Summer 2019 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Southfield Center
1. 3.67/4.0 = 91.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.0/4.0 = 75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2019 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2018 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2018 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Southfield Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.86/4.0 = 96.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 4.0/4.0 =100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.50/4.0 = 87.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Summer 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 3.63/4.0 =90.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.64/4.0 =91% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.57/4.0 = 89.25% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.92/4.0 =98% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.92/4.0 = 98% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 3.83/4.0 =95.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.83/4.0 = 95.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Southfield Center
1. 3.90/4.0 =97.50% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.90/4.0 = 97.50% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Lansing Capital Area
1. 4.0/4.0 =100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.67/4.0 = 91.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2015 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.0/4.0 =75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 2.83/4.0 = 70.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Spring 2015 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Auburn Hills Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.73/4.0 = 93.25% -How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2014 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.25/4.0 = 81.25% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.38/4.0 = 84.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Fall 2013 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.92/4.0 = 98% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Summer 2012 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Auburn Hills Center
1. 3.36/4.0 = 84% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.09/4.0 = 77.25% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
Location: Southfield Center
1. 3.67/4.0 = 91.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.0/4.0 = 75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The test review tool was very useful. My test scores are sometimes low, using the test review tool improved my confidence when taking a test.
- Professor LongBenton always kept the class engaged with interesting discussions each day. Her powerpoints and overall course setup greatly helped me to learn the material.
- That Mrs. A'Kena LongBenton should always be the instructor for TAI 170.
- It would probably be better to meet more times in a week but other than that I thought it was really good.
Spring 2019 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- Being able to watch the professor present an example of each type of speech for us to review and rate.
- Having Mrs. Longbenton provides us with a live example 1 week prior to our performances.
- The way we were prepared with class notes and online material.
- Everything was clearly organized and presented. Expectations were always clear.
- Discuss the parts of the speech a bit more. I didn’t understand how each part of the speech related to the literature selection we chose at first.
- Get more professor like A'Kena Longbenton.
Fall 2018 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- I really appreciated the speeches we had to deliver to the class. I feel a lot more comfortable speaking in front of others.
- The speaking presentations
- Professor LongBenton took the time to teach us breathing techniques and really worked with each of us individually to improve our inherited skill sets in oral presentations.
- There were some quirky issues with getting the equipment to work at times, like we couldn't hear when she was trying to play us videos, generally everything was able to be worked out.
- This class was great.
- Nothing, she was an excellent teacher. I wish she taught more courses at CMU.
Spring 2018 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Southfield Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.86/4.0 = 96.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The off campus poetry reading was very useful.
- The Presentation was particularly useful in helping me
- The short story helped me.
- Mrs. LongBenton is a wonderful teacher who cares about her students and the subject. Mrs. LongBenton provided performance examples and paper examples that helped me with the assignments.
- Written analysis on The Vagina Monologues. It was engaging and enjoyable! It allowed me the opportunity to see one of my favorite shows!
- All of the speaking presentations.
- I really enjoyed the way she demonstrates what she expects from you and she encourages you to be confident with speaking.
- The presentations in the class impeded my learning
- We were given every opportunity to succeed in class.
- There are no suggestions she was great.
- I have no suggestions
- Class was great! Everyone in the class was very supportive of each other, and we were able to get to know each other in class. Really loved this class!
- I thought it was done well.
Fall 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 4.0/4.0 =100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.50/4.0 = 87.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- I liked how she encouraged everyone in the class to get know each other. From day one we had to start communicating with each other. That made the speeches easier to do because we all became comfortable with each other.
Summer 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 3.63/4.0 =90.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- Seeing the example of the performances plus the rubric helped
- Oral speeches useful in helping me
- All the practice activities for speaking in front of the class.
- Impromptu speeches useful in helping me
- Mrs. Long always demonstrated her own speech performances to give us an idea of the structure of each literature performance.
- The live speech review was useful in helping me
- Quiz reviews were helpful in driving home important terms and ideas.
- Short class time listed on the syllabus makes this course a better learning experience
- She did great the plan was prefect reminded me of Gina from Martin so much.
- Technology equipment was not online when we needed it to take quizzes. Therefore, IT people should be there to fix equipment when not working.
Spring 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.64/4.0 =91% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.57/4.0 = 89.25% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- Class interaction prior to quizzes with games to help with memorizing
- When Mrs. LongBenton throughly explained the projects by showing the class exactly what was expected through her performances.
- Mrs. LongBenton is an excellent instructor. She provides students with detailed examples and clear expectations. Her power point lecture notes are simple to understand and specific to the purpose.
