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No. 32: Latin Paleography, 1100-1500 28 July - 1 August 1997 |
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1. How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: There were not essential pre-course readings, some advised readings were given, but not necessary. They will be helpful after the course. 3: Did little preparation probably would not have helped, as material was mostly new. It's the experience which one needs that makes the difference. 4: Pre-course readings are essential to appreciate the scholarly issues that the course attempts to address. Not all the readings are necessary if one has already had experience in paleography. Brown and Bischoff are the two most important readings. |
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2. Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: Materials were very useful the packet of paleographical material and bibliography was and will be very useful. They show much work by AD. 3: Manuscript reproductions were good, though at times much more difficult to read than the slides which accompanied them. 4: In a better world one would have photographs of the manuscripts. Photocopies do not always reveal the fine detail essential to identify grades of scripts. |
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3. Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate?
1: Level of course was very appropriate neither too advanced nor too simple. 3: Extremely high and demanding, but delivered with enthusiasm and sympathy for the different levels of ability in class. This is valuable in such a demanding course. 4: The intellectual level of the course was extremely high and challenging. AD taught his course as though we were speaking to professionals in his field, seeking our agreement and criticism. In this way the course was highly interactive, involving all participants in coming to an intellectual consensus. |
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4.Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description (ECD)? Did the course in general meet your expectations?
1: Yes. Course was exactly as described in brochure. The course was better than my expectations. 3: Yes. Yes though I think my preparation was inadequate for the level of competence expected. 4: The great virtue of AD's course is that it proposes a thesis which it then proceeds to demonstrate. |
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5. What did you like best about the course?
1: The individual attention by AD. He always left time for us to do our own paleographical transcribing which he personally checked over. Since the class was small (five), he gave each of us much individual attention. 2: Knowledge of instructor and his helpfulness. 3: The generosity and individuality of the instructor's wisdom. 4: Alternation between slide lectures and transcription sessions put newly gained knowledge to practice and to the test. |
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6. How could the course have been improved?
1: Not known. 2: OK as is leave it to AD. 3: Perhaps some more time spent looking at the relevant books in the field. We'll have to rely on those to continue studying. A full shelf was available, but no time to peruse it. |
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7. Please comment on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class, e.g. Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner and videos, evening lectures, Bookseller Night, tour of the Alderman digital/electronic centers, printing demonstrations, &c.
1: Sunday night dinner and videos were good. 2: All were OK. 3: Arrived too late for Sunday activities. |
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8. Any final thoughts? Did you get your money's worth?
1: I certainly did get my money's worth. My thoughts on the course: I received a week's worth of training by a world renowned scholar in the field, with a small class that allowed for much individual attention and many manuscripts to work with from the UVa's collection. The course was better than I expected and I have benefitted from it a great deal. I have no doubt this will help me professionally very much. AD is an excellent, patient teacher. 2: It would be nice if Paleography and Codicology could continue to be offered for the benefit of others who need the experience. Yes. 3: Of course I'd hope that AD would continue this course perhaps with some chance for a continuation under his tutelage. Perhaps have tutors? The theory is clear but the practice needs supervision. If you haven't taken a previous course in paleography, you'll be hard-pressed: this moves too quickly. Yes, I got my money's worth. |
| Number of respondents: 4 |
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| There were five students (one did not complete the evaluation): three were teachers/ professors (75%) and one was an archivist/manuscript librarian (25%). |