Psychology 101: Informal Learning and Technology

Feedback reports:
Students' biweekly feedback on the class

You can check this feedback against our estimations of class workload.

 Report#1. 09/30 -- 10/12

1. How is the class going?
   

   	Bad=0	Poor=1	Fair=2	Good=3	Excellent=4
   number of responses	0	1	2	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=4, Median=2.0

2. Select the course areas you:
   

   like=2	so-so=1	dislike=0	Total	Median	course area
   2	2	0	4	1.5	Being at the site
   0	3	1	4	1.0	Writing field notes
   0	4	0	4	1.0	Participation in web discussions
   2	2	0	4	1.5	Participation in class discussions
   1	2	1	4	1.0	Reading assigned literature
   0	1	0	1	1.0	Developing final papers.
   2	2	0	4	1.5	Filling the biweekly feedback survey

    

3. How many hours do you spend for writing Field Notes, reading, and participating in the Web discussions per week?
   

   	None=0	1-5 hours=1	5-10 hours=2	10-20 hours=3	> 20 hours=4
   number of responses	0	0	4	0	0

   
   Total number of responses=4, Median=2.0

4. Do you feel:
   

   overwhelmed or totally lost=0	0
   behind=1	1
   basically OK=2	3
   you are getting it=3	0
   on top of the work=4	0
   Total	4
   Median	2.0

5. Which of the assigned literature for the last two weeks do you really like (please, explain why) and which do you recommend to change (please, explain why and how)?
   
   A1: I enjoyed the Moll article because it was easy to follow and interesting. I felt it had a lot to do with our goals for the class and my own personal goals. The Assessment of Learning article was also very interesting because it gave me some background information regarding the 5th dimension program. It was very helpful to read some of the fieldnotes by the students participating in San Diego.
   A2: I enjoyed the case study by Moll. It was well written and interesting. I thought the Lave article was uninteresting. After hearing about the other reading it seemed to say a lot of the same things. It was obvious that our reading was all of the same basic opinion, and it was a little frustrating. Reading contradicting opinions allows us to think more for ourselves.
   A3: I haven't liked any of them (but I've only read three so far). "Models of Teaching and Learning: Participation in a Community of Learners" was poorly written (sorry Eugene), repetitive, boring, and did not make clear points or provided sufficient example. "Teaching, as Learning, in Practice" was okay, but it was difficult to read and also boring. "An Assessment of Learning through the Qualitative Analysis of Fieldnotes" was easy to read, made clear points, and was short! It was the first thing I have read so far that gave me any clear idea of what the 5th Dimension is all about.
   A4: I couldn't do much reading and can't compare. For oct 14 I liked the Olt & Woodbridge, because it was interesting to read and gave information on what we are doing. I would like to read more papers from the UCSD project. It could help us to get a framework for what we are doing.
   
   
6. How do you think the class can be improved?
   
   A1: I enjoy working with the children at Barrios Unidos very much, but the structure of the practicum seems far from San Diego's 5th Dimension. I feel our progress with the children at Barrios Unidos will be made, but made very differently. We don't have enough computers for the children to work with and don't know what kids and students will be going to what days of the practicum. Everything is very unorganized.
   A2: We definitely need to take a break. We missed that during our last class [Oct. 9 -- discussion of the readings on teaching philosophy]. Somehow the class seems to go off on tangents and we don't get back on track for a while. I'm also hoping that we'll stop talking about how to write our fieldnotes and other computer stuff during class time. People just seem to end up more confused and it takes up a lot of time. I also think that maybe the instructors should feel free, when tangents arise, to say that they could talk about it after class or use it as discussion text.
   A3: Last Wednesday's class [Oct. 9 -- discussion of the readings on teaching philosophy] was the best so far -- good group discussion. It was the only class I have walked away from thus far feeling as though I had gained anything from the experience. We need more of this type of interaction (more of students debating the answers to questions, less of Eugene talking about class logistics). As mentioned in the class discussion group, the experiences at Barrios Unidos are not at all what I expected. I have been very dissapointed so far. Filling out this form on Saturday night? Are you kidding!? [I expect you to do the feedback by Saturday not on Saturday. Eugene]
   A4: I still have to get used to doing discussion on the net. I find it impersonal. I'd rather talk to people and develop ideas in the process of interaction. It seems to me that we are beginning to feel more comfortable
   with the situation (at least I am), including the abscence of guidance or structure at BU. It is also a process of learning to regard that as a chance. --JAKOB

