This class was great for me. Being someone who hates having to deal with liberal arts classes, I appreciated this class a little too much. It is not the psychology that I love, it is the approach. The approach to make it meaningful for each person is priceless. I think it is great that you as a teacher realize that students don't learn, but merely memorize, when they are expected to take multiple choice exams full of statistics and facts. We don't see it as a chance to learn. We see it as something we have to do.

I took this Psychology 208 class once before from a teacher who wanted us to know everthing straight from the book. I did horrible, and gained nothing from it. I dropped the class and lost the $250 I had paid to take it. I was so happy to see you listed as a Psy 208 teacher the next quarter, because I had thoroughly enjoyed your Psy 119 class last year. The ideas you introduce in class are so cool. It's like, "Wow, how could I have never realized this about my own life?" Your lectures are truly interesting. And, I like that you clearly express that what you say is your own ideas from what you have learned over the years, not what is true and factual and no one else can be right. You encourage the opinions of others.

This class was such a nice break from the norm. In my other classes, I don't feel excited or fulfilled about what I am learning. Instead, I am frantically trying to pay attention, understand, take notes and remember the information until the next test. This class actually applied to real life. I feel like the money I paid for this class was a bargain for the knowledge I recieved. With other classes, I feel like I am buying a ticket to get into the class and jump through the hoops so I can get a few credits closer to my degree.

I know you are concerned about students having you for multiple psychology classes, because you don't want to feel repetitive. I can assure you, I learned plenty. I rarely heard any repeated material. Another big difference in taking your 119 class last year and this 208 class this year was your incorporation of the Internet. Last year you played with the idea, and we spent two or three class periods in the Teleports. Now, you have developed a very organized class website. Because it is so organized, I believe it is very successful.

The mixture of 50% in classroom and 50% on the web, I think is perfect. I think the majority of students love the idea that, "We only have to drive to school and sit in a classroom half the time." That illusion of freedom allows us to put down our sheild, and actually makes us more willing to learn because we don't feel like someone is making us do it. We may spend a lot more time on the web than we had intended to, just exploring and actually learning about things that aren't given attention in our textbook. It is just like what you say about these essay tests. If you were to tell us an exact outline and how many words to write, we would do just what is expected. But, when you give us the freedom to do what we choose to do, we set surprisingly high standards for ourselves, and put our pretty high-quality, interesting stuff. Why can't more teacher's believe that?

I really do want to thank you. I have learned so many interesting things about myself, my husband, and others through this class. Sometimes I dread having to go sit in that last class of the day (yours). But, once I am in there, I am glad I didn't miss out on anything. I learned so much, I am trying to convince my husband to take this class, just for his own personal growth. Also, I highly recommend you as a teacher to all my friends in the Nursing program. You have a lot to offer as an educator. I like your style and approach. I wouldn't change a thing about your class. I don't have to take any more psychology courses, but I would love to hear more of your lectures, or definitely read your book if you ever write one. Hey, you gotta do something in that middle age stage you've got coming. :-)