Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID)

November 5, 1999
11:00 class
Individual Responses
(3 women, 10 men)

Dr. Mills Kelly

1. What works well in this class? What do you like? What helps you learn?

When he lectures he breaks everything, this way you get more of an understanding. I like when we get group discussion and debates over certain topics. The class is lively, energetic, and informative. Causes us to think.

Group discussions, on-line readings (debates)

Group discussion works well.

I like no memorization.

I like the relaxed, little pressure atmosphere of the class.

Less stress makes learning easier.

He teaches concepts. He told us that from the beginning—that if we wanted to know specific dates and the chronology of the monarchs, we should take another section. In this way, what could potentially be a boring class has become my favorite. I don’t think I’ve ever been bored. He makes it interesting. Focuses on why and how the people in history did things, not merely when. He makes history fun, informative, and entertaining, so that I will actually remember what I’ve learned. His web links are really good, better info than the boring book. Give great insights into what and why history really happened.

The web site is very helpful. It lets us decide and interpret for ourselves. The debates are great ways to get your viewpoint across

What works well in this class is that Mr. Kelly allows an open forum such as new and creative ideas. He doesn’t try to force a bunch of dates on you but instead tries to teach the significance of the historical event. Since it is a relaxed environment, it makes it easier to learn and more enjoyable.

I really like the lecture. You’re not so busy taking notes that you can’t pay attention to what Dr. Kelly wants you to grasp. I also enjoy the participation. It’s not forced but it makes you think and you want to join in. I love writing papers instead of taking a test. You have pressure because you want to do well on the paper but you get to express what you got out of the information that was given. I have never learned so much in one class, not only about history but about myself. It’s given me more ideas about the world, I’ve gotten to express my opinions, some I didn’t even know I had. This class is the best learning environment. I love the web site.

I think the discussion during class time is very good. I learn a lot. I like the participation in class. I think it helps having somebody that is as knowledgeable as Dr. Kelly to teach these topics. I learn more in this class which has no test than in a class in which I would have 4 tests throughout the semester. I like that you learn without worrying about what you have to retain, because you enjoy it you remember most of it.

The fact that his web site is always available helps especially when office hours aren’t convenient.

He gives really good lectures, and his outline on the board helps to give an easy to follow structure.

The Internet, putting the assignments on it when put there early, not just a week in advance.

Lectures are better for learning not class discussions.

I like the class because it is laid back and there is a lot of interaction between the professor and the students. I learn from the interaction and from discussing the certain topics.

Dr. Kelly cares about us. He’s funny!

The group participation works well in this class. I like the mock trials. Dr. Kelly has taught me history in a totally different way and I am truly learning, as well as enjoying myself. I think that the papers are an excellent alternative to exams because the info stays with me much longer.

The discussion. I like the mock trials and debates. I like the way you teach. The topic approach was better than just… ???

2. What does not work well? What does not help you learn? What do you not like?

It is hard to find the time to just participate on the net forum. If we had been graded on the on-line discussion…

I don’t like posting my answers, or anything, on the Internet for the class to read.

I really feel that the class works well with my needs. I like the way the grading system is applied and how it is based off of the Internet.

Not having writing assignments given to us more than two weeks in advance. That is, if he wants papers handed in we should at least have closer to a month to work on them.

All of the primary source readings. Sometimes it’s a real overload, especially when the style of writing is difficult to follow and the subject is vague. The repetitive nature of the primary sources doesn’t help—you get burned out.

Sometimes the Internet goes haywire, or it is difficult to get around the web site, but in all it works well. I would have to voice my concern on the vagueness of some of the papers. The assignment is ok but it needs to be a little more specific.

I’m really sorry but I really haven’t run into any problems. I’ve learned so much better in this class environment than in any other. OK, I do have one. I understand needing to be hard on proofreading, but it’s not an English class.

I do not like the small writing assignments and maybe mix it up with a test. So that there can be variety instead of all writing assignments.

The trials. I could not understand what some people were trying to get at in their speeches.

Well, nothing really. His lectures are interesting, class discussions go well, everyone gets involved. A lot of work and reading and preparation, but I Like that. I’m learning a lot. Some people may not want o read so much, but from our discussions, it doesn’t appear that way.

Web discussion forum is useful in some aspects, but seems very weak. Why? I don’t know.

I have no dislikes.

3. What suggestions or recommendations do you have?

I really don’t have any suggestions. The class is fine the way it is.

Continue with the web site and continue to keep the students involved in discussion by asking questions.

No suggestions or recommendations. Leave it the way it is.

The Internet stuff is good. It gets us on it and encourages us to explore beyond what he has. Maybe more on-line stuff?

We don’t do much with the book—it’s kind of to give background info.

He makes history apply to our lives now, instead of being a foreign concept—just something from the past.

Continue discussions and debates! It makes us think!

More debates. 1 or 2 less papers.

I feel that this class has provided a learning friendly atmosphere and has helped reverse the old stereotypical image of history classes. I believe it to be crucial to focus on the relative significance of the event.

With the primary sources it would help to translate some of the older ones; they were really hard to understand.

Not much other than being a tad more specific and giving a main focus for papers. But I must say this is one of most enjoyable classes I’ve had at Texas Tech.

Cut down on the number of primary source readings and increase the number of lectures. His lectures are great. Instead of taking a whole class period discussing the primary sources, lecture for half, and then spend the other half discussing the readings.

Go back to teaching freshman level course #’s as freshman level and not as upper level classes are taught.

I don’t have any suggestions. I feel that the class is taught well and made out to be interesting and fun.

More group participation. More variety of group participation.

I would really have liked to have had a test. I learned things, but it is hard to keep myself accountable to only class participation. I need tests. It is hard to keep up with the reading when there is no test or quizzes. In other words it is hard for me to not read [sic].