- Being able to see what our performances should look like helped with preparedness.
- I did not like speaking in public, so the different oral presentations we did helped me with public speaking.
- The instructor's presentation examples, sample outlines and suggestions for what upcoming assignments.
- The instructor's use of guest speakers for the students to analyze as part of developing their own speaking and presentation abilities.
- I really enjoyed and appreciated the ability to observe and critique the guest speakers. This enhanced the subject matter with live examples.
- One specific learning activity that was particularly useful was the examples of each assignment presented before the assignment was due.
- Guest speaker particularly useful in helping me
- For an Oral class that was required for me to take. This professor made the mood of the classroom not intimidating but welcoming and entertaining. Her personality was open but straight forth with some humor in between. For me taking this course was a big deal since I go to mediation for anxiety. The 3 minute impromptu speech was very intimidating.
- There was nothing that impeded my learning.
- The 'Literature' part of this course is lacking. I went in with the thoughts of we would be learning more about specific literature but it was more of a recap of things from High school and public speaking.
- It was a great class; I don't know how it could be improved.
- I think the course is fine as it currently is.
- The course is fine
- The course was set up great.
- The course was well put together and taught.
- Do not require the purchase of books that will not be used in class.
- The textbooks that were 'required' in the syllabus should not be listed that way. This professor does not require them. I got most of my presentation literature off the internet. The professor could also improve her skills on blackboard. For someone who is supposed to be so educated as she presents herself it seemed as though at times it was more of a facade. Overall I would take the professor again because she made the class atmosphere nice but with lower expectations of the literature.
Spring 2017 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.92/4.0 =98% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.92/4.0 = 98% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- Having Professor LongBenton provides outlines & grade rubrics before each performance helped prepare better because we knew exactly what she was looking for. Also, her doing her own performance then we are critiquing her was a goo tool.
- The methodology used to study for the quizzes. Also, the grammar tips the instructor provided throughout the course.
- her examples prior to our performances.
- The speeches were great learning experiences and made the class so interesting.
- The written analysis paper on the guest speaker that attended the oral interpretation class of literature was very helpful. This particular assignment helped me understand How to keep your audience engaged and maintain eye contact with the audience while speaking.
- Objective speaking is helpful
- All of the learning activitites helped to retain information and learn the craft associated with this class.
- Poetry performance(s) really drew me in, especially having concluded the special work project & move relocation.
- Mrs. LongBenton provided very good examples of what she expected from the class. She has been the best instructor that I've had since I started at Central Michigan,
- Preparing for speeches allowed my to learn how to better present subjects in a public speaking format.
- The impromptu speech was a great learning tool that Professor Long Benton utilized as it helped me to always be ready and reinforced the idea that you should know a little bit about everything because you never know what an audience or conversation you may be invited into. I loved the exposure to the Twisted Storytellers field trip that took place at the Charles Wright African American Museum as it better exemplified the types of speech and storytelling styles and the attributes required to stand before people and command a presence. This class was an awesome experience and I am so glad that it was the first class that I took as I returned to school to complete my degree after being away for a while.
- The question jeopardy game was helpful.
- To provide students with an accurate example of the expectations for each of our three oral presentations, Mrs. LongBenton not only performed an example for each herself, but provided and discussed an outline for what criteria needed to be met to satisfy the grading rubric. As long as one covered the noted items, they could expect a satisfactory grade along with constructive comments from Mrs. LongBenton to help with future performances.
- The class was well planned.
- Without a doubt.., being on a 'special project' with a tight deadline at work whilst looking for a new place to move into... it was EXTREMELY stressful, consumed long days, late hours and 'all' my time on two weekends. School suffered. On one quiz, I didn't have even "5" minutes to review my notes before having to sit down and take the test. Those were two, really tough weeks.
- The only factor that could be described as an obstacle to learning in this course was my own fear of public speaking. That being said, I had the fortune of having extremely supportive classmates who I truly felt were pulling and cheering for each other's success. Mrs. LongBenton's personality breaks up the tension in the class and she provides her students with exercises on how to minimize speaking anxiety. I have already put these suggestions to work when I need to present material to a group in the work setting and can say they have helped me become more relaxed ... not quite comfortable yet, but a long way from where I started.
- First class I've taken on campus since I've been a CMU student & I loved it. Professor LongBenton is a AWESOME professor & I would love to take one of her classes again.
- Keep doing what you do! You are an awesome instructor!!
- The course was well planned and very informative.
- Maybe a 'little' less emphasis on Race / Gender & more on 'all' literary writers & performers.
- The best instructor I've had so far.
