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Katerina O. Sinclair
Student Comments on Classroom Experience

I selected the following students' comments to demonstrate general responses to the tenets and techniques I have employed in the classroom. I took most of these comments from end-of-the-semester evaluations. Some of them are taken from end-of-the-semester anonymous reaction papers that are routinely submitted as a part of HD FS/WMNST 250. The evaluations include three open-ended questions selected by the University:

• What did you like best about this course?
• What did you like least about this course?
• What suggestions do you have for improving this course?

For the reaction papers, students were asked to address how they felt about being in the course and what they felt they were learning about themselves. As this is a course on LGBT issues, I feel that it is important to allow an outlet for students to express their feelings and thoughts. Generally, students disclosed about personal issues, but frequently referenced teaching techiniques that are relevant to this portfolio. I included several links to reaction papers that were typical of students' thoughts about the class. Note: comments are written as students wrote them; grammar and spelling have not been changed to protect the ignorant.

Comments Related to My Teaching Tenets

Respect
• It was totally different than my major. Kat is one of the easiest people to get along w/ & respect that I've ever met.
• Seriously the best and most understanding instructors I have had in 4 years, that cared about your learning and work.
• [I liked] the enthusiasm of the instructor and TAs. The willingness to be able to ask questions and gain a more adequate understanding of the course materials.
• [I liked] the freedom to discuss anything openly.
• [I liked] the open discussions and questioning. The TAs and Kat made this an open/accepting/welcoming environment. I was excited to come to each class.
• I liked the teaching environment. The teacher and TAs were very open and knew their material well. They were all always in good spirits and made coming to class fun. I liked everything, the notes were easy to follow as well.
• At first I was a little concerned about if I was going to feel comfortable or not in this class. Kat, along with the TA’s, have been very generous with the information we learned and has allowed me to be more open minded than I ever thought I would be. This class has created an environment that allows for any discussion. I felt that I was in a safe place to be honest all semester. I will carry this class with me and work to create more awareness on the LGBT community.
• Kat creates a comfortable learning environment where I feel that I can express my thoughts, feeling and questions. Even if I am too nervous to ask a question, the anonymous bulletin board on ANGEL really shows how Kat wants all questions to be answered.
• I liked the teaching environment. The teacher and TAs were very open and knew their material well. They were all always in good spirits and made coming to class fun. I liked everything, the notes were easy to follow as well.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) explaining how the class "humanized" LGBT people.
Collective Responsibility
• [Kat and her co-teacher] were great in assisting me to understand the subject matter.
• Both were caring about whether the students understood the material.
• Well-organized and easy to follow.
• The feedback and availability was excellent and very much appreciated.
• Writing the papers was also a pain, but at the same time I secretly liked it. It was a great way to tie everything that we have learned into one paper. I came into this class a horrible writer, and I am leaving a bad writer. I went from horrible to bad, that's a pretty good accomplishment for me!
• i am so happy i took this class. at the start of the semester i was completely clueless about lgbtqa issues. after the semester, i would not say i am an expert in the least but i feel like i can contribute more to society knowing the things that i have learned and that have been brought to my attention. so thank you!!
• the class was great, the resources were helpful and Kat made it pretty difficult to do poorly in the class with her ANGEL homepage (old quizzes, resources, extra credit). I wish all classes at Penn State were like this. Great job and thank you for this class.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) regarding responsibility for success at the community level.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) regarding willingness to accept mistakes and learn from them.
Unique Contributions
• Always encouraged students to ask questions and help on the writing assignment.
• Kat was phenomenal. She always shared her wealth of knowledge. She encouraged us to think and made sure we understood our material. Her emphasis on important material was helpful.
• I loved all the movies, personal stories & panel discussions. They helped stress important info and gain many perspectives.
• I really enjoyed the guest speakers, their honest attitudes and their appreciation and openness of student questions.
• The integration of movies and guest speakers to bring concepts to life.
• There was a good weekly routine (lecture, break, movie/guest speaker, quiz). It made the 3 hrs seem to move quickly. Good use of media and lectures.
• [I liked] EVERYTHING! topics, movies, lectures, guest lecturers, TAs.
• I wasn’t the best student when it came to this class, but the information I gathered from this class will be with me through my life. I will use this information to educate people whenever possible on LGBT issues and individuals. I think that is the most important thing, not how well I did on the quizzes or papers.
• When I came into this class I felt excited first that there was an entire class devoted to the education and advocacy of LGB people. Allowing for an instant haven for acceptance for sexual orientation and myself as a whole person. My initial thought to a class like this for myself, being gay is that I already know everything. I have experienced the oppression, the pressures to be “normal” and felt the rejection from mostly men and some women. But what I wasn’t prepared was to learn anything new, maybe more about the history of the LGB community, but I’ll admit I came into this class pretty arrogant. I can truly say I stand corrected, vigorously and without any justification.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) regarding multi-cultural, multi-gendered education.
Practicality
• [I] liked the real life experiences, stories, & situations told by both instructors. They wanted us to be completely clear about the topic at hand & also improved my writing skills.
• [I can] read research papers more critically and also be aware more about academic integrity.
• There was a lot of information in this course that I would otherwise not know, and it is useful outside of just a classroom setting.
• [I liked] the personal knowledge of the TAs and the instructors, and their ability to relate quite conceptual imformation to laypersons.
• The information learned in class is enlightening, helpful not only in a people oriented field, but in real life.
• The different models we learned about such as Erikson/Marcia, Bronfenbrenner, Cass's model and all the others where intriguing and help make sense of what is going around us in today's society.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) regarding opening communication with family members.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) regarding changing reactions to transgender people.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) on enacting change in the world.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) about helping friend who is struggling with depression using course materials.

