CS200 Course Improvement Survey

See the original Survey for the instructions.

7 (out of 9) surveys were returned.

General Questions

For each statement, circle a choice to indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement.

1. Before taking CS200, I thought programming was fun.	Strongly Disagree: 1	Disagree: 0	Not Sure: 2	Agree: 4	Strongly Agree: 0
2. After taking CS200, I thought programming was fun.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 1	Not Sure: 0	Agree: 6	Strongly Agree: 0
Difference between 1 and 2: SD -> A 1; NS->A 1; A->A 4; NS->D 1
3. Before taking CS200, I expected to take more CS courses.	Strongly Disagree: 1	Disagree: 1	Not Sure: 2	Agree: 2	Strongly Agree: 1
4. After taking CS200, I expected to take more CS courses.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 0	Not Sure: 2	Agree: 4	Strongly Agree: 1
Diference between 3 and 4: D -> SA: 1; SD -> NS: 1; NS -> A: 2; A -> A: 1; A -> NS: 1; SA -> A: 1
5. I thought the time I spent on the problem sets was worthwhile.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 1	Not Sure: 1	Agree: 5	Strongly Agree: 0
6. I thought the time I spent on the exams was worthwhile.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 0	Not Sure: 1	Agree: 6	Strongly Agree: 0
7. I thought that the time I spent attending lectures was worthwhile.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 0	Not Sure: 1	Agree: 1	Strongly Agree: 5
8. I thought that the time I spent in classes when students worked on problems in groups was worthwhile.	Strongly Disagree: 0	Disagree: 0	Not Sure: 2	Agree: 4	Strongly Agree: 1

Answer each question by circling a choice. Feel free to write more if you want.

7. How many units should CS200 be worth?	2: 0	3: 1	4: 6	5: 0	6: 0
8. How much reading from GEB be required?	More than this year: 1	Same as this year: 3	Less than this year: 2	None, make it optional: 1	Use a different book: 0
Very interestin book, might want to test it so people finish reading what is assigned.

This semester, we had 7 classes that were group work sessions (or exam reviews), and 31 classes that were more traditional lectures. There should be:

38 lectures: 0

31 lectures, 7 work sessions: 5

25 lectures, 13 work sessions: 2

19 lectures, 19 work sessions: 0

13 lectures, 25 work sessions: 0

7 lectures, 31 work sessions: 0

38 work sessions: 0

Problem Sets

For each problem set, indicate whether you think a similar problem set should be reused next year. If you have suggestions for what the changes should be, they are appreciated.

PS 1. Mosaics	Don't Use Again: 1	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 2	Reuse with minor changes: 4
PS 2. Function Fractals	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 2	Reuse with minor changes: 5
PS 3. L-System Fractals	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 2	Reuse with minor changes: 5
PS 4. Lorenz Cipher	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 0	Reuse with minor changes: 7
This was by far my favorite.
PS 5. Un-Prosaic Mosaics	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 3	Reuse with minor changes: 4
PS 6. Adventures	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 3	Reuse with minor changes: 5
PS 7. Quantum Computing	Don't Use Again: 3	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 3	Reuse with minor changes: 1
PS 8. Dynamic Web Site	Don't Use Again: 0	Maybe reuse, needs major changes: 0	Reuse with minor changes: 7

The last problem set should be:

like PS 8: 5

a Scheme problem set: 0

a research paper: 0

Recruiting

What should I do to get more students to take this class next year?

I don't think you can do more than you've already done; you can't help it if people aren't willing to do real work.

Wait for the hard assignments until after the drop deadline!!

Fight to get CS200 to cover CogSci CS requirement.

Make the first problem set easier.

Advertise

Offer different options for students who want to take course pass fail.

Don't "frighten" students the first week. No mandatory group work. Keep PS's simple enough that it isn't necessary for the TA to walk student through the entire thing. The PS's were cool, but not an "efficient" way of learning the material

Advertising, maybe demo a lecture, a lot of people are scared of CS because it seems really foreign, oh - talk to the Comm School, ask them to consider CS200 as a pre-req or recommended course.

Suggestions

Any other suggestions for improving this course?

I think realistically speaking that if you want more people, the course will probably have to be easier. However, you don't want to worsen this course; so my thought is that this course's survival depends on compromise.

The plan of lectures is great and well thought out, just refine what questions you will ask the class to move through the lecture.

Either slow it down some or say that previous programming is recommended.

Nope. It was a lot of fun!!

Fewer problem sets. Less graphics-oriented material or problem sets. Less code of other people you have to understand before you can start on problem set. Explain environments better (we spend enought time on it, but it could have been explained better).

University of Virginia Department of Computer Science CS 200: Computer Science

David Evans evans@virginia.edu Using these Materials