- Please let future students understand that they do not have to purchase the text book. I felt that was not clear before the class.
- This was one of the best courses and classes, wonderful professor and the best teaching techniques.
- I do not have any suggestions to make this course a better learning experience. I could not have asked for much more than what I learned during my time in this course. Not only did I have an opportunity to learn how to effectively prepare to speak proficiently, the course also provides the opportunity to see life from the perspective of one's classmates as they share with you their experiences.
Fall 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Troy Center
1. 3.83/4.0 =95.75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.83/4.0 = 95.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The actual oral presentations were helpful
- modeling expectations for each assignment, also allowing us chances to improve by giving timely and respectful/helpful feedback. Great instructor, showed interest in the topic as well as all of her students work. Developed a comfortable learning environment with her positive attitude.
- A'Kena would provide examples of all the assignments due during class.
- all the presentations were helpful
- Good practice on giving speeches
- I think she does really good job with helping us to understand the purpose in Oral Interpretation
- Students should know before hand that you do a lot of speeches. I can not speak loudly with pitch changes due to trauma to my throat years ago and was unable to deliver speeches as required by the instructor. I purposely do not take speech classes.
Spring 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Southfield Center
1. 3.90/4.0 =97.50% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.90/4.0 = 97.50% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- Please describe one specific learning activity that was particularly useful in helping you to meet the learning objectives of this course.
- Quiz review were very helpful but without the jeopardy points
- Doing an example performance of what you expected of us. That was SO helpful!
- Having us read/perform 4 different pieces of literature throughout the semester. Each section (Self-intro, Drama, Poetry and Short Story) reinforced what was taught in class and supported methods for interpreting literature and to effectively present in front of an audience.
- The outlines of what was expected was very helpful to understand her expectations.
- The oral performances were helpful with speaking in front of others.
- The examples that she presented were very helpful
- The students trying to interject too much.
- Mrs. LongBenton course helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking. I also learned how to critique my writing skills to appeal more to the reader.
- Helped my writing skills improve, and understanding the punctuation marks, when and how to use quotations, colons, etc
- More relateable selections to pick from for extra credit
- Don't let the annoying students throw you off. You are clearly qualified and you do a great job. They are just annoying. You are very professional and classy. WONDERFUL
- Nothing! Mrs LongBenton has been one of the best intructors at CMU that I have had. She kept the class atmosphere light and fun, which made learning easier and a joy to be in class. This class was not easy and Mrs. LongBenton is a tough critic when it comes to writing and performances. However, I appreciated the fact that with almost every assignment Mrs. LongBenton gave opportunity for extra credit to help out with grades! I wish more CMU instructors had the same passion and drive for their classes they teach like Mrs. LongBenton displayed. I am glad I took TAI 170 with Mrs. LongBenton!
- Keep it a face to face course.
- No suggestions I feel the instructor gives great learning skills.
Spring 2016 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Lansing Capital Area
1. 4.0/4.0 =100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.67/4.0 = 91.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The professor gave an example of all speaking assignments. This was extremely helpful in knowing what is expected.
- I think that the presentations were helpful. They not only helped me to learn material for the class better, but also helped me to develop confidence in my speaking abilities.
- There isn't anything that sticks out that impeded my learning.
- Having two weeks off in a row was a bit much for a class that is only once a week. Also, the book was pointless. The lecture from the professor was far more useful.
- I don't have any suggestions. I really think that everything about this class was great.
Fall 2015 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.0/4.0 =75% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 2.83/4.0 = 70.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The quizzes were useful
- Showing us an example speech before we did ours.
- Preparing presentations to present to fellow students.
- The impromptu intro speech was a good way of breaking the ice and helped mentally prepare us for the upcoming speeches.
- The performance given by the instructor the week before class performances were due.
- Need more people per class.
- A guest speaker chose some interesting poetry to share with the class. Words were used that made me slightly uncomfortable, and I felt it added no value to the course.
- The instructor was not consistent with her grading. For example, the exact same format was used for the two written papers, and she marked down the APA format when it was perfect on the first paper. I also know that it was a perfect APA format, because it was the same as papers from other classes I have written, the same as the example handout, and the same as shown on the Purdue site. She reviewed/proofed the second paper prior to turning it in and she marked up punctuation that was not marked on her original review. Additionally, she takes points off of the paper that she stated could have gone either way when using a comma when she was challenged, even when shown the English papers from a CMU English instructor that showed the punctuation was correct. Even though she said it could be either way, she did not reverse the points she took off. Points were deducted based off of personal appearance or style (clothing/hair) and that was not stated as part of the criteria. There was capricious grading to say the least. She also taught the class improper usages of some of the material. For example, she stated that an ellipsis could be used by dashes or dots. This is exactly the opposite of what the CMU English instructor stated and what is in the Grammar and Punctuation books published. Dashes have an entirely different meaning altogether and are not interchangeable with the dots for an ellipsis. This can cause problems to a students work in the future.
