Quality Assurance Survey Reports
This page contains summaries of Quality Assurance Survey reports since 2003 for subjects that are offered by the Department of Civil Engineering and Physical Sciences at Bendigo. A QA survey for any particular subject is not necessarily conducted each year, so reports are not available for every subject every year.
Civil Engineering Materials (CIV2CEM) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this Unit were the practical classes and the assessments. According to the student response, this Unit can be improved by changing the marking system.
The following changes will be made the next time the Unit is offered: the marking system will be reviewed.
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Computer Aided Drafting (CIV1CAD) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this Unit were the lecture notes and the weekly assessment (drawings). According to the student response, this Unit can be improved if the lecture delivery is done in the computer lab.
The following changes will be made the next time the Unit is offered: the possibility of delivering the lectures in the computer lab is investigated.
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Discovering Science (SCI1DS) — survey: 2008
This unit has been designed to provide a strong foundation in scientific principles for further studies in multidisciplinary sciences. The 2008 QA survey suggests that, in general, the students enjoyed the unit and believed that there was good connection across the unit and between the course work and practical exercises. In 2009 more emphasis will be placed on the development and use of a resource portfolio to support understanding.
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Earth and Energy (SCI2EE) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best thing about this unit was the structure whereby the theoretical work was supported by practicals and workshops. Also according to the student response, the unit can be improved by clarification of the assessment. In 2009 the assessment and its role in developing understanding will be clarified.
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Engineering Practice (CIV1EP) — survey: 2008
According to the responses of the students the best things about this Unit were the site visit and working as part of a group on a large project. The unit could be improved by revising some of the smaller assessments and by undertaking more site visits.
The following changes will be considered next time the Unit is offered: Better defined boundaries and closer supervision on the project, and an additional site visit.
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Geotechnology A (CIV3GTA) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this Unit were the very interesting topics covered, the practical sessions, which provided the students with new skills and developed their problem solving ability.
According to the student response, this Unit can be improved if the length of lectures would be reduced (blocks of 3 hours currently) and the assessment of group work would reflect individual contribution.
The following changes will be made the next time the Unit is offered: the assessment method will be adjusted to truly assess the individual’s contribution to the team work and the time table will be revised to assign blocks of only 2 hours lectures for this Unit.
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Geotechnology B (CIV4GTB) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this Unit were the content, assessments and the lecture notes. According to the student response, this Unit can be improved by replacing the team work with individual work.
The following changes will be made the next time the Unit is offered: one of the laboratory/field reports will be submitted as an individual work.
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Earth Science (GEO1ES) — survey: 2010
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the lecture notes, lectures, practicals and field trips. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, theory assignments, tutorials, more field trips and reviewing the scheduling.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; Review mix of teaching allocations and scheduling.
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Measurement and Observation (PHY1MO) — survey: 2008
In 2008 this unit ran in conjunction with Measurement and Instrumentation SCI2MI. SCI2MI was attended by 2nd, 3rd and 4th year education students. This caused some difficulties with the timetabling of the unit. Nevertheless students made comments similar to "A lot of topics that can be quite dry we livened up with a bit of humour and good examples." And generally students were pleased with the practical components of the unit and the nature of explanations given in lectures.
There were reservations expressed by some students about the weighting of the various components of the unit (the examination amounting to 60%). However after completion of the unit, overall the students' grades were good.
There will be minor changes to the unit content for 2009 to coordinate with other units and to reflect current developments in instrumentation.
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Mechanics of Solids (PHY1MS) — survey: 2008
According to the student response the best aspects of this Unit are the real world/practical problems, the lectures and tutorials, and the tests during the semester. The areas that need improvement include timetabling, that there should be more weighting on the tests during semester and less on final exam, and feedback.
Some students found four hours lectures and tutorials on one day to be too much. A request will be made to the Timetabling Officer to alter this. The requirements of the final examination are prescribed at Department level consistent with that specified in approved Course Accreditation documents. The heavy emphasis on the final examination is designed to ensure that students commit essential fundamentals to memory in preparation for later Units for which this Unit is a prerequisite.