 Report#2. 10/14 -- 10/26

1. How is the class going?
   

   	Bad=0	Poor=1	Fair=2	Good=3	Excellent=4
   number of responses	0	0	3	3	0

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=2.5

2. Select the course areas you:
   

   like=2	so-so=1	dislike=0	Total	Median	course area
   5	1	0	6	2.0	Being at the site
   2	3	1	6	1.0	Writing field notes
   1	4	1	6	1.0	Participation in web discussions
   3	3	0	6	1.5	Participation in class discussions
   2	4	0	6	1.0	Reading assigned literature
   1	1	1	3	1.0	Developing final papers.
   2	4	0	6	1.0	Filling the biweekly feedback survey

    

3. How many hours do you spend for writing Field Notes, reading, and participating in the Web discussions per week?
   

   	None=0	1-5 hours=1	5-10 hours=2	10-20 hours=3	> 20 hours=4
   number of responses	0	2	3	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=2.0

4. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in whole class discussions (per class meeting)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	3	3	0

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=1.5

5. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in small group discussions of readings (per class meeting)?
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	1	3	2

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=2.0

6. How many postings on average did you post on the Web (per week)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-3 =1	4=2	5-6=3	7=4	8-9=5	>10=6
   number of responses	0	1	3	0	1	0	1

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=2.0

7. How much readings did you read for these two weeks?
   
   

   assigned literature	None=0	less=1	exactly=2	more=3
   number of responses	0	1	5	0

   
   Total number of responses=6, Median=2.0

8. Do you feel:
   

   overwhelmed or totally lost=0	1
   behind=1	2
   basically OK=2	1
   you are getting it=3	1
   on top of the work=4	1
   Total	6
   Median	1.5

9. Which of the assigned literature for the last two weeks do you really like (please, explain why) and which do you recommend to change (please, explain why and how)?
   
   A1: "Problem Finding in Qualitative Research" was boring, poorly written (because of rambling), and didn't make much of a point. I liked "Kids and Computers: A Positive Vision of the Future" because it provided a good criticism of the way computers are used in classrooms.
   A2: I like readings that are directly related to the 5th dimension.
   A3: I didn't enjoy the article on the internets use low income people because I feel the reseachers were purly using the participants treating the cpomputer as if were a drug. Getting the community hooked for six months then merely taking the computers away.
   A4: I thought the reading on personal empowerment in the study of home Internet use by low-income families was the best we've read so far. It was very interesting.
   A5: I liked the Personal Empowerment in the Study of Home Internet Use by Low-Income Families. One of the reasons i liked this particular reading is that is was easy to understand and interesting. While there were points that i didn't agree with, overall it was a really interesting piece. It is nice to read things that corrilate with what we are learning.(computers, low-income, etc..)
   
10. How do you think the class can be improved?
    
    A1: The class needs more science (and less hand waving) about the merits of informal teaching. I feel like we have been discussing the issue too much and basically going around in hypothetical circles.
    A2: as many others I feel it's getting better. this week I tried Tue, Wed, and Sat afternoon to enter the Web-Site and failed. That cost me a lot of time and pissed me off! If that is in your hand, try to change it. -- JAKOB
    A3: ORGINIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Report#3. 10/28 -- 11/09

1. How is the class going?
   

   	Bad=0	Poor=1	Fair=2	Good=3	Excellent=4
   number of responses	0	0	1	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=2.5

2. Select the course areas you:
   

   like=2	so-so=1	dislike=0	Total	Median	course area
   2	0	0	2	2.0	Being at the site
   0	2	0	2	1.0	Writing field notes
   1	1	0	2	1.5	Feedback on your fieldnotes that people provide
   0	2	0	2	1.0	Participation in web discussions
   1	0	1	2	1.0	Participation in class discussions
   0	2	0	2	1.0	Reading assigned literature
   0	1	1	2	0.5	Developing final papers.
   0	2	0	2	1.0	Filling the biweekly feedback survey

    

3. How many hours do you spend for writing Field Notes, reading, and participating in the Web discussions per week?
   

   	None=0	1-5 hours=1	5-10 hours=2	10-20 hours=3	> 20 hours=4
   number of responses	0	0	1	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=2.5

4. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in whole class discussions (per class meeting)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	0	1	1

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=2.5

5. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in small group discussions of readings (per class meeting)?
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	0	2	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=2.0

6. How many postings on average did you post on the Web (per week)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-3 =1	4=2	5-6=3	7=4	8-9=5	>10=6
   number of responses	0	0	0	2	0	0	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=3.0

7. How much readings did you read for these two weeks?
   
   

   assigned literature	None=0	less=1	exactly=2	more=3
   number of responses	0	1	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=1.5

8. Do you feel:
   

   overwhelmed or totally lost=0	0
   behind=1	1
   basically OK=2	1
   you are getting it=3	0
   on top of the work=4	0
   Total	2
   Median	1.5

9. Which of the assigned literature for the last two weeks do you really like (please, explain why) and which do you recommend to change (please, explain why and how)?
   
