HON301K Science Technology and the Pursuit of Truth (Midterm -FA03)

Indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements:
			(select only one response per question)
			Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Not Applicable
1.	As a result of this course I have a greater capability to analyze, develop, and use reasoning skills to understand the implications and decision-making processes of individuals, institutions, and/or governing bodies regarding		[1]	[9]	[0]	[0]	[1]
2.	As a result of this course I better understand how to examine science & technology- their risks, benefits, aesthetics, values, and/or social and ethical implications		[4]	[7]	[0]	[0]	[0]
3.	As a result of this course I can better evaluate alternative responses to scientific and technological issues before suggesting new courses of action or critiquing current or past responses		[2]	[8]	[1]	[0]	[0]
4.	As a result of this course I have a greater understanding of the background of specific scientific and technological developments, as viewed from varied scientific, social, and world view perspectives		[2]	[7]	[1]	[1]	[0]
5.	As a result of this course I have a greater understanding of the meaning, history, and implications of specific examples of science and technology		[3]	[4]	[3]	[1]	[0]
6.	As a result of this course I have a deeper understanding of the impacts of science & technology on our personal lives and life styles and on the environment in which our lives and the rest of Creation are embedded.		[6]	[5]	[0]	[0]	[0]
7.	As a result of this course I have a stronger ability to evaluate the appropriateness of science and echnology and to make wise choices involving the use of science and technology in our everyday lives		[3]	[8]	[0]	[0]	[0]
8.	As a result of this course I have a greater capability to integrate faith and social responsibility into a balanced understanding of our scientific and technological society.		[1]	[9]	[1]	[0]	[0]
9.	As a result of this course I better understand the meanings of complex areas like science, technology, and truth and how our understandings of these areas have changed/are changing through time.		[2]	[8]	[1]	[0]	[0]
10.	Electronic discussions (via Blackboard) have played a key role in the success of this course for me as a learner.		[0]	[3]	[7]	[1]	[0]
11.	Written focus responses on the readings/classes have played a key role in my learning for this course.		[4]	[4]	[2]	[1]	[0]
12.	Face to face discussions and interactions have played a key role in my learning for this course.		[5]	[6]	[0]	[0]	[0]
13.	The course project has played a key role in my learning for this course.		[3]	[3]	[2]	[0]	[3]
14.	The readings assigned have played a key role in my learning for this course.		[2]	[7]	[2]	[0]	[0]
15.	The "compensation time" provided by not meeting on Fridays has helped me to keep up with course readings and on-line course components of the courses.		[8]	[1]	[2]	[0]	[0]

In your opinion which of the following have provided the greatest contribution to your learning in Science, Technology, and the Pursuit of Truth so far this semester?
Please rate each of the following from 1 (lowest contribution) to 5 (greatest contribution)			(select only one response pe question
			5	4	3	2	1
16.	Readings from the texts you purchased for the course		[3]	[3]	[2]	[3]	[0]
17.	Readings from articles posted on the web		[0]	[5]	[2]	[3]	[1]
18.	Optional readings from course links or materials you have found in your own searching		[0]	[1]	[3]	[2]	[5]
19.	The on-line open discussion "Truth Forum"		[0]	[2]	[3]	[5]	[1]
20.	The on-line reading response "Focus Forums".		[1]	[6]	[2]	[2]	[0]
21.	In class presentations and discussions		[5]	[2]	[4]	[0]	[0]
22.	My own independent work on the course project		[3]	[3]	[3]	[1]	[1]

Please tell how you feel class time should be spent by ranking the following choices about the use of time during the two weekly class meetings.
I think my learning is most enhanced when class time is spent in...			Rank each statement from 5 (Most preferred) to 1 (least preferred)
			5 (Most preferred)	4	3	2	1 (Least preferred)
23.	lecture - information presentation by the professor		[0]	[7]	[2]	[1]	[1]
24.	class discussion - sharing of ideas on the course materials among all class members		[8]	[3]	[0]	[0]	[0]
25.	small group discussion - sharing of ideas on course materials within a small group, but with a summary for the entire class		[0]	[3]	[1]	[6]	[1]
26.	collaborative learning - searching for information on the web, via brainstorming, or case studies		[0]	[1]	[3]	[3]	[4]
27.	diversity - mixed approaches that vary depending on the topic being covered.		[5]	[2]	[3]	[0]	[0]

28.	Typically, the hours I spend on this course, outside of class fall within ______hours per week;
	[4] 1-5
	[5] 5-10
	[2] 10-15
	[0] 15-20
	[0] 20-25
	[0] 25-30
	[0] >30

29.	Most of my time in this course has been spent on:
	[6] reading
	[4] assignments
	[0] course web
	[0] course project
	[1] class attendance

30.	What percent of the reading assignments for each class session do you complete?
	[0] less than 25%
	[4] about 50%
	[5] about 75%
	[2] greater than 90%
	[0] 100%

31.	Overall, I have been ______with this course
	[0] very dissatisfied
	[0] dissatisfied
	[5] satisfied
	[6] very satisfied

32.

