85: Publishing EAD Finding Aids [L-85]
25-29 July 2005
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: The readings were helpful as an introduction and helped me keep up with class as it progressed. 2: Excellent! They were marked off as either asterisked (very important to read if in a hurry) or not, which made it easier to read the most important stuff. 3: Useful -- the required texts gave context, and the recommended texts will be consulted afterwards. 4: Very.
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: Yes. The software bundle will be especially helpful. 2: Yes. 3: Yes. I will be able to use the files created and made available in class to build on for development at work. 4: Yes.
3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: The work with XSLT was the most relevant to my work. The level of instruction was very appropriate and adjusted based on our collective aptitude. 2: Using the software tools and actually writing and using style sheets, in real time (I’d never done that before and felt at a disadvantage because of it). 3: XSLT and XSL, and X query were of more general interest than later topics, although I learned some very useful strategies for later. The intellectual level worked well for the varied skills of students. 4: All aspects were of interest and extremely useful. The intellectual level was appropriate.
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: The balance between the depth of content and opportunity for experimentation and self-instruction/absorption. 2: DP’s delivery and pacing/teaching of the material. 3: The collegiality and cooperation between the instructor and students, and among students. 4: The instructor, instruction and materials.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: I would have been interested in more discussion of XSL-FO. 2: The library didn’t have a spare lamp bulb when the projector died on us (however, a second projector was brought in relatively quickly). 3: Maybe a little more organization in classroom handouts and exercises. 4: Not at all.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or Monday night lectures, were they worth attending?
1: Yes. Both were interesting and worth the time. 2: Yes! 3-4: Yes.
9) If you attended Museum Night or Video Night, was the time profitably spent?
2: Yes, the movies appeared to be different from the previous ones I had seen. 3: Yes.
10) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final thoughts?
1: This class is well worth the expense for any institution considering publishing their own EAD documents. The time you will save rather than figuring things out yourself should more than justify tuition and travel expenses. Plus, it’s lots of fun! 2: DP’s teaching of technical material is second to none: his relaxed, easygoing demeanor helped me to feel at ease in asking for help or assistance -- I recommend him highly. 3: Yes. As with most courses, the more you bring to the class (advance reading, experience, &c.), the more you learn. It’s definitely worthwhile if you make the effort. 4: Yes. I will recommend anyone take any class with DP given the opportunity.
Number of respondents: 4
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
100% 100% 100% 100%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
0% 0% 0% 0%
N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived
employed, re- employed, with friends nearby
tired, or had retired, or or lived at
summers off exchange home
0% 0% 0% 0%
There were three archivist/manuscript librarians (75%), and one student attending to learn EAD and XSLT (25%).