Feedback for EPEC-Norse Mythology

Facilitator(s): Andy Berquist

Description of course: This course will introduce students to the two major bodies of work in Norse mythology, the Poetic and Prose Eddas. There will be readings from selected passages in each, as well as miscellaneous work from Norse myths. We will discuss the myths in class. Ideally, the class will take place outside, after dark, around a fire, to better recreate the environment where these myths were originally told.

= The Statistics =

(Note: Percentages based on number of students that filled out the feedback form.)

I took this course because of:

 * Interest in continuing to study the subject matter = 100%
 * Offer of general academic credit/satisfaction of Div obligations = 50%
 * Curiosity about an EPEC class in general = 50%
 * Curiosity about beginning to study the subject matter = 25%
 * It sounded better than watching YouTube in my room = 25%
 * Personal friendship with a facilitator = 0%

I attended the meetings of the course:

 * Entirely = 100%
 * Frequently = 0%
 * Occasionally = 0%
 * Rarely/Never = 0%

I engaged in discussions with the course facilitator outside of classroom:

 * Often = 0%
 * Occasionally = 100%
 * Never = 0%

I completed the outside readings for the course:

 * Entirely = 100%
 * Sometimes = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 0%

I completed the outside homework assignments for the course:

 * Entirely = 100%
 * Sometimes = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 0%

I found the course facilitator available for help outside of the classroom:

 * Always = 75%
 * Occasionally = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 25%

I found the course facilitator able to answer questions within the classroom:

 * Always = 100%
 * Occasionally = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 0%

I found the classes to be well organized and well conducted:

 * Always = 100%
 * Occasionally = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 0%

I found the course material to have been presented clearly and intelligibly:

 * Always = 100%
 * Occasionally = 0%
 * Never = 0%
 * Not Applicable = 0%

I found the facilitators amenable to tailoring the course to my needs:

 * Greatly = 75%
 * Somewhat = 25%
 * A Little = 0%
 * Not at All = 0%

This course increased my knowledge of the subject matter:

 * Greatly = 75%
 * Somewhat = 25%
 * A Little = 0%
 * Not at All = 0%

This course challenged me:

 * Greatly = 75%
 * Somewhat = 25%
 * A Little = 0%
 * Not at All = 0%

This course increased my desire to study the subject matter further:

 * Greatly = 75%
 * Somewhat = 0%
 * A Little = 25%
 * Not at All = 0%

I would take another course on a different subject from this facilitator:

 * Yes! = 75%
 * Probably = 0%
 * Depending on the subject = 25%
 * No = 0%

I would take another course on this subject from a different facilitator:

 * Yes! = 25%
 * Probably = 50%
 * Depends on the facilitator = 25%
 * No = 0%

= The Comments: what students thought, in their own words =

What I particularly liked about the course:
"I loved being outside! Too bad we only got to do it a couple of times. But the inside sessions were interesting too, because we could bring more books with us – the prospect of sitting outside tended to make me pare down the amount of stuff I brought. Overall, my favorite thing was the subject material and learning more about the Norse myths, so outside or inside doesn’t really matter."

"The casual, discussion-based format, and the many different backgrounds that  people brought to the course (along with the wide variety of interests that  this led to in final papers)."

"I liked the details that the teachers gave which I could not have found in the books alone."

"the facilitators and students were all very interested in the material and had similar conceptions of reality; the course-relevant discussion and the irrelevant banter were both worth my time. Also, everyone involved was very knowledgeable and willing to help; while I didn't use this much, it made for a pleasant atmosphere."

What I particularly disliked about the course:
"The only thing I didn’t like was how short JanTerm is! More time would have been awesome."

"I really felt like we didn't have enough classes to really get into the  material. Also, sometimes we didn't seem to have enough discussion to fill  up the class time...more material would have helped with that, and I know I  personally could have completed more readings."

"On the last day, we looked at the sagas, which I find much less exciting than  the Eddas. I would say that they are literature but not mythology."

What I would suggest the facilitators do differently next time:
"If the course is offered again, and is outside again, I’d suggest providing one more tarp. People didn’t seem to realize the need to bring stuff to sit on. Also, I’d have liked to know more about the different styles of poetry. "

"Like I said above, I could have done more reading or met more often."

"Omit the sagas."

"The longest reading the same day as the paper. Not a good choice, however interesting the reading."