I. Goals of the course

Back to the beginning... The goals I set forth for the course were:

• Exploring
  Going beyond what you've done to explore gain insight into what you may or may not enjoy and may or may not be good at
   
• Progress towards independence - Framing your own questions
  The ability to make your own sense of a poorly defined problem and find a path towards its solution. When you find the way blocked, analyzing what you need and expressing the need and the reason for it to others to gain useful aid.
   
• Progress towards independence - Digesting information yourself
  The ability to find useful information within research articles, without predigestion by someone else.
   
• Progress towards independence - Finding your own motivation
  Making educational choices for what you may learn from them rather than for an imposed reward dangled in front of you.
   
• Progress towards independence - Learning that you can use the computer in ways not bound by inflexible software
  You don't have to be a computer nerd to program the computer
   
• Learning something about bioinformatics
  Why not?

Your thoughts?

II. The Means of the Course (note that the project is considered separately)

1. Tools of engagement: Look back on the notes, tours, the class discussions, lab, statistical simulations, problem sets, article summary, take-home exams.... They were intended to help you achieve the goals listed above.

   Your thoughts?
   
    

2. The projects: The phage annotation and individual research projects were supposed to give you the taste of self-directed research. The group meetings, the symposium, the project report, and participation in the development of a web-based resource accessible by the phage research community were supposed to inspire you to see what you do as part of something larger than a class, as part of the process of science.

   Your thoughts?
   
    

3. Degree of engagement: Hardly anyone made progress on their research projects until the last few days of the semester, which no doubt caused a great deal of stress. The trip could have been more enjoyable and more productive if spread out over the 4+ weeks allocated to it, with the opportunity for increased feedback and interaction with others doing similar things. Why didn't that happen?

   Your thoughts?
   
    

4. Help and feedback: You may have had interaction with Tara, Ross, or me, either face-to-face or through e-mail. You may also have had interactions with others in the class, perhaps in either your study group (remember Problem Set 1?) or your research group. How did this work for you? Did you feel you had adequate opportunity to get help you needed?

   Your thoughts?
   

III. Bottom line

1. Three things you'd advise that this class never to do again?
   
    
2. Three things you'd advise that this class keep doing at all costs?
   
    
3. Three ideas that would make the course better for those that come after you? (I know... make shorter questionnaires)
   
    
4. Did you get what you wanted out of the course? If so, what? If not, what did you miss?
   Do you feel more proficient in some way? If so, how?
   What if anything do you think will still be with you from the course in five years?

A LONG questionnaire... Thanks!

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