Hey guys,
The semester is coming to an end, and so ethnobotany class is finishing up. Just to let you guys know - I will be grading 10 posts on the blog. So this week and last week will be extra credit posting that can be used to make up for earlier weeks where you might have missed a post. But please don't let that stop you from writing this week!
I would like some feedback for myself and Dr. Velasquez Runk about the class. What did you like about the class? Do you think having assignments on this blog was a good activity? Did you learn things from each other, or was the blog just an annoying hassle? What was your favorite lab? Least favorite? What could we do better next time? I know a few of our labs haven't gone perfectly, and we will work on that. You don't have to answer all of these questions, but I would like some feedback about the class.
Personally, I have very much enjoyed reading all of your responses on the blog. It allowed me to get to know all of you better, and learn some cool things about different plants. I have had fun interacting with all of you in this class.
Good luck with all you end of semester stuff. See you in the last week of class!
-Sam
I really liked the informality with which we approached class discussion, as it allowed us to share information and learn from one another in really dynamic and relevant ways. I enrolled in this course because I wanted a more experiential context from which to approach plants, and I really appreciated being given a basic overview of plant biology so as to better understand how plants are applied. The hands-on activities in the labs gave me more focused plant experience than I've ever had. Truth be told, I had a really hard time keeping up with the blog in a punctual manner, and I probably would have done a better job with getting the responses in on time if if they were submitted in class. The subject matter of the posts was super relevant, though, and it did help me acquire plant knowledge on my own time and by my own directive. I really, really, really loved writing the midterm paper, as the assignment was structured in a way that gave me a better idea of what doing this kind of research would be like in the future. I also plan on using the paper I wrote as a foundation for a CURO project in the fall, so thanks a ton. The labs are the coolest fucking thing I did all semester, and I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteThis has been my favorite class this semester. I really enjoyed the hands on labs, even the ones that didn't go so well. My favorite lab was probably the saves and lotions. I'm not sure which was my least favorite. I enjoyed doing the blog posts! I also felt that they, and the class in general, helped me be more aware of my natural surroundings and the changes going on. I really hope that I continue to pay attention more, it is very interesting. I wish that there had been an easier way to post pictures along with the blog posts. I really like how you and Dr. Velasquez Runk work together. It made the class very fun! I haven't missed a single class, because I enjoyed them so much.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the labs and the wide variety of things that we did in them. It gave me exposure to some stuff that I wouldn't have done otherwise. The topics covered in lecture were also interesting, I just enjoyed the applications the most.
ReplyDeleteI loved this class, mainly because it has given me more information that i will remember than any of my other classes this semester. Most of the information I have been able to use outside of class. I also find myself observing nature more closely, stopping to look at trees and to pick random weeds, whereas before i wouldn't have even noticed the ugly plant that i keep stepping on. I hate to admit it, but i liked the blog. It made me think about how i view plants outside of their aesthetic qualities. I learned a lot of things from reading my classmates blogs, such as where to find certain plants, how to cook with plants, what certain plants do, etc. I'd have to say my favorite lab was the salve making tutorial, mainly because it's the most useful for outside of class. My least favorite lab was the first one, where we went out and identified trees, and this is ONLY because i was new to tree identification, so had no idea what was what. Overall the class was fun, and i would take it again; however, i find myself only recommending it to students who i know are dedicated to their studies because the projects are time-consuming and the tests are difficult (i'm not complaining, i appreciated the assignments), and i know this class would be easy to fail for a student who doesn't put his/her work in.
