As I noted at the beginning of the semester, this course is graded a bit differently than what you are used to from other classes. You are expected to complete assignments, and you will still receive a numeric grade on your transcript at the end of the semester.
However, your grade will be determined based on your own self-assessment of your learning and effort in the class, with the possibility of adjustments up or down from me.
We are now at about the mid-point of the semester. This is a good opportunity for you to reflect on how the class is going so far, and to (self-)evaluate your contributions to the overall project.
To that end, please respond to the questions listed below. Your weekly journals should be helpful here.
You will also be asked to propose (and justify) a “mid-term grade” for yourself. Note that this grade is not binding! It is simply a way to get some feedback at this point in the semester.
Please email me your midterm reflections by 8:00am on Friday, 11 April.
Don’t forget to put your name on your paper!
NOTE: in case you are enrolled in two tutorials, you simply need to turn in a single evaluation that reflects upon your work in both classes. You can, if you wish, propose yourself two different grades.
Q1:: Think about how much work you have done so far in the course. How much time / effort did you commit to (i) the required readings, (ii) completing the assignments, and (iii) preparing for and participating in class?
Q2: Overall, how would you rate the difficulty of the material so far? What concepts / assignments did you struggle with? What do you still not (yet) understand?
Q3: Now reflect on what you have learned so far. What was genuinely new to you? What will you stil remember in six months?
Q4: Now let’s think about opportunities for improvement. That is, what steps could you (or did you) take to deepen your understanding of course concepts or increase your engagement in the class?
Q5: Thinking about your performance to date in terms of (i) attendance, (ii) your level of preparation and engagement, (iii) your contributions to the group assignments, (iv) your assignment “grades”, and (v) your overall comprehension of the course material, propose a (NON-BINDING) grade that you should receive. Explain why you would give yourself that grade.
Q6: Now it’s time for you to give me some feedback. What elements of the class work well for you so far? In other words, what would you definitely keep the same going forward?
And what elements don’t work so well? In other words, what would you definitely change going forward? Regarding the areas where you would like to see changes: do you have any suggestions about the types of changes you would like to see implemented?