Contents

Appendices
Curriculum Vita
Selected Manuscripts
Teaching Evaluations
Peer Evaluations
Ivy Tech: Physics
Elem. Science
4th, 5th grade
Intro. Astronomy
Course Syllabi
ED128: Teaching with
Technology
ED300: Secondary
Science Methods E328: Elem. Science
Intro. Astronomy
Computer Methods

Appendix C: Evidence of Quality Teaching

Introductory Astronomy, Spring 1998, Summer 1998, Spring 1999

I taught an experimental introductory astronomy course for non-science majors. This course was a curriculum/research project intended to design and evaluate a project-based course in which students constructed three-dimensional computer models of the solar system to learn astronomy concepts. The following comments are from students who took the course during the three semesters in which I was the primary instructor. 1. What would is one thing that you would like to the department to know about this instructor? He is the best science teacher that I have had while at the university. He would really take his time to help me understand the topic. In fact, he would really go out of his way to help us understand. He really cares about his students and really listens. Some of my other instructors just go through the motions, but he really listens to his students and tries to come up with ways to help. He was one the most challenging instructors I have had because he kept asking question after question. However, I do think that I learned more from this course than any course I have taken here at Indiana. I didn't know what I was getting into when I signed up for this, but I am glad I did. Mike is one of the best instructors I have ever had in my life. I thought the course was great fun because he was always enthusiastic and really cared about whether we learned the material or not. He was very fair and really listened to us when we were struggling to understand. Mike is the most energetic teacher that I have ever had. He really enjoys teaching and really likes to help his students learn. I have highly recommended to my friends that they take his course. Mike really takes his time to explain the material in ways that even I can understand. I really dislike science, and only took this course because I had to, but I really enjoyed and now I even read the newspaper looking for news about astronomy. Mike was a really challenging instructor, always asking questions, and making us think. At times it was frustrating when I just wanted to know the answer, but he really does care about whether I learned the material or not. I would like to have had more instructors like him. I thought his teaching was great. He was very open, friendly, allowed us to make mistakes, and then helped us figure out what we did wrong rather than just telling us the answer. At times I would have liked for him to tell me the answer, but in the end I think I learned more. Mike is one of the best instructors I have had here. I think I will remember more from his course than from any other course I have taken. Mike is fun. He is always in a good mood and just seems to love teaching. My big comment is, Mike was great! 2. What did you like most about the course? What did you like least about the course? This was the most unique class I have taken. Your help is helping me learn astronomy was superb. I only took this class because I needed a science requirement, but it turned out it was one of the best classes I have taken at IU. I really enjoyed the class. It was so much nicer that we had a say in what we wanted to learn. I feel that I understand astronomy and computer science concepts much better now. I really enjoyed having you as an instructor and have recommended the class to everyone I know. I thought the class went really well. We could have a few more lectures, but without them it forced me to find the information and try to figure it out. I think I learned more in the class than my other classes. I though you did a wonderful job in teaching the class while preparing to get married. Thank you fiancé for the cookies! Thanks for a good class. Working in groups at first was a bit difficult for me, but as the semester went along we worked together to well. I would like to thank you for putting up with my early complaints with my team members. In the end we had a great deal of fun, even despite the few technical glitches that we ran into along the way. I suggest using something besides VRcreator next class. Great class. I had a wonderful time and learned a lot. The technical problems were a pain at times, but you handled them well. I have recommended this class to my friends a fun class and one that you get to learn stuff for yourself and not be lectured to. The CAVE was fun. The class was fun. The models were fun. The laid backness of the great. I think every class should be taught this way. I don't the University would be into it though. I loved this class. I would like to take it again. It was so much better than any other science class I have taken. At the beginning of the class there might be a bit more structure to help get started, but it is fine. I would have gove to the CAVE a little bit more. I think this is a wonderful idea to teach a class. One of the best courses I have ever taken. The class was great fun. I learned a lot and had fun. The class was a lot of work but it was fun. I enjoyed working in the class rather than sitting and listening to a boring professor. It was fun and has been one of the best classes I have taken at IU. This was my class I had to take for me to graduate. It was a wonderful class to graduate with. I signed up for it because it looked interesting, but wasn't expecting it to be as interesting as it turned out to be. I learned a lot of astronomy and have recommended the class to my friends. Wonderful, I enjoyed the class immensely. This is a way to teach a class. Let the students have control over what they learn. I enjoyed the class very much and learned a lot! .