Course Description:
CS 100: Introduction to Computing through Applications
Using personal computers as effective problem solving tools for the present and the future. Effective use of spreadsheets to process, manipulate, and visualize numeric and textual information. Introduction to the Internet, World Wide Web, HTML, and XML. Algorithms underlying the functional components of web search engines and their influence on data access. Using wikis to publish, reshape, and organize data collaboratively.
Dave's Comments:
Teaching Evaluations:
Number of Respondents: 42 / 160 (26%)
The learning outcomes for this course were clearly identified. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 19 |
2% | 5% | 10% | 37% | 46% |
The course materials and activities helped me to understand the course concepts. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 18 |
2% | 5% | 7% | 41% | 44% |
The course introduced an appropriate amount of new material. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | | 4 | 18 | 18 |
2% | | 10% | 44% | 44% |
The course content was well-organized and clearly explained. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
2 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 16 |
5% | 5% | 7% | 44% | 39% |
The intended learning outcomes were assessed through my graded work. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 16 |
2% | 2% | 7% | 49% | 39% |
The assessments contributed to my learning. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree | No Basis for Rating |
1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 20 | |
3% | 5% | 3% | 38% | 51% | |
The way in which the course material prepared me for the assessments was fair and appropriate. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 16 |
2% | 2% | 12% | 44% | 39% |
Feedback on assessments was provided within a reasonable timeframe. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | | 11 | 16 | 13 |
2% | | 27% | 39% | 32% |
Feedback on assessments contributed to my learning. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 1 | 7 | 19 | 13 |
2% | 2% | 17% | 46% | 32% |
The course environment was supportive and helped me to learn. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 2 | 7 | 18 | 13 |
2% | 5% | 17% | 44% | 32% |
The course personnel were helpful to students seeking assistance. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | | 5 | 16 | 16 |
3% | | 13% | 42% | 42% |
My interest in this topic was stimulated by this course. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
1 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 12 |
2% | 2% | 12% | 52% | 30% |
The course material and course personnel encouraged me to be engaged with the course. |
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
2 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 10 |
5% | 3% | 13% | 54% | 26% |
On average, how many hours per week did I spend on this course? |
0 to 5 | 5 to 10 | 10 to 15 | 15 20 | > 20 |
14 | 15 | 8 | 4 | |
34% | 37% | 20% | 10% | |
The learning outcomes for this course were clearly identified. |
- [Strongly Agree] Very clear outline of learning goals that was easy to follow throughout term
The course materials and activities helped me to understand the course concepts. |
- [Strongly Agree] The knowledge and application quizzes were very helpful and then the additional assignments helped reinforce the concepts
The course introduced an appropriate amount of new material. |
- [Strongly Agree] Perfect amount to keep interesting but not be overwhelmed
The course content was well-organized and clearly explained. |
- [Strongly Agree] So clear and easy to follow
The intended learning outcomes were assessed through my graded work. |
- [Strongly Agree] Assessments related directly to concepts learned, and application questions helped me to think deeper
The assessments contributed to my learning. |
- [Strongly Agree] Really reinforced my learning
The way in which the course material prepared me for the assessments was fair and appropriate. |
- [Strongly Agree] Course material was well laid out and easy to follow, covered everything to be successful on the assessments
Feedback on assessments was provided within a reasonable timeframe. |
- [Neutral] At first, you'd get them quick but then they dragged on for days and days as the assignments got bigger which is understandable.
- [Strongly Agree] Only comment would be would be nice to have last weeks assignment grades back before final midterm
Feedback on assessments contributed to my learning. |
- [Strongly Agree] And if there wasn't enough feedback, TAs were great at providing it when asked
The course environment was supportive and helped me to learn. |
- [Disagree] Having the course in person would have made it much easier to understand the content as I could have received assistance directly from the instructor.
- [Strongly Agree] The TA's definitely carried me through this term. They were very involved and knowledgeable.
- [Strongly Agree] With the LEARN site, TAs to email and the Teams channel, I felt very supported and like I could get my questions answered.