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome class! I really enjoyed how we had so much discussion, it was interesting to hear about what everyone else in the class knew and their experiences with plants. I especially enjoyed the hands-on with the labs; I was always excited to come to class on Wednesdays and the hands-on brought the material to life in a way that just talking about it never could. I knew it was going to be good when we went out and worked on identifying pine trees instead of just looking at the key. I did like doing the blog, It gave me the chance (or forced me, depending on the week ;D) to learn some more about plant uses, and generally I found them really interesting. My favorite lab (which to be fair wasn't really a "lab" per say, but whatever) was the trip to the Farmer's Market. Of the other ones, I really enjoyed paper making. I love they way you and Dr. Velasquez Runk ran the class together, it made it a fun atmosphere and stimulated more discussion and information sharing, and I think you are both cool, interesting people and I'm glad I got to take this class with you! I think my least favorite part of the class was the ethnobotanical knowledge assignment, but that's because I just don't feel comfortable interviewing people, so it was kind of like pulling teeth... no complaints and lots of good memories other than that!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite lab was making the salves and creams. I really see myself doing that in the future once I have the supply of ingredients. I didn't care for the chocolate one. This is only because I've made chocolate before and in our lab there really weren't many hands needed. While there was some prep work that could have been done with some of the other labs, overall it was a great experiential learning. I truly believe in the hands on approach and kudos for making that happen.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciated the encouraging prompts to discuss freely. This was a welcome break from the norm. It was also great to get together with like-minded students in a safe environment.
The first test was a little of a surprise as I didn't know how to study for it or what to expect. I'm not sure that lectures in the first half supported the first test, but the second half of the class I feel better about with better notes and an understanding of what you might ask.
As a graduate student I believe the extra discussion time was an appropriate way to take care of the split level credit needed.
I also had never been to the Dekalb market and REALLY enjoyed the shopping trip!
Personally, while I see the value in having little informal discussion boards on a class blog like this, its not an easy assignment to remember. I'm sure you can gently scold me for being forgetful or say like "you're in college, Sara. Do your homework." But it's just hard to remember a due date at 5:00 on a Sunday when you don't get an alert for when new topics are up, and when you have 4-6 hours of meetings every Sunday for your job (or you have to travel every other weekend for the same reason).
ReplyDeleteJust a halfway meeting point there would have been valuable - like an email alert when a new blog topic was posted.
But other than that, I 100% loved this class. I learned SO much and was so thrilled by how simple tasks like basic dying and basic lotion making were. I can't wait to dive deeper into a lot of these skills - my mother already wants salves every year for Christmas.
My favorite lab might have been the brewing lab, and my least favorite some of the earlier identification labs (only because I appreciated the tactile labs more than just observational labs).
I don't have a lot of critique for the class. Clearly better lab prep would have been nice sometimes, but it was also cool to see how it was possible to improvise and wing it. And nice to have such a casual discussion space.
I really enjoyed the blog. I think it's a really great way to learn a little bit more about plants on our own and I also liked reading what other people posted because it allowed me to see what my classmates were interested in. My favorite blog assignment was probably the sit spot. I never take the time to just sit and really observe what's going on around me and it gave me the chance to have a few moments of stillness in my normally crazy busy life. I loved the labs and thought they were a hugely important element of the class. My favorite was the lotions and salves lab because that's something useful that I use in my everyday life and it's just a great skill to have. I enjoyed the ethnobotanical knowledge assignment because I got to talk to people about plants and that was fun and enlightening...if I could do it again though, I would have asked more indepth questions and dug a little deeper. I also liked the free nature of the class and the ability to have class outside and talk about things that were plant related, but not necessarily specific to the topic of the day. The only thing I wish would have been different is maybe have more interaction with our seedlings while they were growing. Not sure how that would be possible though since they needed to be in the greenhouse so they could be watered. Oh yeah, and I loved getting to go to the botanical garden, that was really fun and educational. I really enjoy learning things that translate into useful life skills and this class let me try out a bunch of new ones I'd never really tried out before, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the class. I think that the blog kept me on my feet and was a good idea. I don’t really like to have to think about a class on the weekend but in the case of the blog I don’t think it was bad. Especially on nice weekends, it was nice to think about the natural world. It was interesting to see what everyone had to say each week, especially on the blog posts about personal experiences and thoughts. Hearing different opinions and ideas really opened my mind. It was kind of a pain having to have it done by five every Sunday. If I was doing anything other than studying or chilling at the house it was difficult to get to a computer to write on the blog. Especially when I’m trying to get the most out of my day before it gets dark. It the deadline was midnight or maybe even just nine it would have been easier. I really like the labs where we made something. I’m even wearing my shit as I type this. It’s cool to have something to take away from class other than the things that I’ve learned.
