Science, Technology and Engineering

Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Statistical Science Section

Quality Assurance - Responses to Student Feedback 2005

Click on the subject title below to read how we have responded to your 2005 questionnaire responses.

STA11LS/21LS - Statistics for Life Sciences

Class size: 168 (11LS) + 34 (21LS)

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.9
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average  4.5

The practice class sheets had been improved and this resulted in an increase in the approval rating for the practice classes. The out of class help provided by Statistical Science Section was well received by the students. The attendance rates for both lectures and tutorials were high and the pass rate was very high.

Planned improvements:

The lecture notes will be improved over the coming semester. Also, a greater emphasis will be placed on practice class attendance next semester.

Jarrod Tuck,
STA11/21LS Coordinator

STA12/22LS Statistics for the Life Sciences

Class size: 208 (12LS) + 13 (22LS)

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this subject: average 4.1
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average 4.5

The lecture notes for the course were rewritten based on the lecture notes provided in previous years. The homework submission date was changed from the Friday of each week to Wednesday. The reasoning behind this was that STA12PSY/OCT students hand in their homeworks on Friday. This change resulted in Tutor on Duty times successfully targeting STA12/22LS students on homework submission days and a more even spread of students across these times.

Planned suggestions/improvements:

Positive feedback from the students often included the students’ appreciation of being supplied with a printed copy of the lecture notes. A similar approach will be considered for first semester next year.

Luke Prendergast
STA12/22LS Coordinator

STA11SS / STA21SS - Statistical Science

Class size: 74 (11SS) + 4 (21SS)

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.5
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average 3.8

Planned improvements:

The computer lab classes need to be improved.

Guoqi Qian,  STA11/21SS Coordinator

STA12PSY/12OCT: Statistics for Psychology and Occupational Therapy

Class Size: 136 (STA12PSY) +118 (STA12OCT)

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.6
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average 3.8

Planned improvements:

The lecture notes and other printed handouts will be improved by correcting typos and other minor errors.

Guoqi Qian, STA12PSY/12OCT Coordinator

STA21MAS - Modern Applied Statistics

Class size: 37

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.8

• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average  4.2

Planned improvements:

The lecture notes and computer lab classes need to be improved. In particular, typos in the lecture notes should be ironed out.

Guoqi Qian,  STA11/21SS Coordinator

STA21MS - Medical Statistics

Class size: 21

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 4.2
• Overall, the quality of teaching is high: average  3.9 

Students actively participated in the learning of the subject and gained satisfactory results.

Planned improvements:

The typos in the lecture notes will be corrected.

Ning Li,  STA21MS  Coordinator

STA21PR (+ STA21LS and STA21SS project classes) Statistics Projects

Class size: 54

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 4.2
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average  4.5

This was an exceptionally large class and, as such, three tutors were on offer to assist students.  The students indicated that they were appreciative of the level of help offered.

Planned improvements:

The possibility of providing some further assistance with completion of the projects in a computer lab will be investigated.

Luke Prendergast, STA21PR Coordinator

STA22BS - Biostatistics

Class size: 53

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• "Overall, the quality of teaching is high." average 3.9
• "All things considered, I would rate this unit" average 3.9

Students from a variety of courses, including Bachelor degree in Mathematics & Statistics, Biological Science, Zoology, Science/Commerce, Psychology, and Bioinformatics, attended tutorials and lectures conscientiously. As a consequence, the students obtained satisfactory grades.

Planned improvements:

Corrections to the Biostatistics Lecture Notes are to be made.

Ning Li, STA22BS Coordinator

STA22LM - Analyses Based on Linear Models

Class size: 68

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• "Overall, the quality of teaching is high." average 4.0
• "All things considered, I would rate this unit" average 4.0

Students from a variety of courses, including Bachelor degree in Mathematics & Statistics, Biological Science, Zoology, Science/Commerce, Psychology, and Bioinformatics attended computer tutorials and lectures conscientiously. As a consequence, the students obtained satisfactory grades.

Planned improvements:

Corrections to the Biostatistics Lecture Notes are to be made.

Ning Li, STA22LM Coordinator

STA22MDA - Models for Data Analysis

Class size: 17

Questionnaire responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: 4.2
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: 4.4

Planned improvements:

Provision, at the start of the unit, of a more detailed description of the material covered in the unit.

STA22MDA Coordinator
Paul Kabaila

STA31BS - Biostatistics

Class size: 18

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 4.4
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average  4.9

The students worked hard throughout the semester, with a high rate of homework submission.  All students passed the subject and showed a strong interest in the subject.

Planned improvements:

Very few improvements were requested by the students.  Some students requested the availability of more exercises. 

Luke Prendergast, STA31BS Coordinator

STA31LM - Analyses Based on Linear Models

Class size: 19

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.0
• Overall, the quality of teaching is high: average  2.9   

Students learned both the theory and applications of linear regression models and gained experience in using the EViews statistical package for data analysis.

Planned improvements:

The amount of homework will be reduced.  Access to EViews will be made easier.  

Ning Li, STA31LM Coordinator

STA31PE - Applied Probability for Computer Systems Engineers

Class size: 21

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 4.9
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average 4.9

The students were enthusiastic throughout the semester. The student feedback ratings for this subject were extremely high in all areas. The overall student grades for this unit were high.

Planned improvements:

There were no suggestions for improvement offered by the student feedback. The high subject rating indicates that this unit, in its current form, is held in high regard by the students.

Luke Prendergast, STA31PE Coordinator

STA32AS - Applied Statistics

Class size: 19

Questionnaire responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: 4.4
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: 4.7

Planned improvements:

All course materials were very well received by the students. Some minor improvements are planned for 2006.

STA32AS Coordinators

Luke Prendergast and Paul Kabaila

STA32SI STATISTICAL INFERENCE 2005

Class size: 14

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• "Overall, the quality of teaching is high." average 3.9
• "All things considered, I would rate this unit" average 3.9

Students learned statistics theories on point estimation, interval estimation, and hypothesis testing.

Planned improvements:

• Lecture notes will be typed.

Ning Li, STA32SI Coordinator

STA41BM - Bayesian Methods

Class size: 6

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit - average 4.0
• Overall, the quality of teaching is high - average 4.2

Students showed a strong interest in learning the subject. They also showed an interest in using Bayesian statistical methods in their further studies and their work.

Ning Li, STA41BM  Coordinator

AGR41EXP - Experimental Protocols

Class size: 22

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 3.9
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average 4.9

This subject was well received by the students despite the fact that they have limited background knowledge of Statistical Science. The final results indicated that most students had a clear understanding of the subject material.

Planned improvements:

Some additional explanation of the importance of mathematical notation for understanding the design and analysis of experiments will be provided.

Luke Prendergast, AGR41EXP Coordinator

STA42CSI: Computing Statistical Inference  

Class Size: 13

Questionnaire Responses (maximum possible rating is 5)

• All things considered, I would rate this unit: average 4.7
• All things considered, I would rate the lecturer: average  4.9

Planned improvements:

Plan to introduce some new examples and homework questions.

Guoqi Qian,  STA42CSI Coordinator