-----Original Message----- From: Janne Petteri Capra [mailto:jannecap@mail.student.oulu.fi] Sent: 13. toukokuuta 2008 18:37 To: Lloyd.Ruddock@oulu.fi Subject: Re: [Histoni] RE: [Bklist] more about feedback
"the third major timetabling issue is the lack of practical classes in the 3rd year. As discussed at feedback day in part this arose due to no practicals on the Cell Communication courses this year. However the major reason is that it was planned this way so that students could have the maximum flexibility for choosing their optional courses from other departments. With few practical classes and the large amount of self study in the BSc thesis we thought that students could have the flexibility to really do what they really wanted to do. We could balance the number of practicals between the years, but this would mean a serious loss of timetable flexibility in the 3rd year. Please could 3rd year students respon on this issue."
A giant amount of text, again, so I'm just quickly replying for the above part before I start reading to an exam.
As mentioned earlier, we only had a half day to quickly scrap together some opinions about the BSc as a whole. There were couple of mentions about the amount of practicals in the third year but personally I rather disagree.
Many students feel that their already inferior lab skills get rusty immediately if they have a little longer break from practical working. And at the start of every lab course they feel lost and have to think every move twice. I feel this too, but I felt it last year, where there basically was labs after labs. So I do not think that more practicals (after labs for Cell communications are added) would make much difference.
On the other hand, we do not have many chances to do optional courses we want due to the robust structure of the degree. The third year is excellent for that, and I would not change it. At least not too much.
But students just love their practical courses so much, they are addicted to them.
Thinking is hard work, especially after a lab day (NB; which we love and want more. This is either masochism or an example of the passion you mentioned in your text), so I do not have anything else to add right now.
Yours,
Janne