   A1: I liked the article on la clasa migica and fifth dimension that showed their conception of the wizard and the maze because it helps us to develope our own project.
   
10. How do you think the class can be improved?
    
    A1: I'm not sure how to start my paper without having really studied the kids at BU with a focus I haven't even developed yet. I hope you can still use the feed back. On Saturday netscape kept freezing, not a problem of the website, so I couldn't do it then. JAKOB

 Report#4. 11/11 -- 11/23

1. How is the class going?
   

   	Bad=0	Poor=1	Fair=2	Good=3	Excellent=4
   number of responses	0	1	1	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=3, Median=2.0

2. Select the course areas you:
   

   like=2	so-so=1	dislike=0	Total	Median	course area
   2	1	0	3	2.0	Being at the site
   1	1	1	3	1.0	Writing field notes
   1	2	0	3	1.0	Feedback on your fieldnotes that people provide
   1	2	0	3	1.0	Participation in web discussions
   1	2	0	3	1.0	Participation in class discussions
   0	2	1	3	1.0	Reading assigned literature
   0	1	2	3	0.0	Developing final papers.
   0	3	0	3	1.0	Filling the biweekly feedback survey

    

3. How many hours do you spend for writing Field Notes, reading, and participating in the Web discussions per week?
   

   	None=0	1-5 hours=1	5-10 hours=2	10-20 hours=3	> 20 hours=4
   number of responses	0	0	1	2	0

   
   Total number of responses=3, Median=3.0

4. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in whole class discussions (per class meeting)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	0	3	0

   
   Total number of responses=3, Median=3.0

5. How many times on average did you contribute (speak) in small group discussions of readings (per class meeting)?
   

   	None=0	1-2 times=1	3-4 times=2	>4 times=3
   number of responses	0	0	2	0

   
   Total number of responses=2, Median=2.0

6. How many postings on average did you post on the Web (per week)?
   
   

   	None=0	1-3 =1	4=2	5-6=3	7=4	8-9=5	>10=6
   number of responses	0	0	0	2	0	1	0

   
   Total number of responses=3, Median=3.0

7. How much readings did you read for these two weeks?
   
   

   assigned literature	None=0	less=1	exactly=2	more=3
   number of responses	0	3	0	0

   
   Total number of responses=3, Median=1.0

8. Do you feel:
   

   overwhelmed or totally lost=0	1
   behind=1	1
   basically OK=2	1
   you are getting it=3	0
   on top of the work=4	0
   Total	3
   Median	1.0

9. Which of the assigned literature for the last two weeks do you really like (please, explain why) and which do you recommend to change (please, explain why and how)?
   
   A1: "Current Activity for the Future: The Zo-ped": We have read too many articles about the ZPD. I can safely say that I get it. Readings would be more productive if they were on a wider variety of subjects related to informal learning.
   
10. How do you think the class can be improved?
    
    A1: (1)Address goals and purpose of the project/class early on.
    ___(2)Try to make room from more class time to synthesize everything together (more face-to-face discussions).
    ___(3)Definately improvements are needed on site (they've been discussed at length on the web and in class).
    ___(4)It would be nice to somehow compile all of findings/issues/resolutions that come from web fieldnotes and messages into one piece of work. There seems to be so many similarities in things that are addressed on the web from things learned and experienced at the site, yet is stays fragmented and seperate. It would be nice to see it compiled together to give an overview of what's what, and what we learned. (the papers are kind of what I'm talking about since the evidence in them comes directly from the web, yet that is still separated from student to student. It would be interesting to content analyze the site and see what we've found!
    A2: It needs to take more of a psychological approach. There is still a lack of scientific literature. Going to lecture is usually a waste of time. Going to the site is unproductive since the kids realized how boring it is an stopped coming. The class Web site does not work very well. I don't feel like I've learned very much in this class.

Thanks for your helpful feedback, I'll try to address it in my instruction. Eugene.

For comments and questions contact the Instructor Eugene Matusov.
©1996. Last changed: February 12, 2022