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Physics A (PHY1PA) — survey: 2008
The QA survey showed that students are largely satisfied with this unit with over 85 % of respondents agreeing that overall they were satisfied with the quality of the unit. Comments indicate that the practicals were (mostly) enjoyed and well linked to the lecture material but that there was some confusion regarding expectations of the written report.
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Physics B (PHY1PB) — focus group: 2008
This unit had a very small enrolment (under 15), hence a survey was performed via a focus group discussion. The discussion was facilitated by the Faculty Educational designer (Tony Gleeson) and investigated students' attitude to learning, resources and flexible ways in which the unit could be taught.
In keeping with suggestions from students, the 2009 offering should include improvements in the laboratory work. This will include improving the perceived connection between the theory and the practical works, with clearer explanations given at the introduction of a practical session during a pre-lab session.
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Structures 1 (CIV2ST1) — survey: 2011
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, textbooks and worked examples.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, more tutorials and reviewing the assignment weights.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: Review assignments and tutorials.
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Structures 1 (CIV2ST1) — survey: 2010
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, textbooks, worked examples and feedback on assignments. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, more tutorials and reviewing the scheduling.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; Review assignments, tutorials and scheduling.
Structures 1 (CIV2ST1) — survey: 2009
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the lecture notes, teaching style, availability of lecturers, standards, practical examples and assignments. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by reviewing the timetable and assignments.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: The timetable and assignments will be reviewed.
Structures 1 (CIV2ST1) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the interesting content, practical applications, good notes, access to lecturers.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, more tutorials, and a reduced workload.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: The workload and tutorials will be reviewed
Structures 2 (CIV3ST2) — survey: 2011
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, worked examples, group work.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more instruction in software and more feedback on assignments.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: Review assignments and use of software.
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Structures 2 (CIV3ST2) — survey: 2010
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, textbooks, worked examples, group work. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more instruction in software, fix network issues, small assignments and review scheduling.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; Review schedule, assignments and use of software.
Structures 2 (CIV3ST2) — survey: 2009
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, textbooks, worked examples, feedback and availability of lecturers. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more ore examples, more instruction in software and smaller assignments.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: Review assignments and use of software.
Structures 2 (CIV3ST2) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the software, lecture notes and the organisation of lectures and labs.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by obtaining more help with the software, more examples and a better textbook.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: The use of software and textbook will be reviewed.
Structures 3 (CIV4ST3) — survey: 2011
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, worked examples and computer examples.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, more instruction in using software, software issues, more weight for assignments.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: Review examples, assignments and use of software.
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Structures 3 (CIV4ST3) — survey: 2010
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the assignments, lecture notes, worked examples and computer examples. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by having more examples, more instruction in using software and smaller assignments.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; Review examples, assignments and use of software.
Structures 3 (CIV4ST3) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the software, lectures notes and assignments.
According to the student response, this unit can be improved by improving the timetabling and with more assistance with software.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered: The assignment schedule will be reviewed.
Structural Design (CIV4SD) — survey: 2008
According to the student response:-
The best aspects of this Unit are the real world/practical problems, and no examination (all assignment based assessments).
The area that needs improvement is feedback.
Feedback will be improved in future offerings of the Unit. Consideration will be given to introducing several field trips (where possible) to discuss practical structural systems. Also, students will be invited to bring photographs of structural systems for discussion during class.
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Surveying (CIV2SUR) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the practical sessions, the clear notes and a clear understanding of the requirements. According to the student response, this unit can be improved by improving the standard of the surveying equipment.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; the practical content will be reviewed and the effort will be maintained to get more surveying equipment
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Sustainable Infrastructure (CIV4SI) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this unit were the field excursions and class discussions in class. According to the student response, this unit in the can be improved by finalising the schedule of speakers and field excursions before the commencement of the Unit.
The following changes will be made the next time the unit is offered; Finalise where possible, the schedule of speakers and field excursions before the commencement of the unit.
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Transport Engineering (CIV4TE) — survey: 2008
According to the student response, the best things about this Unit were the content, assignment based on real world projects and the lecture notes.
According to the student response, this Unit can be improved by quicker return of the assignments and the use of software employed by the industry.
The following changes will be made the next time the Unit is offered: a criteria based assessment will be implemented in the future and the possibility of purchasing a software for pavement design.
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