| BNFO 300 |
Course at a Glance: Is this course for you? |
Fall 2017
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Every year a fraction of those taking this class weigh in with their opinions concerning its efficacy. They have had two vehicles for doing so. During the last week of class (before the process of writing and delivering the research proposal has run its course), VCU solicits opinions through its official online survey, using multiple choice questions and free-form responses. Then after the semester, I ask people for their responses to several open-ended questions in a home-grown survey.
People tend to fall into two distinct categories: (1) those who are frustrated with the course and how it was organized, and (2) those who are satisfied with the course and the benefit they obtained. Those in the first group talk mostly of the pain they felt, while those in the second speak more of the objectives. There are few people in between (or such people don't bother to respond to the surveys). People also fall into two categories as to their outcomes. Many meet the objectives of the course as judged by either of two criteria, but there is generally an equal number who receive incompletes. If you are able to predict now that you are likely to fall in with the group that is not inspired by the course, you might save yourself a lot of anguish by leaving now. Don't object that the course is required. Very little in life is required. Your choices are your own. To help you judge the matter for yourself, I've posted the responses to the surveys for the past two years. Responses to surveys |