Professor: Ali Course format: Lecture Number of respondents: 24 Total Enrollment: 31 Class Composition: Froshs: 0 Sophs: 2 Jrs: 8 Srs: 11

Instructor Average: 2.07 Course Average: 2.16

"Environmental Planning" is a course designed to give students an introduction to the practices of environmental planning, as well as to current issues in the field. Environmental Studies 11 is a prerequisite for this course. Some members of the class also felt that a background in economics or environmental planning would also be beneficial.

Students thought that Professor Ali was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic lecturer who had a great sense of humor. Many people found him to be an entertaining speaker who showed a genuine interest in students' understanding of the material. He used different teaching methods, a fact that several respondents appreciated, and was always willing to answer questions. Some members of the class however felt that he tried to present too much material and that at times he went off on tangents that were unproductive. Others reported that he focused too much on details, and that the course was not well suited to the lecture format.

In terms of work for the class, there were two major assignments, a midterm and a final. There were also field trips, which many felt were helpful and reinforced the material they learned. Some commented that there was too little time given for the second assignment. Also, one of the exams was worth 50% of the grade, which students thought was too much. As for reading, there were varied responses. Some remarked that the readings were useful, while others felt there were too many and that they were technical and dry.

Members of the class spent an average of three to four hours per week on work for this class, and many thought that this met their expectations for the course. Some however were discouraged by the amount of reading. Although some felt that the course needs improvement, students for the most part would recommend it to others because it gives a good introduction to the subject and the professor is great.

View ES/0131 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.