Constructive comments for unit evaluation

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The comment below made by a particular student of mine some years ago in his or her unit evaluation is featured in the student evaluation segment of my unit learning guides for all the units I teach. Check my learning guides to differentiate unconstructive from constructive comments.
“I recommend that wev have more international relations lecturer in order for we the students to have a broader understanding of IR.”
Firstly, I find it disturbing that we graduated someone with very poor English. He or she could not spell the word 'we' and forgot to put the letter 'S' at the end of the word 'lecturer'.

I labelled the comment as unconstructive because this particular student has not suggested any thing constructive to help me improve the unit. He or she did not comment on my learning map or strategy. Also he or she did not say whether the learning outcomes where achieved after the implementation of my teaching and learning strategy.

You do not need more international relations lecturers in order to have a broader or deeper understanding of this sub-field of political science. The Friendship Library is full of books written by highly qualified scholars. I have made it my business to order new books every year for the library with the help of the chief librarian.

I play my part by reading and sharing with you my understanding. You as a student must make it your business to read the books in the library, or the eBooks from the internet, in order to learn more or as stated by your friend to have a 'broader understanding of IR'. 

Each student has a maximum of 500MB every day that renews at midnight. Thus, apart from listening or reading my understanding (here on this blog) of international relations you have options online.

There is a big A3 flyer on the library notice board produced by library staff with links to sites where you can download free eBooks. You also have access to other online resources via the Friendship Library intranet page.

For example, you can read articles from the Lowy Institute to have a practical understanding of the theories that we learnt in class. The Lowy Institute has a strong presence on social media as well.


 
We are in the twenty first century where we have access to information from both online and offline sources. Apart from what we share with you in class, you have to make an effort to consult other sources to gain more information about international relations. Sadly, this particular student has not done that.

He or she thinks that DWU needs to recruit more lecturers with international relations background in order for him or her to have a broader understanding. I have argued against his or her notion and labelled his or her comment as unconstructive in the context of unit evaluation.

Your comments should be your critical reflection of how we planned the unit and whether you achieved the learning outcomes. You should tell us where we need to adjust or amend in order to make our teaching and learning strategy more effective or commend us if our strategy helped you to achieve the learning outcomes.

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