Comments Related to Individual Courses

HD FS 312W: Empirical Inquiry
• If, at first, I didn't understand something... it was only a matter of time until I did. Both instructors allowed us to make a mistake, but were sure that next time around we would not.
• Overall, it was a difficult subject matter, but I feel like I've walked away with a newfound appreciation for statistics & the various studies.
• I also liked the peer review—it was an initiative to actually do a thorough draft and get points for it.
• [I liked] researching our own topics throughout the whole class.
HD FS/WMNST 250: Sexual Identity over the Lifespan
• The movies we watch are incredible. They're completely applicable, effective, and beyond interesting. The instructor is near flawless. She is just amazing, especially for a night class. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she is extraordinarily knowledgeable in the subject matter.
• LOVED in class discussions and emphasis on the positive during depressing information. Great attention to class emotion and workload. Equal respect from students and professor/TAs.
• I really liked that there is an anonymous bulletin board on ANGEL. I think it really opens up discussion for people who wouldn't normally speak out in class, especially for sensitive subjects.
• [I liked] the freedom to discuss anything openly.
• [I liked] the open discussions and questioning. The TAs and Kat made this an open/accepting/welcoming environment. I was excited to come to each class.
• There's so much more than a black and white scheme- gay or straight, and it's all very interesting to me. I know I've been inspired to look more carefully at the gray areas, and I'm sure most of the class feels that way too.
• I particularly enjoyed the film For the Bible Tells Me So. Because of my religious background, I always found religion to be a difficult subject to talk about in regards to LGB issues. The film presented an interesting perspective that I’ll now be able to gently share with my more religious friends… maybe I’ll even try to get them to watch the film.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) exhibiting creation of empathy in students.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) on student discussing gay family member openly for the first time.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) from an openly lesbian student on how the course affected her views of the queer community.
• Reaction Paper (Word document) from a student who previously frequently used the words "faggot" and "queer".

Common Suggestions for Changes

• Post powerpoints before class starts.
• Slow down.
• Stress important material when writing on the board.
• Try not to go over on time.
• Review quiz concepts at the beginning of class.
• Have larger exams and fewer quizzes.
• Keep the small quizzes but help us with the format for the final exam.