The online evaluation form was available for students during the final two weeks of the semester, when it was linked to several announcements and messages within the Blackboard course management system.  Evaluations were submitted anonymously by 14 of the 16 students participating in the course.

A summary of the responses follows.  Note that not every student provided an “open-ended” response to each question.

Category 1: Overall Course Management

1. The course as a whole was:

EXCELLENT (5) ----- (1) POOR
Range:  4-5
Average: 4.7
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5

This course was fun and informative.  I would highly recommend it to new students.

This course was packed full of information.  Excellent!

It really helped me to learn more about the internet.

Burks is very well informed and works hard to keep up to date on what’s new concerning online learning.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average: 4.6
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5

The course topics are progressive and work well to the finale of the future of the internet.
I rarely had any questions; Burks covered all of the topics extensively.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average: 4.7
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5

The assignments are fair and informative.

All assignments had a definite purpose and were very helpful in understanding the topics.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average: 4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5

In order to do an adequate job, more than 2 semester hours were required.  This seemed more like a four credit hour class.

The workload for this course is fine.

This course required a lot of my time but I wouldn’t leave any on the information covered out of the curriculum.  Possibly increase to a 4 hour class.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

This is probably the most organized of any online course I have taken at UIS or anywhere.

Definitely, Burks should set up course formats for all online instructors.

6. I learned things in this course that will be very useful to me in the future.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average: 4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 5

What I liked most about this course, besides the instructor, were the sources he supplied to parallel the lectures.  Fantastic!

This was one of the courses of which I made text copies of most of the lectures, etc. for future reference.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  3-5
Average: 4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 5

I learned a lot of the Internet, especially how to use search engines more effectively, which was my goal.

Burks covered everything.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  3-5
Average:  4.6
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 5

This course helped me to realize how technology is advancing at an extremely fast rate.  The results are mind-boggling.

As critically as one can think in this area.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.7
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5

Yes, especially the search engine information, which was so great.

It met my expectation and then some!  At the beginning of the semester, I didn’t’ know there as this much ‘stuff’ on the internet to know. Everything has been very helpful.

And then some.

10. The instructor’s teaching style was appropriate for an online course.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

Great teaching!!

Burks you are a wonderful instructor.  Other online teachers should follow in your footsteps.  You can really tell that you like what you do!

Burks Oakley is the best!  He should devote the balance of his career to online education.

Burks did a good job keeping up with students’ postings, and discussions.  I’m very appreciative of interactive professors.

Burks is a great online communicator.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  5
Average: 5.0
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Burks must have spent an incredible amount of time corresponding with multiple students in this course.  I really appreciated the personal touch and current event sharing.

Yes, he is very concerned about his students and making certain they understand expectations of the course. He responds in a positive manner, but also gives suggestions on how to improve.

Burks' responses were always direct as well as polite.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  5
Average: 5.0
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

I loved how well each response that Burks took the time to write was meaningful and helpful.

He communicates very well.

I always knew what was expected of me.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

Yes, Burks does peak your interest, especially when he shares his digital photography, which is a ‘free’ bonus to the course!

Many site links were introduced and I have placed a majority of them on my list of favorite places.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  3-5
Average:  4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 5

Yes.

As stated above, I always knew what was expected of me.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

You gave us every possible way to get a hold of you:  phone numbers, email addresses, IM. Even when you went out of town, you were always available.

Absolutely! There is no waiting for Burks to get back to you, no matter what part of the globe his is visiting.

There were times when I wondered if Burks had anything else to do than sit at this computer and respond to students’ inquiries! Burks did a wonderful job of following up with students completely, and in a timely manner.

Emails to Burks were almost like instant messages as his responses were so quick!

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

You made a comment on every posting.  That is appreciated.

Yes, Burks is extremely prompt in replies.

As stated above.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5

Yes, he is a great facilitator.

Burks offered additional comments to my postings and at times would inform me of information/websites that would be of interest to me.

Burks was always ready to help.

YES, QUITE OFTEN (5) ----- (1) NO, HARDLY EVER
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5

Absolutely! He is a global thinker.

Yes, the "online learning news" discussion area offered up-to-date news stories that related to our topics

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.9
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5

Yes, he knows more about the internet that anyone I have met.

Very knowledgeable!

Burks knows his stuff!

EXCELLENT (5) ----- (1) POOR
Range:  5
Average:  5.0
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Excellent!

