Written feedback - AOS 640 / S06
Transcribed completely and unedited, in the same order as filed.

Comments on the Instruction

"The lectures were very clear.  However, I sometimes wished that they would have gone beyond the textbook a little more (I guess that's always an issue when using the professor's own textbook).  I like the emphasis on understanding the physical meaning of equations."

"Once we got through the first couple of chapters, the instructor was extremely useful in learning the material.  Overheads were very useful."

"I thought that the organization and pace of this course were great.  I really like how we would read a small section of text and the class would reinforce the reading (the exact same material covered in the reading).  This regimented approach is highly conducive to learning and more classes could learn from this approach.  This only drawback is that you must have a single competent text, which many courses do not have."

"Textbook was very clear, yet I feel too much of text was relied on rather than lecture."

"Project is really nice."

"I thought the 2nd half of the class went too fast, things were brought up at a rapid pace and not quite explained fully."

"I like the lecturer's teaching method.  Bring the questions.  Solving and its application on the meteorology."

"Lectures are very clear.  Speaking volume and writing on board is great.  In the second half of the semester, materials have been gone through a little bit too fast in class."

"I thought the book was good, though it was a little difficult to try to digest all of the info.  I thought Petty was an effective teacher & approached the class with enthusiasm."

"all good"

Comments on the Course

"The textbook was very well designed - getting across the important points in an easy-to-understand way.  The problems throughout the text were useful, and I liked the model of ungraded problems for which the solutions were provided.  At times I felt like the text was a bit too simplified, though (perhaps there could be some optional sections that go into more depth - this would be useful for reference).  I thought the projects were well-designed, as well as fun (but then, I enjoy all programming projects)."

"It would have been nice to have to hand in some things before the very end of the semester.  It is always helpful to get back one project / assignment before handing in another so you can improve your technique."

"This approach to learning is great as long as you keep up with the reading.  Unfortunately, the last 1-2 months of the semester, I was unable to devote sufficient time to the reading b/c the projects were highly time consuming.  Often I was spending all of my time working on the projects (at the expense of other classes!)"

"Having the lectures as a supplement to the book is not a good way to go about learning something.   There are 10,000 different equations in the book, and presenting a class in this manner says one should know all the equations, and the instructor will touch on a few.  The other way around lets the students know what is the most important parts, & if we need further explanation, we can go to the book."

"I think the exam/project %ages for grading is where it should be.  I prefer how homework is assigned, do it at our own pace, not for grading.  We know we need to do it; at the grad level leave it up to the individual.  Exam length should have been shorter."

"I think he should have explicitly assigned homework problems.  Then work through them after grading them."

"Some topics should go deep into it but maybe it will show up at 740."

"It would be helpful if the homework were graded."  I don't find this class very interesting so it was hard to find the motivation to do the problems until right before the exams."

"I like the idea of the projects, I wouldn't mind a few problem sets just to force me to review material on a weekly basis."

"Projects can be split into several parts.  Before midterm, checking the status and progress.  Working on group also can let students peer-learning."

"I think I like individual projects.  They are more fun than weekly homework sets."

"I think the projects were a good idea.  It might have been good to have one due by April 1, so we can get feedback on how we're doing.  I think it would be good to have students hand in homework occasionally, if only for feedback."

"texbook - nice & straightforward  ;  homework - add some more problems at the end of the book."

Other comments

"I learned a lot from this course, and enjoyed it.  I sometimes felt that it could have been a little more challenging, but I feel that it was a very useful course.  Thanks!"

"I would have greatly benefitted from handing in homework assignments rather than looking at the answers provided.  I personally learn far more when problem technique is gone over when discussing homework problems.  The projects were interesting and a learned a lot from them, but I would have taken away more from the course with one project and serious homework assignments where I would get a greater grasp on all topics throughout the course instead of a couple of the projects."

"I would have rather had a 3d exam and only 1 of the projects, instead of 2 exams / 2 projets.  Your out of class help was great!   The course in scientific computing would be greatly helpful."

"I thought the amount of material was too much.  At the end especially, it seemed like quantity was stressed and not necessarily as in depth as lectures should have been.  I would recommend glancing over Ch. 3   --  i.e. -> no lecture -- as one way to get more time at the end."

"Very responsible teacher!"

"One slight criticism I have is that Prof. Petty doesn't always remember that this material might not be second nature to everyone."

"Something should be done about the computer science problem.  Until there is, perhaps schedule individual meetings (mandatory) to go over outline for the semester.  Fall semester problems with getting help on an unknown topic to me from a particular professor made me wait too long to seek assistance with the Fortran this semester, especially after learning I was only one without any familiarity in C.S."   (Note - I know of more than one  - GP)