Spring Break
Students take hands-on action
Blue Hen Poll 2008 will give undergraduates a voice
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Editorial
This semester, the students in Professor David C. Wilson's POSC 413 class, Problems in American Politics, are taking a different approach to learning. Instead of copying notes, they are creating and conducting the Blue Hen Poll 2008.
The purpose of this survey, which deals with an array of topics including the university, faculty, morals, race, the war in Iraq and the job force is to get an accurate idea of how the undergraduate student body feels about issues.
The poll will be offered to a random sample of 1,500 undergraduate students who will then have the liberty to decide whether or not to fill it out. There is no tangible incentive for taking part in the survey - the student creators believe the chance to be heard is reason enough to participate.
A kick-off event, also organized by the students, will occur on March 13. On April 11 the analysis of the responses begins and May 6, ABC and CBS have been invited to cover the presentation of the final results.
The Blue Hen Poll 2008 is a revolutionary idea. It is the first survey of its kind in Delaware's history that is for the students and by the students - it is not another survey created by a retiree tucked away in a dusty room.
During their class periods, the undergraduates are completely in charge of creating the poll, including thinking of the types of questions that should be asked, which ones should be eliminated upon further thought and what the results of such questions will illuminate about the student body.
The poll will be unbiased, and if used every year, an accurate way to track how students feel about the university and world issues over time.
When most students think of class, they picture sitting still in a lecture hall, furiously scribbling down notes which can be monotonous. Wilson is taking a hands-on approach and getting students genuinely interested and involved in their education - other professors may want to pay attention and do something different with the way their own classrooms are run.
As for the students who receive the Blue Hen Poll 2008 - take the short time to fill it out and let your voice be heard.
The purpose of this survey, which deals with an array of topics including the university, faculty, morals, race, the war in Iraq and the job force is to get an accurate idea of how the undergraduate student body feels about issues.
The poll will be offered to a random sample of 1,500 undergraduate students who will then have the liberty to decide whether or not to fill it out. There is no tangible incentive for taking part in the survey - the student creators believe the chance to be heard is reason enough to participate.
A kick-off event, also organized by the students, will occur on March 13. On April 11 the analysis of the responses begins and May 6, ABC and CBS have been invited to cover the presentation of the final results.
The Blue Hen Poll 2008 is a revolutionary idea. It is the first survey of its kind in Delaware's history that is for the students and by the students - it is not another survey created by a retiree tucked away in a dusty room.
During their class periods, the undergraduates are completely in charge of creating the poll, including thinking of the types of questions that should be asked, which ones should be eliminated upon further thought and what the results of such questions will illuminate about the student body.
The poll will be unbiased, and if used every year, an accurate way to track how students feel about the university and world issues over time.
When most students think of class, they picture sitting still in a lecture hall, furiously scribbling down notes which can be monotonous. Wilson is taking a hands-on approach and getting students genuinely interested and involved in their education - other professors may want to pay attention and do something different with the way their own classrooms are run.
As for the students who receive the Blue Hen Poll 2008 - take the short time to fill it out and let your voice be heard.
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