ReplyDeleteI loved this class. Anthropology in general has a way of presenting topics that would typically be boring and making them more interesting, but this one in particular was right up my alley. Any class where I get to go outside, make lotion and drink gingerale is a class i'd wanna take again.
ReplyDeleteThe blog. Le sigh. I can never remember to blog ESPECIALLY on a Sunday. If it had been due the day of class it may have helped me remember more but I'm away on the weekends far too much to remember to stop and type a paragraph on the computer on a Sunday. Keep the class, lose the blog. Or at least change the due day.
My favorite lab was the salve lab. Sooooo cooooool. I also really liked the paper making and the ginger ale making. Least favorite is a lot harder.... I guess I'd have to say the lab where we made chocolate just because it wasn't very interactive and I don't particularly like chocolate. Also the seedling one was a bit disappointing but maybe I just feel that way cause none of mine sprouted.
What a way to end my college career. I loved the class, the field trip was a blast, geez louise, I loved it all.
This has probably been my favorite course I've taken so far at UGA. I thought the blogs were a good idea, they made us apply what we were learning in class and do some of our own research. My favorite lab day was going to the Dekalb Farmer's Market. I know it was a long drive, and I wish we would have had more time at the market, but I had never been to a place like that and really enjoyed it. My least favorite labs were the earlier ones, when we didn't get to go outside. I also wish we could have gone to the pecan place. All in all, you both did a wonderful job teaching and running the course. It definitely deserved a lab fee! Thank you for all you did for us!
ReplyDeleteThis class has been among the best classes that I've taken at UGA. I think combining lecture with hands-on experience really helped cement what I was learning, instead of just listening to a professor talk for three hours a week. The field trips that we took were great, although I do wish the North Georgia Pecan Company had been open. I also loved that I could chime in with my own experiences in Athens, and with my dad's experience in forestry; having that personal connection always adds to what you're learning. I really enjoyed the trip to the Dekalb Farmers Market, although the timing was stressful. I'm glad I generally didn't have commitments after class on Wednesday, since a couple of times, we returned after lab was over. I also enjoyed the intro to primitive skills talk at the Botanical Gardens.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the blog posts, but I agree that the timing was difficult. If they had been due at midnight, or before class, I think it would have been easier to make them on time. I would love to have had more interaction with the blog posts. I feel like we talked about some responses, but there were several interesting prompts that I would have loved to discuss further in person.
One thing that was difficult about the class, particularly in studying for the midterm, as well as for the upcoming final, is that there is such a wide range of material! Going from plant morphology to the cultural uses of stimulants and everything in between is hard to synthesize when studying for a test. I'm not sure how that could be improved, but it's just a comment. That was my only qualm with the class.
Thank you so much to both you, Sam, and Dr. Velasquez-Runk for a fantastic class!
I liked a lot of things about this class. I have never taken a class that was about people and their relationship to plants and it was really fun and insightful. I learned a lot. I like how there was a lot of discussion each lecture and each lab was very hands on and fun. I did not like the blog post so much. It was a challenge to remember to do it I would have much rather done an in class activity each week or a homework that we turned in first thing on Mondays instead. However I did enjoy reading everyone’s posts throughout the semester. I really liked all the labs. The one where we made the salves and lotions was one of my favorites and the one where we got to draw on ourselves and the fermentation. The trip to the farmers market was really fun to. Least favorite lab would have to be the one at the very beginning of the semester when we looked at leaves it was not as fun as most of the others we did throughout the semester. As far as any suggestions for things that could be better, it was sometimes difficult to take notes because discussion would move so quickly but there was also information on the PowerPoint and it would get difficult to write everything down. Some lectures I would miss stuff. Over all it was a wonderful class
ReplyDeleteThis was a great class. Labs were fun, class lectures and discussions were always interesting. I liked the blogging, but I tended to forget they were to be posted by Sunday afternoon... like today. But it was neat to see the wide range of responses from all da class mates. Like some others have mentioned, studying for the exam was a bit difficult because the wide range of material, but I don't know what could be done differently because each topic was significantly awesome. I thought the readings were great and will look into them further. Overall, I will walk away from this class with not only some cool stuff we made, but a greater knowledge of plants and a new desire to apply and appreciate them more in my everyday life. Thanks yall!
ReplyDelete