Please summarize your thoughts on the effectiveness of this course as a learning experience up to this point in the semester.

[I've learned more in this class than most of my other classes so far at Bethel. Maybe it's just that I'm becoming more engaging as a student; I've reached this point in my character development.] [I like the mix of teaching/learning styles, and the interactive way of us coming up with our own definitions for things has definitely helped me carry lessons away from each class period. Listening to what others have to say is really important in helping me to learn and shape my own opinions.] [This has been a very interesting course. I feel I have learned the most from class discussions and from doing the focus responses each week. I also will probably learn very much from research for the final project. I think that information will have the greatest impact upon my life. ] [I feel that the course has helped me to learn alot about science & technology. I am quite pleased.] [I have learned a lot from the Philosophy of Science material, the Del Raetzsch book was amazing in my opinion. I think the readings have been pretty good as a whole, and they have been the means through which I have learned the most.] [This has been a definate learning experience for me and allowed me to think of technology and science from many different viewpoints.] [I really enjoy the format of this class. I think it has been designed with the students in mind. As an honors group, discussion and involvement are the most appropriate learning methods.] [I feel it's been very effective when us students are willing to allow it to be.] [it is slightly different from what i expected, but honors courses usually are]

33.

Please summarize how the effort you have put into the course so far this semester has influenced your learning in the course.

[I really learned more from my own probing than from class discussions, though they do guide me into the right directions.] [By forcing myself to do pretty much all the readings, and then spending a good amount of time pulling everything together in a focus response, I have forced ideas into my head that will be easy to remember and apply to my life.] [The amount of effort I've put into the project and the weekly responses has directly influenced how much I have learned from the class. I have still learned from the class discussions without doing all the readings, but the degree to which I have paid attention in class has impacted how much I've learned.] [The effort placed in areas of personal interest that are fundamental to my project have been quite enjoyable and hopefully will result in a very rigorous and insightful paper.] [I have put in a decent amount of effort in my mind. I've done all of the Raetzsch reading, most of the Responsible Technology, a small bit of the Things Bite back...but I have done none of the online reading: there is just something about endlessly scrolling that distracts me, as well as being able to look at different websites while I read. I much prefer books. I have put much thought into my writings however and spend several hours writing each focus response, as well as contributing to Blackboard on a regular basis. I also learn a good deal from these methods of the class.] [I have had to put in a large effort into this class because it is much more focused on philosophical topics rather than information that can just be picked up through a lesson and assingment. Due to this effort though, I find that I have learned a lot about the topics and explored deeper into the class ideas than I had expected to.] [The focus forums have really directed my studying so that I can get a lot out of the large volume of reading. The Truth Forum is an interesting way to interact outside of class, but I don't think it has been vital to my learning.] [Most of my effort has been in the readings and in the focuse responses, and both of these reinforce main ideas and themes of the course.] [reading is always beneficial, though i think more effective primary texts could be found]

34.

What recommendations would make that might improve the course experience for the rest of the semester?

[Definitely just keep the topics interesting, engaging, and within reach of the average mind.] [Get a little deeper/more technical in some areas maybe.] [Making the readings more necessary to have completed for each class period would create more of an accountability system and would encourage the students to make sure the readings are complete. ] [I really like the current variety of pedagogical strategies. I really wouldn't change anything. Although, I think a few field trips to labs or other sites of technological/scientific activity might be beneficial.] [Less online reading. Even making them handouts would make me more prone to reading them.] [There is a lot of reading. Some weeks it might be better to narrow the readings down, so everyone reads the same things and is on the same page.] [too much truth forum posting, i would much rather talk than write to my classmates. i do not want to sign on to blackboard every single day]

35.	Other Comments about the course or other issues.
	[This has been my favorite honors course. I have found the material very interesting and have enjoyed the online approach to the course. The information is interesting and applicable to life.]

36.	How many credit hours are you currently taking? (write your response in the spaces provided)
	[ Min: 14.000 Max: 19.000 Mean: 16.182 Std Dev: 1.834] semester hours	[ Min: 12.000 Max: 12.000 Mean: 12.000 Std Dev: -1.000] quarter hours

End of Survey