- I only used the book once I would probably reconsider making future students purchase it.
- An improved grading rubric would be useful. Also, students were highly suggested to participate in an opportunity to receive extra credit. This could only be done by purchasing some stories written by local authors, the instructor included. I bought a digital bundle of short stories from the instructor, which she wrote herself. After receiving the bundle, I chose not to participate in the extra credit since I found it difficult to relate to any of the material. The extra credit setup seemed questionable to me.
- The material was inappropriate and made several people uncomfortable. This was discussed by the entire class when the instructor was running late one class session. Examples of some of the material she presented: two women talking about getting laid and she gave a nonverbal cue by imitating grabbing her crotch, young girls starting their period and so specific to describe the blood being a brownish/red color, a woman that had been molested by her brothers and raped by her father, and a poem was read titled Nigga, Nigga, Nigga. Uncomfortable to say the least!Additionally, the syllabus is highly insensitive regarding the introduction performance. If the instructor wants the students to keep it lighthearted then there should be an example. Putting MOLESTED and PRISON in all CAPS can be detrimental to ones wellbeing. She does not know the background these students have going on or come from. One could have recently put her husband in prison for molesting their daughter. IF she feels that strongly about expressing this, then she should word it differently and use Abused, not something so specific. The university should be ashamed for approving the syllabi. Again, the topics discussed/performed were discussed by the entire class and they all expressed how inappropriate and uncomfortable it made them. I, personally, was addressed on multiple occasions by two other students on how inappropriate they felt the material was and the lack of consistency of grading between assignments and based off criteria that was not mentioned before the assignment. What was the purpose for the shock value of this material? The instructor was pleasant and did appear to work with individuals that had personal issues/commitments during the course though. If it weren't for the items expressed, it could have been an excellent class. However, due to these things it was just okay.
Spring 2015 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Auburn Hills Center
1. 4.0/4.0 = 100% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.73/4.0 = 93.25% -How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- This class taught me to not be fearful of speaking in public. I loved this class and the group was awesome!
- The bi-weekly oral presentations and weekly powerpoint lectures. Also the examples provided in class gave you a better idea of what your performance should look like.
- Having the second quest speaker come in and share her poetry. It really helped me to relate to poetry to a new level.
- Working with classmates put one at ease.
- Having us give presentations in front of the class enabled me to improve on my public speaking.
- I really like how professor Longbenton showed in class what she expected. On every single thing it was never a guessing game on what she expected. There was always an example of what she was teaching.
- power points
- This class required each student to perform multiple times. A week prior to each performance Mrs. LongBenton performed a similar piece in order to help the class fully understand the expectations prior to finalizing their performance. In addition, she also asked each student to describe the piece they planned to use to ensure that it met the requirements of the performance. Through this process, I felt more comfortable, better prepared and fully understood the expectations which allowed me to succeed in this class.
- The presentations will be beneficial for my other courses at CMU
- the writing style reminded me of when i was in junior high or high school. If we didnt say or include what the teacher wanted you to say then you would get marked down, not matter how good your work was. Near the end of class I was very unhappy
- This professor did an exceptional job and would be a great Leadership professor.
- This is an oral interpretation class and students should be able to voice and write papers based on how they see it not how the teacher feels it should be written.
Fall 2014 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Dearborn Center
1. 3.25/4.0 = 81.25% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.38/4.0 = 84.5% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The feedback from instructor as well as classmates were helpful.
- The introductory exercise was helpful in meeting my classmates were helpful.
- All of the activities that she presented to us were very helpful. One thing she did was demonstrate each performance the week before we had to perform so we knew what was expected. This was a tremendous help.
- teacher gave several performances that helped.
- The impromptu and introduction presentations on the very first night of class was unexpected, but got us in front of the class speaking without having time to worry or get stressed out. These presentations made the future presentations much more comfortable.
- Observing the instructor presentations prior to performing my own was very helpful with understanding "how" to present and the expectations.
- Nothing impeded my learning. It was a great course and great instructor.
- No pizza day?
- Extra credit attempts were very discouraging because of the requirements and lack of direction/concern.
- I really enjoyed the course and the instructor.