A++++++++

Burks did a wonderful job of being a teacher and assistant.

One of the best instructors I've had at UIS.

21. There were positive interactions between the instructor and the students.

ALMOST ALWAYS (5) ----- (1) ALMOST NEVER
Range:  3-5
Average:  4.7
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, 5

Yes, the course has a very pleasant atmosphere.

Burks encouraged and practiced a respectful atmosphere.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT (5) ----- (1) ISOLATION
Range:  2-5
Average:  4.2
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 5

Less between students than I’ve seen in some other courses, but I wonder if available time was a factor.

I met several new ‘virtual’ friends in this course, which I believe is important for online learners.  Although we may never meet face-to-face, you do establish a relationship, some which last.

Burks encouraged us to read and comment on other students’ postings.

Felt like I "knew" my classmates.

TOO LARGE (5) ----- (1) TOO SMALL
Range:  3
Average:  3.0
3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

Just right!

I didn’t feel overwhelmed at all.  I thought the number of students was just right—Burks seemed to manage everything very well.

Perfect

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  4-5
Average:  4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5

Yes, the course was fine in that area.

I have saved a couple website addresses that I learned of in this class to my “Favorites” listing because they come in handy so often.

No problems in this area.

25. My learning style is appropriate for an online course.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  3-5
Average:  4.6
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 5

I liked the format of this course.  Wish others I have taken were this organized and flowed so well.  However, most of my UIS online courses have been great.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  3-5
Average:  4.8
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 5

Yes, the treasure hunt exercise was fun, and I learned a lot from all the sources in our search.

The course activities had definite purpose.

STRONGLY AGREE (5) ----- (1) STRONGLY DISAGREE
Range:  2-5
Average:  4.5
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 5

Fun to use teamwork to complete the project.

It was fun.  Fun way to learn searching skills

Yes!!  There should be a grand prize!!

It was challenging at times to find all of the answers, but definitely a lot of fun.  We really had to use the information that we learned earlier in the semester to find everything.

I think it encourages students to feel more confident in surfing the internet and expanding their "comfort zone" search areas.

28. What did you like most about this course?

Starting the course at the very beginning was excellent.  I learned from each assignment and found the lecture material to be very informative.  I liked how many sessions seemed to build on each other.

Learning all different aspects of the internet world.

The feedback from the instructor on all responses in the discussion board.

The amount of time allowed for each assignment, the easy communication between student and teacher.

I liked the way the course was laid out.  I learned quite a lot about the internet.

I liked the instructor the most.  Posting pictures and personal stories really made the experience enjoyable.

The instructor was very down to earth, humorous, and involved.

Burks!

Very clear directions and prompt feedback.

I liked the topics that the professor chose.

I liked the class in general.

I liked how the assignments were focused more around introducing, exploring, and reviewing, rather than completing a ton of work just to call it an “assignment”.  The learning was more hands on, and has proven to be very beneficial in my daily use of the Internet.  I’m glad that Burks was a very helpful and considerate professor, who was always prompt in answering personal emails, or even responding to discussions questions.

Foremost, Burks takes the "distance" out of "distance learning". I felt as if I had formed a relationship with my classmates and my instructor. I also thought the information covered will be helpful to me at work, home, and school.

The information shared was awesome, but so plentiful; I was concerned I couldn’t digest enough.  I read whatever I could, printed what I wanted to ponder and saved some web-sites for future review.

Nothing comes to mind

Nothing

Trying to remember to do the assignment but that’s all.

It was only two hours.

There was nothing that I did not like.

N/A

I think the research paper assignment was fine, but I wish it was due at a different time in the semester, i.e., shortly after spring break.  We online learners get bombarded with papers at the end of a semester, and it can be overwhelming and discouraging.

The group project was a little irritating as not everyone gave their all.

The group project

I could not find the questions to the treasure hunt.

Can’t think of a thing.

YES (2) ----- (1) NO
Range:  1-2
Average:  1.2
1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1

All my courses are online.  I live too far away and have too many other responsibilities to take regular classes.

I live two hours from campus.

I work full time and it’s hard for me to attend on campus courses.  I’m very fortunate to have been able to take this course online, with such a good teacher.

No improvements needed. I have already told many of my peers on what a great course this is.  Great job and thanks for everything!

N/A

I can’t think of how it can be improved.

As long as Burks is teaching, there is nothing that needs improved.

I cannot think of any ideas to improve this course.

I really liked the class.