes, timeline
#4 - On tests, I do not believe memorizing the dates of the stories is important. Students would benefit more from memorizing the time periods they fit into and then perhaps put those periods in order. When you have to memorize the dates, you memorize them the night before and then forget them after the exam. (Everything else stays with you because you teach it so well and it is interesting. I'd just forget about the dates)
#5 - Professor Croxall often failed to keep up with his plans for the course which resulted in elimination of a majority of the less traditional choices on the syllabus. It was frustrating to have him spend so much time focusing on how little time he has, and how unhappy he is with his salary.
#7 - Sometimes the instructor would ramble and not cover all of that days material. He should of either assigned less or spent less time on each story so that whatever was on the syllabus for the day actually got done.
#8 - The class was a bit disorganized. Having two different schedules was hard to keep up with, and we often had too much material to cover in class.
#9 - He takes a while to return assignments. And I feel like we did this huge timeline project but then never really used it.
#10 - very few. faster grading of assignments would be nice but delay is understandable

G20. Please comment on any teaching methods you found particularly helpful, and suggest alternative methods that you feel would improve the course.
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - I liked the wiki notes and I felt the class discussions made the material make sense and allowed us to see a deeper meaning to the works and how they related to other works.
#2 - Really liked the timeline. Keep it. Maybe provide opportunities for more creative papers than simply making an argument or assesment of the texts we were assigned.
#3 - Everything was explained very well. I liked the background information on the material we were reading
#4 - I like that each class has a point, an overarching theme. I would present less material per class. (You could still assign as much reading, just cover less in class.) When there are too many stories presented, it is harder to understand the overall theme of that story (the large point you are trying to prove/explain).
#5 - Having the wikinotes, while tedious to do, made it helpful to study for tests dominated by names and dates. The timeline assignment, however, offered little to no value in studying for the test or learning new ways to read literature.
#7 - Discussion based class
#8 - The online office hours were really good. I liked how the wiki notes helped our grade. The organization could be improved.
#9 - Croxall is a great teacher. I liked how he infused history with the movements in literature. Overall, the class was just taught really well.
#10 - videos, music, and other technology used in class did a great job tying everything together. methods would be hard to improve on

G21. I would recommend this instructor to a friend. Yes or no? Why?
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - Yes. He is really cool and a great teacher. The assignments seem relevant and I didn't feel like we had too much work.
#2 - Yes. The instructor kept the course interesting and lively.
#3 - Yes. Very enjoyable class and professor.
#4 - ABSOLUTELY! Outstanding professor who puts an extraordinary amount of time preparing his lectures. He is interesting and students learn a lot. There is a good interaction between him and his students. I feel as though I could ask him for a letter of recommendation because he gets to know each student.
#5 - No. I felt like he had such an obvious agenda with each reading we did that he failed to facilitate student thought and readings of the texts which, in my opinion, significantly detracts from the value of a literature course.
#6 - Yes. Great class, great reading material.
#7 - Yes - He knows what he's talking about.
#8 - Yes, I would definitely recommend Croxall to a friend. I actually looked forward to class because he somehow made everything we talked about fun. The day he broke chalk against the board to get our attention- best day of the semester. I think I'm walking away a much better writer.
#9 - Yes absolutely! The class is just super interesting and cool.
#10 - absolutely. very knowledgeable about both what he is teaching and how to teach it

Departmental Questions

D1. I learned to apply principles from this course to other contexts.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%3   27.27%2   18.18%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.2730.905511
Same Level4.1011.0624912
Same Discipline3.9381.07542919

D2. I developed more confidence in my ability to communicate effectively through writing.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%3   27.27%4   36.36%4   36.36%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.0910.831411
Same Level4.0331.1244912
Same Discipline3.9571.09942914

D3. As a part of my overall course load, this course was a priority to me.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%1   9.09%2   18.18%1   9.09%7   63.64%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.2731.104511
Same Level3.4981.2104914
Same Discipline3.5771.15542923

D4. This course challenged me intellectually.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%1   9.09%1   9.09%6   54.55%3   27.27%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.0000.894411
Same Level3.4751.2434914
Same Discipline3.7101.14642917

D5. The instructor is enthusiastic about the course material.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%2   18.18%7   63.64%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.4550.820511
Same Level4.4320.9665911
Same Discipline4.4790.88652910

D6. The instructor treats students with respect.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%1   9.09%9   81.82%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.7270.647511
Same Level4.5260.9175908
Same Discipline4.5820.82252910

D7. The instructor makes me feel free to ask questions.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%1   9.09%1   9.09%9   81.82%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.7270.647511
Same Level4.5040.9305908
Same Discipline4.5530.84152902

D8. The instructor sets high standards for students.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%1   9.09%8   72.73%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.5450.820511
Same Level4.2790.9095907
Same Discipline4.3090.85242904

D9. The assigned reading is well integrated into the course.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%0   0.00%2   18.18%3   27.27%6   54.55%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.3640.809511
Same Level3.8111.2294910
Same Discipline4.0781.11742902

D10. The assigned writing is well integrated into the course.
        Type: Agreement
12345NR
0   0.00%1   9.09%2   18.18%3   27.27%5   45.45%0   0.00%
FocusMeanStdevMedianObservations
Class4.0911.044411
Same Level4.2191.0405915
Same Discipline4.2430.99252920

D11. What did you find most valuable and helpful about the course?
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - I felt that learning about a variety of types of American literature has helped me to have a better understanding of the type of writing that has come out of our country and the influences of the writing.
#2 - The range of readings we covered broadened my repetoir of texts I have read.
#4 - I genuinely learned and will remember the stories he taught. I have learned to read from multiple perspectives and apply history, technology, and other themes to the literature I read.
#5 - It was nice to have a refresher on American Lit that I haven't read since high school.
#7 - Discussions
#8 - His availability and feedback on papers/assignments
#9 - I'm not really sure what to write for this. I feel like everything I learned was valuable and helpful as an English major.
#10 - the way he tied everything together

D12. What would you like to see changed in subsequent offerings of this course?
        Type: Essay
StudentComments
#1 - I think a few of the readings were boring and could be changed. I didn't like The Open Boat, A Plea for Romantic Fiction, and any of Ernest Hemingway.
#2 - Chances to cover more materials in class as per our reading.
#4 - I'm not sure how important the timeline assignment was. I would agree that learning how to use technology is important. Perhaps make the timeline about stories we read and integrate that with the wiki summaries/quotations/terms. That could help with memorizing, or really learning, the years of the stories.
Besides that one assignment and the publication years, the course was great. I really wouldn't change anything about his teaching methods. Students feel free to say what they think and aren't afraid of being "wrong."
#5 - I would like to see the incorporation of a more diverse author and style list because the way it is being taught makes it seem like there is always only a single literary movement occurring at any given time.
#7 - Not so much reading assigned
#8 - The organization needs to be improved.
#9 - No wiki pages or timeline project (even though the timeline did look super cool).
#10 - very little.