- Have a student appreciation day
- I would recommend more creative ways of offering extra credit that do not require a student to make a book purchase in order to get it, I feel that I didn't get the best possible grade because of the instructors lack of concern regarding my attempts to receive extra credit, as a result it was discouraging. It is important that the Instructor offer extra credit methods where she can effectively walk a student through the process. I felt alone and discouraged in this area altogether. Was not satisfied at all.
Fall 2013 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Warren Center
1. 3.92/4.0 = 98% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.75/4.0 = 93.75% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The instructor provided a live sample presentation of how students were expected to present; this always occured one week prior to student presentations.
- I enjoyed the presentations.
- The fact that she presented on each subject matter to not only tell us but show us was she expected! She also provided a list of approved materials for us to choose from. Ms. Long-Benton made this class so much more fun and less intimidating!!!! Love her!!!!
- Information that was given regarding preparation on speaking in public.
- The rubric, along with the instructors outline whcih was utilized for each of the presentations proved an exceptional guide at preparing for each presentation.
- Every one of our blackboard posts helped us all learn more about ourselves. It was an eye opening class.
- Critiquing the instructors speeches, made it clearer to know how to approach our own speeches.
- The first day of class and all the activities she prepared to get everyone comfortable with each other. EXCELLENT TEACHER!!
- The computer / network / projector malfunctioned often, limiting the instructors ability to present material as she had wished to. Blackboard also often malfunctioned. The technology at the WARREN campus needs to be updated or maintained.
- There was a shortage in the wall for using the slides.
- Equipment in the classroom did not work. We were fortunate enough to be able to shuffle to another room that was unoccupied to continue our learning.
- This course is an intreprative reading course. As such, the requirement to complete two one page written summaries of other presentors took the focus off of our own presentation preparation. Add to that the fact that the two written summaries totaled 40% of the students overall grade is discouraging.
- The more rehearsing, before each speech, taught me to become more comfortable with speaking in front of the classroom.
- The technology at the warren center was never working properly.
- As this is a mainly a speech / communications class based on delivery of student presentations, place a larger portion of the weighted grade on the presentation portion of the class. Only 40% of the weighted grade average comes from the presentation portion. Too large a portion (40%) is placed on written papers. The course description does not detail this course as an ENGLISH course.
- I wouldn't change a thing! I would weight the oral interpretation/performances more than the written evaluations. After all, this is an Oral Interpretation/Performance course...correct!?!
- Please consider miminizing the overall impact of the two written analysis and increase the impact of the oral presentations. Since the course is designed to be an intreprative reading course and not an essary course.
- practice speeches at least 4-6 times, in different locations, to become more comfortable with the material that you are presenting.
- Put more weight of the grades on the speaking portion instead of the written evaluations... Speaking is the focus of the class, not writing.
Summer 2012 Student Opinion Survey (SOS):
Location: Auburn Hills Center
1. 3.36/4.0 = 84% - Overall effectiveness of the instructor
2. 3.09/4.0 = 77.25% - How much a student would recommend the course to other students?
3. Commentary Feedbacks:
- The powerpoint lectures were so helpful.
- Preparing, creating and giving presentations to the format taught with the vocal and visual skills taught reinforced and allowed our skills to progress quickly.
- Presenting infron of the class. I really enjoyed taking this class. I learned how to be confident infront of the class and how to interpret reading.
- Having to go in front of the class and speak each week was a challenge. It moved you out of your comfort zone. Every week was a challenge.
- When we got to watch her perform was a big help for me on knowing what I need for my performance.
- Oral presentations were so helpful.
- Writing an outline for each presentation was very helpful, gave me the opportunity to evaluate the piece I was presenting.
- Mrs. A'kena LongBenton was a great instructor!
- Didn't particularly enjoy the 'smart-alecks' in the class. We were there to learn, and the instructor set the standards.
- Great class!
- Class was brilliantly executed.
- This course is a 170 level course; therefore I believe that this course should be fun. It is not a math class or an ENGLISH COURSE; it is more or less a public speaking course. Every student enters the course with different personalities and with different levels of public speaking abilities. There should be more emphasis on the public speaking portion in this class. Possibly even having students read their speeches twice within one class setting and comparing the two speeches amongst class mates. The rubric and writing assignment should be given less importance. Instructor needs to realize that the main importance of this course is to introduce and expose students to public speaking. I believe the instructor had a learning curve since she had not taught this course before at C.M.U. and with this in mind she did a very good job. We all have learning curves and she has the potential to be a GREAT instructor for C.M.U. because of her passion for teaching. Also I would strongly recommend this instructor for any future C.M.U English courses, she has a strong passion for accuracy in that subject.
- One group presentation was great.
- Very good learning experience, I would not have changed anything.