Midterm evaluations
Thanks for submitting the midterm evaluations. We read them through.
To summarize, things seem to go well. Here are some comments:
- Mathematica help: Many would like to have a lecture or
introduction to Mathematica. Action: We will do a Mathematica workshop
once the project comes up. For now, if you want to learn about Mathematica,
talk to Oliver. Use Wolfram alpha if you should not be set up.
- Problem types: The homework, the lecture, the exam and the book feature different type
of problems.
Remark: this is intentional. Homework problems can have more applications
and sometimes be a bit challenging or even technical. Also the book can
feature more complicated problems. The lecture can be more conceptional.
Conceptional parts usually enter the exam through True/False and matching
problems.
- Homework schedule: the Tue/Thu sections sometimes have a bit of a time crunch
to do the problems for Tuesday. Suggestion: why don't you do the problem sets
in three batches. Get one problem set done until Friday.
- MQC: Some would like to have the MQC staff recognizable by name tags
or some feature. Comment: we look whether it is possible to organize some
tagging system.
- Exam: the vast majority considered the exam "fair" and appropriate.
Some found the True/False problems too hard. Some ran out of time.
Some found the exam grading harsh.
Comments: True/False problems are indeed hard. We do not expect you to do
all correctly. They become easier with more practice and using them as preparation
can be very effective. The grading is done uniformly across the class. If
something is graded harsher, then everybody will be graded with the same key.
- Practice exams: The are appreciated. One even asked for more of them.
One comment mentioned typos in practice exams. Please send in future more
corrections and comments.
- Website: On the wish list was a "chat feature".
Comment: Why don't you tweet things like
"Finally got this damn problem D". If you should tweet about math21a, we definitely
will follow you!
Memorable quotes
- Have the CAs been good about getting the homework back to you? "Hell Yeah!"
- Comments on the first hourly? "Tough but possible", "Not too bad", "I would prefer a more difficult exam", "fun".
- Comment on the textbook: "Too examply" and "too expensive","I love it", "Needs more bad humor".
- Comment on the first hourly: "Swell"
- Comment on the homework: "Ahhh, those last problems kill me!", "I can never do the last problem!".
- Comment on Practice exams: "More of them!"