Nov. 3

Here is how the grade for the second survey/quiz is calculated:

The first 10 questions total 20 marks. If you complete all the questions, you will get the full 20 automatically.

The last question regarding Benkler's statement is worth 10 marks and this is the only question being "graded". So if you receive an 8 for this question and you completed the other 10 questions, your total will be 28/30. As the exercise is worth 10%, your mark on Blackboard will be 9.3.

Note, however, that only those who sent me the Benkler's answer by email will receive a final grade for this, as I sent out a couple of notices earlier indicating that I cannot retrieve your answer from the survey results, as it is anonymous. If you did not save your answer offline, you can go back into your BB account and retrieve the answer and sent it to me.

Below is the draft of the second survey/quiz of the course. This exercise is designed as a mid-term course evaluation and the intend is to solicit feedback from students regarding the progress of the course thus far, and to invite suggestions on how best to improve the learning experience for the remainder of the course. It also provides an opportunity for you to reflect on some of the issues discussed in the course so far.

This draft is intended as a preview and comments are welcome. But comments will be closed on Monday Oct. 22 at 9 pm, and you will be able to complete the exercise on Blackboard. You will receive an email with the link for the survey as well. The survey/quiz will close on Friday Oct. 26th at 9 pm. If you miss this closing time, you will not be able to re-do the survey. If for some reasons you are not able to part-take in the exercise over the week, please contact me in advance.

The survey/quiz is worth of total of 10% of the course. This is in accordance with the evaluation scheme, but the date and format is slightly altered. Question 1-5 is worth 1 mark each, and question 6-10 is worth 3 each, while question 11 is worth 10 marks, for a total of 30 marks. There is no right or wrong answer for 1-10. You will get the marks just for answering 1-5. 6-10 requires a bit of effort, and only question 11 requires preparation and deeper reflection.  Please feel free to comment on question 7-10 as honestly as possible. Don't feel that you need to hold back any negative comments, though constructive criticism would obviously be welcomed and encouraged.

We look forward to reading your responses.

Leslie and Becky

Question 1 (1 mark)
 
How often do you log on to the course wiki?
Answer
     1.    
Once a week
     2.    
Several times a week
     3.    
Once a day
     4.    
Several times a day

Question 2 (1 mark)
 
  In terms of the interface, navigation, and ease of use, you find the course wiki:
Answer
     1.    
  Very confusing
     2.    
  Somewhat confusing
     3.    
  Confusing at first but got easier
     4.    
  Easy to use and navigate from the start

Question 3 (1 mark)
 
  Compared to other B level courses, the workload of this course is
Answer
     1.    
  A lot lighter
     2.    
  A bit lighter
     3.    
  About the same
     4.    
  A bit heavier
     5.    
  A lot heavier

Question 4 (1 mark)
 
In terms of content and demands, the course is highly challenging:
Answer
     1.    
Strongly Agree
          2.    
Agree
          3.    
Neither Agree nor Disagree
          4.    
Disagree
          5.    
Strongly Disagree
          6.    
Not Applicable
 

Question 5 (1 mark)
 
  In terms of expectations of the course, you find it to be
Answer
     1.    
  Very different from your expectations
     2.    
  Some what different from your expectations
     3.    
  Not very different from your expectations
     4.    
  No opinion

Question 6 (3 marks)
 
What online activities have you participated in so far (please list types and frequencies, e.g. Forum posting 5 times, Glossary 1 time, comments, edit, etc.)
Answer

Question 7 (3 marks)
 
  What aspects of the course, design, tools and materials do you find most useful?
Answer

Question 8 (3 marks)
 
  What aspects of the course design, tools, and materials do you find least useful?
Answer

Question 9 (3 marks)
 
  What recommendations would you make for improving the online and learning experience for the rest of the term?
Answer

Question 10 (3 marks)
 
 As stated in the syllabus, one of the expected outcomes of the course is for students to “Develop online learning skills, including collaboration, peer learning, resource based learning and self-directed learning”. Describe your preferred learning style and how you feel that you have been able to incorporate this style into pursuing the stated outcome.  What challenges have you encountered in this regard?
Answer

Question 11 (10 mark)
 
 A recurrent theme of this course centers around Yochai Benkler's question: "What has Wikipedia got to do with the 49 percent of the population of Congo that lacks sustainable access to improve water resources?" (Benkler, 2006:321). Drawing from the course materials and discussions, how would you address Benkler's question? (10 marks)

Benkler, Yochai (2006). The Wealth of Network: How Social Production Transform Market and Freedom. Yale University Press.
Answer