239 The best aspect of this course was the hands-on experiments that didn’t come with any pre-lab or post-lab assignments. Students completed al their experiments in class and did not have to do any work outside of the classroom. The worst aspects of the course included the unclear lab guidelines, ineffective teaching assistants, and lengthy labs that students often had a difficult time completing. The course would improve if the students were provided with clearer lab instructions, effective teaching assistants and more structured lab experiments, in order to prevent the experiments from being rushed and not well-correlated with the subject matter. Prospective students should be prepared to use statistics and Microsoft Excel in the lab. Those who want to be successful should read the labs beforehand and pace themselves to complete them in the al otted three hours.

Students found the best aspects of this course to be the relaxed atmosphere and the variety of subjects studied over the semester. They liked the rotation of the presentation topics, and appreciated the relatively light workload. Students did not like that everything was taught through student presentations, as the information was not always correct and the professor simply guided presentations instead of actually teaching the materials. Students also thought that they did not cover any of the materials in detail. Student suggestions for improvement included having the professor spend part of the class lecturing. Students also wanted more guidance in their presentation preparations and believed the presentations would be more effective if there was more interaction between the speakers and the audience. Prospective students should anticipate spending most of their time preparing for their presentation, and expect to complete some reading each week.

Students appreciated that the course focused on a variety of interesting, yet relevant topics throughout the semester. Students were given the opportunity to learn about topics of their choice. Some students noted that there was a lack of feedback and heavy focus on the presentation. It was suggested that the course incorporate a different style of lecture to include presenters that are more versed on the given topic. Prospective students should know that little to no background is required, and the course is focused around a presentation.