The course personnel were helpful to students seeking assistance. |
- [Strongly Agree] So fantastic - very responsive to emails
My interest in this topic was stimulated by this course. |
- [Neutral] I was never a fan of CS but had to take it as it's a requirement for my program. However, I must say it is quite cool being able to have your very own website to show people.
- [Strongly Agree] Great intro, and important basics for anyone.
The course material and course personnel encouraged me to be engaged with the course. |
- [Strongly Agree] Weekly posts helped with engagement.
Note: This is a complete list of comments I received, listed alphabetically to avoid bias.
The most important thing I learned in this course was: |
- Although I am doing pretty well in the course and that the instructors/TAs were very helpful, it taught me that Computer Science is not for me. No offense to anyone, but I do prefer natural sciences, and this course solidified my preference.
- basic but valuable knowledge about CS
- Basic html coding skills, how to build a website
- beginner concepts in css, how to use html
- coding is kinda cool lol
- Create web pages.
- CS100 isn't for me.
- Develop web pages and use EXCEL as a useful tool.
- Excel concepts which were very useful and can be applied to other courses/tasks as well.
- Excel functions
- Foundations of how computers work and a better understanding of webpages (HTML) - I knew nothing about this before and it has really helped.
- Having an organized schedule like the instructor has set up for students is very essential for learning.
- How to create an html
- How to do advanced functions on MS excel
- I felt the HTML/CSS learned in this course was useful.
- it is so important to choose courses you will have fun in because not only will you be more interested in learning, your will also get great marks and have fun at the same time.
- Material wise was how to use excel in an advanced way and create HTML websites, but also to stay on task and ask questions when needed
- Perseverance and asking questions are extremely important for understanding concepts that are completely new to you.
- pivot charts on excel
- That computers are way more complicated than people know it is
- The basics behind the internet
- the excel stuff think it'll be very helpful
- Using excel functions.
What helped me to learn in this course was: |
- easy to understand instructions
- friends and classmates
- getting to know the technology and apps before trying out the assignments.
- God's grace and a ridiculous amount of patience.
- Going through my notes and connecting with my TA's and peers.
- Having the grace days really helped me as I could take an extra day or two to complete an assignment if I could not figure out what to do to solve a problem.
- Interesting and well designed assessments
- Learn about the basic knowledge about my computer, logic command, and web. This is very useful for all students in Waterloo and I recommend this for EVERYONE.
- The "hands on" assessments for excel, HTML, and CSS contributed the most because they applied the concepts that were learned.
- The application activities.
- The applied assignments.
- The help of the TAs.
- The ISA were very helpful. The examples provided with the HTML modules display the tags and stuff.
- the part c in every assignment made me think of ways to achieve for the result
- the practical assessments
- The TAs.
- Unrelated but I specifically appreciated Barbara Daly and all the effort she puts in to accommodate and help the students in the course in any way she can!
- video and transcript notes
- Village 1 study hall.
- Weekly quizzes and assignments kept me on track
What changes, if any, would I suggest for this course? |
- Add some new content.
- I don't have any:)
- I don't really have any suggestions
- I feel that many of the assessment questions, especially multiple-choice, did not reasonably evaluate the content covered, and were instead tedious and simply there to trick the student instead of demonstrating their learning.
- I would suggest that this course be switched to an in-person version so there can be more interaction between the instructor and other course staff and the students to better facilitate learning.
- in person lectures and more in depth explanations on new material like coding and advanced excel
- Instant feedback for tests the multiple choice quiz
- Its great
- make the midterms correlated to materials learned in class (weekly tests were much easier to complete than midterms which had new material not converted in class)
- Maybe make it clearer how each section connects to each other, as is it is jarring to jump from Excel to CSS towards the end of the course. Also, more videos, as pure reading is challenging to keep engaging.
- n/a
- N/A
- N/A
- No other suggestion I think, this course seems perfect now.
- None, this is one of the best online courses I have taken. Everything on LEARN is well organized, and the assignments help us apply the knowledge of the lectures. 10/10 :)
- Nothing really. The course is not difficult if you're interested and willing to learn.
- Nothing, I really liked it.
- Nothing, the course is great and engaging
- this course is perfect for begginers