I loved teaching, and my greatest accomplishment was being a positive influence on my students. Below, I’ve summarized my (mostly anonymous) student feedback.

Selected feedback

I just wanted to let you know that your class (excuse my dramatics) literally transformed my life! I turned vegan overnight and now I jump at the chance to bring up Fred's basement. I'm actually the president of the Vegan RSO on campus and I always (always) mention how it was your class that changed my lifestyle.

Benjamin Hause is an absolute legend. Not only does he look like a young Keanu Reeves, but his laid back and relaxed manner made this class seem fun and entertaining. Allowing students to openly ask questions and reject certainly philosophies allowed for some intense debates and hot takes during class that really made the class much more enjoyable. Ben made the topic of philosophy, something could easily be seen as boring, into something fun with his lecture slides featuring memes, jokes, and clear and easily understandable material.

I have already filled out the course evaluation, but I wanted to send a personal email as well. Up until you sent the most recent announcement, I had no idea this was your first time teaching, and I would have had no idea based on the way you ran the class. I thoroughly enjoyed your class from start to finish. You didn't shy away from controversial topics and you made me think harder than I ever have about topics like morality. I loved that the writing assignments forced me to come up with my own opinions on things. In class, I think you had a really good balance of lecturing and hearing our own opinions. You made having to walk from Wildwood to Diffenbaugh three times a week worth it. I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your class and I feel like I learned a lot.

Quantitative Feedback

Question: Overall rating for Benjamin Hause from Poor (1) to Excellent (5)

• Most recent course is most highly rated
• The intro classes were large lecture halls (hundreds of students) that fulfil university requirements
• The 20/21 classes had some Covid shenenagins (e.g., 21 had Zoom “hybrid” option)
• Only ethical theory had a significant number of philosophy majors (about half the class)
• Full reports: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O37-YRxtP5d1zSp_IEqxRjgk0CdPil9f?usp=sharing

Qualitative Feedback

Prompt (GPT4): The copied text contains all of my student feedback in no particular order. Please provide big picture summary of my student feedback. What does it say about me as a teacher? Do not prioritize positive or negative feedback.

AI-generated summary of qualitative student feedback:

<aside>

Summary of Student Feedback for Benjamin Hause as a Teacher:

• Overall Teaching Skills:
  • Students appreciate Benjamin Hause's teaching style and find his lectures engaging and informative.
  • He is praised for his ability to explain complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
  • Students appreciate his use of relatable examples and real-life applications of philosophical theories.
  • Benjamin Hause encourages open discussion and debate in class, allowing students to voice their opinions and learn from different perspectives.
• Effective Instructional Methods:
  • Students find the study guides provided before tests helpful for exam preparation.
  • The breakdown of writing assignments is appreciated, as it helps students understand the requirements and expectations.
  • Lectures are in-depth, cover exam material, and are easy to follow.
  • Class material is uploaded for individual review, and optional readings are provided for further exploration of topics.
  • Live recordings of lectures are useful for reviewing content.
• Positive Classroom Environment:
  • Benjamin Hause creates a positive and inclusive classroom environment where students feel comfortable expressing their opinions.
  • Students appreciate his willingness to answer questions and provide feedback.
  • The use of humor in class is praised for making the learning experience more enjoyable.
• Areas for Improvement:
  • Some students suggest providing clearer instructions for writing assignments.
  • A few students mention that discussions can sometimes go on for too long, causing loss of interest.
  • A few students suggest incorporating more class activities or interactive elements to enhance engagement.
  • Some students find the pace of lectures fast and suggest posting lecture slides in advance.
• Positive Personal Qualities:
  • Benjamin Hause is described as kind, attentive, and understanding.
  • Students appreciate his quick responses to emails and availability for one-on-one discussions.
  • He is commended for being approachable and creating a relaxed and stress-free learning environment.
• Overall Feedback:
  • Students express a high level of satisfaction with Benjamin Hause as a professor.
  • The majority of students find the course interesting and enjoyable.
  • They appreciate the opportunity to explore various philosophical topics and engage in thought-provoking discussions.
  • Students express gratitude for the effort he puts into teaching and creating a positive learning experience. </aside>

Last updated 2022 — so the input does not include feedback from my most recent courses where I did in-class group work (thereby addressing one of the stated areas of improvement). I learned a lot over the course of my teaching.