Zemi Feedback

It has been a long and difficult semester, but it’s finally at an end. The last thing we did was two feedback sessions from students. Despite some complaining, the presentation format used in the second year zemi worked very well and I’m very pleased with the results. There was a lot of information, but the following is a summary of some of the key points. Please feel free to add to this by contacting me.

A. Book Review

1. Too much for one person – this was a problem with the English of some people, so better done in pairs. Also one book per person means there’s a lot of presentations to get through.
2. Opportunity to read a book and to read it English was welcomed.

B. Individual Projects

1. Too unfocused and hard with one person, despite the difficulty of getting together as teams
2. More research based – eg product comparisons, would be good

C. Internet Site review

1. Some thought this was hard, but only because it was the first time they’d attempted to use advanced ‘Web 2.0′ internet sites.
2. There’s a view that computers should be better incorporated in the zemi, especially as most students’ Word and Excel skills are either horrible or non-existent. The option to have students bring laptops to class should be investigated.
3. There are several books that might become essential Zemi texts now that we’re doing everything in English.

D. Presentation Video

1. Well liked and very useful, but only in English and now seriously out of date – doesn’t mention Powerpoint etc. Doesn’t go beyond very simple, data related business presentations.
2. Use of Presentation Zen and presentation related website information should be expanded.
3. More presentation types should be included
4. At least one of the presenters looked and sounded as if they had learned nothing in the year in the zemi, suggesting a clear lack of motivation.

E. Role Plays & Simulations

1. We didn’t do many, but the short meeting role play was well liked, but especially as the foreign students led it so well
2. More simulations are requested, but must be focused and understandable in terms of objectives

F. Questionnaire Design project

1. Despite the fact that this was done very well, students disliked the ‘hands off’ approach. More information up front is requested and, despite the project taking 1/4 of the term in total, more time. This could be an out of class project in future, with even less guidance/organisation in class.

G. Other points

1. Goal setting exercise was very good. Should be more structured with more student to student feedback
2. Blog posts were liked, except that editing took too long and students couldn’t see what everyone wrote. This suggests opening up a proper blog next year with required submissions, without worrying too much about the English – but probably setting topics in advance. Similarly, students should be required to comment on each other’s posts.
3. Only one Google ML should be used for the entire zemi. This means more emails, but it means everyone’s in touch.
4. More internet integration. There should be online profiles (without too much private information) and online resumes ready for internships.
5. The Museum simulation could be repeated at the end of semester one to compare improvements.
6. People need to prepare for internships in summer 2009.

I. Issues

1. Students complained about having classes in January. This is 1/6 of the whole course again, but as most COB courses now have tests in class, there is a lot of preparation to do and zemi takes second place. This is another argument to scrap the zemi OR to force tests only during the test period. Tests (paper exams) in class are just a way for professors to teach one less class (they were banned at my previous school). At the same time, expecting classes to be cancelled because there are tests is unreasonable and indicates poor study skills.
2. Students complained that semester 2 was too busy. When asked why (because the zemi was far too relaxed) the blame was laid at the feet of the International Business course which required huge amounts of reading and study for quizzes. There is extra burden on English speakers to help non-English speakers too. There may be an argument that International Business is best avoided unless the structure changes.

J. Conclusion

1. The zemi will continue as normal next semester with the new 2nd year intake. The Zemi 4 classes will not open formally, but students will stay in touch and have regular meetings.
2. Semester 1 will be similar to last year, but with an improved structure and better student processes. Notably, several activities will be group activities, and deadlines will include at least one more feedback session mid-term.
3. Semester 2 will take on a similar, structured approach with clearer activities laid out. Book reviews and webpage analysis and reviews will be duplicated in both semesters.
4. Presentation evaluation and analysis will be added in addition to creation and implementation of presentations. Famous presenters and presentations will be analysed.
5. As Zemi 3 will be very small numbers next year, there is the option of combining years if necessary.
6. No foreign students will be taken for Zemi 4
7. Access to Zemi 2 & Zemi 3 will be limited to formal applications screened by interview for foreign students. As Zemi 2 is already heavily subscribed, Zemi 3 will be the main access point for foreign students if any apply.