eCAFE - Course and Faculty Evaluation, University of Hawaii

eCAFE: Course and Faculty Evaluations


Instructor: Michael Dunn

Available Survey Results

FSHN 486, Spring 2012
FSHN 685, Fall 2011
FSHN 486, Spring 2011
FSHN 685, Fall 2010
FSHN 486, Spring 2010
FSHN 785, Spring 2010

Michael Dunn: FSHN 486, Spring 2012

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 486 - Nutritional Biochemistry II Crn (Section): 81258 (001)    
1. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.91 22 0.29 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (9%) 20 (91%)
2. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.77 22 0.43 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 5 (23%) 17 (77%)
3. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.59 22 0.59 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (5%) 7 (32%) 14 (64%)
4. Other comments:
We consistently got out of class late, which made some students late to their next class.
Eventhough I loved this class and learned a lot, I wish the pace was a tiny bit faster.
I liked his teaching style!
I enjoyed this class. The format of the exams (multiple choice, short answer) helped me to reinforce the nutritional biochemistry concepts I learned from lecture and the readings. It also allowed me to learn from my fellow students and helped me to develop research skills.
I feel that the material was presented in a knowledgeable and efficient manner. Unlike some classes where the exams are structured to try to be trick questions that test your exam taking skills more than the coursework, Dr. Dunn tested on knowledge of the material and critical thinking in a very organized and educated way. He is thoroughly knowledgeable on the subject and took the time to make it relevant to what was expected of the students at this level. I was a pleasure taking this course.
I would appreciate it if there were more courses taught like Dr. Dunn's class. I believe we learn more from other people than we do alone. Dr. Dunn's style of teaching is a good example of this fact.
I really enjoyed the way Dr. Dunn lectured. I appreciated that he went slowly through each topic to ensure that everyone fully understood. I liked the critical thinking he required, although it was challenging, it helped me to gain a better understanding of why things happened.
The course gave me new knowledge that I haven't gained from other biochemistry courses. I liked how Dr. Dunn related the learning materials to topics in health, disease, and common products sold in the market. I would definitely recommend this course to other students. Thank you for the great learning experience!
I really liked this class. Dr. Dunn explained materials very precise and carefully. He explained them slowly and again and again to make students to understand them well. Exams were hard, but they made me to think the theories. He is always available for questions, and tried to understand what students have a problem. I like his enthusiastic attitude toward teaching. Thank you very much :)
I like the discussion style of the class room. I feel like i am able to develop a critical thinking skill and apply what i learn in class
Dr. Dunn is a super nice professor, and knowledgable and well prepared in class. He explain things so well and clear, and develop students critical thinking!! I really learn a lot from him.
I like the detail that the class goes into, and that it is very clear what is expected of us if we want to do well. Taken on its own, the exams were very challenging but with a lot of studying it was feasible to do well on them.
Course was enjoyable and Dr. Dunn made it easier to understand with his thorough explanations. My only issue was that we were consistently let out of class late, which made it hard for me to get to my next class on time.

Michael Dunn: FSHN 685, Fall 2011     Back to top

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 685 - Ntrtn/Disease:Cell/Molec Aspct Crn (Section): 77718 (001)    
1. Class Level (pick one)
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Freshman   Sophomore   Junior   Senior   Grad   Other  
5.0 6 0.0 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 6 (100%) 0 (0%)
2. Course
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Elective   Required  
1.83 6 0.41 Freq(%) 1 (17%) 5 (83%)
3. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
5.0 7 0.0 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 7 (100%)
4. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.86 7 0.38 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (14%) 6 (86%)
5. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.86 7 0.38 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (14%) 6 (86%)
6. Other comments:
He is a really nice professor, and I enjoyed his class. I learned a lot.
Dr Dunn has a unique way of teaching, I enjoyed the multiple pictures to describe the one process we were discussing in class. I have a greater understanding of nutritional biochemistry with nutrition and disease now.
The topics covered are so interesting, that I wished there was an additional class meeting. I enjoy learning the mechanisms of nutritional related diseases.
He explained the materials very clearly, and taught us the difficult concepts as simple as possible. Although we ran out of time to cover some of materials which were initially planned, I would like to take this course with him again if I need to. His way of teaching encouraged me to study, and I liked his teaching that he emphasized contents of the materials and not for memorization of the contents.
Very clear and never rushed through material. Made complicated concepts very easy to understand.
I really enjoyed this course. I learned a lot of information and was able to better understand at the molecular level behind the reason for the occurence of certain health conditions. The professor did a good job discussing the different conditions such as obesity,diabetes, etc. Hand outs were all provided so that was a plus to this course. However, I would like to note that it was a little difficult in class to follow with the use of the overhead because we were looking at so many handouts all at once and constant flipping made it a little distracting. Despite this, I really appreciate the handouts because I found it very helpful in the learning process. Also, I thought the class was a little too flexible. I do not recall going by the syllabus when it came to timing. We always seemed behind and exam/presentation dates were changing, which I found a little difficult to work around. Overall, I enjoyed the course and learned a great deal of information that will be useful. The professor always facilitated a good learning environment. The professor surely has a passion for teaching!

Michael Dunn: FSHN 486, Spring 2011     Back to top

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 486 - Nutritional Biochemistry II Crn (Section): 81371 (001)    
1. Class Level (pick one)
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Freshman   Sophomore   Junior   Senior   Grad   Other  
3.73 11 0.79 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 5 (45%) 4 (36%) 2 (18%) 0 (0%)
2. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.91 11 0.3 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (9%) 10 (91%)
3. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
5.0 11 0.0 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 11 (100%)
4. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.64 11 0.81 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (18%) 0 (0%) 9 (82%)
5. Other comments:
One of the greatest FSHN teachers. No doubt about it.
Other classes should be taught like this.
This course is outstanding and Dr. Dunn is one of the best teachers I've had at UH. Dr. Dunn not only makes very complex material very understandable, but also teaches students how to think and how to approach complex material, so they'll be able to learn on their own. I give him an A+.
Very good instructor. Explains with clarity. Things that I learn stick with me instead of forgetting them.
The best part of Dr. Dunn's approach is giving COMPLETE understanding of course content. He goes through every topic making sure that all aspects are covered from the molecular to physiological levels. The best lecture class I have taken so far. Because I think best when my thoughts are organized, one suggestion I have is that for each section to give a general outline of topics (i.e., for fiber: 1) types, 2) properties, 3) functions, 4) effects, 5) DRI; simple as that).
I enjoyed Dr. Dunn's teaching style and how he puts an effort to get the class involved!

Michael Dunn: FSHN 685, Fall 2010     Back to top

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 685 - Ntrtn/Disease:Cell/Molec Aspct Crn (Section): 79004 (001)    
1. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
5.0 2 0.0 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (100%)
2. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.5 2 0.71 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (50%) 1 (50%)
3. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
5.0 2 0.0 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (100%)
4. Other comments:
I would have liked to have spent much more time on the relationship of nutrition and obesity. In reality, each of the three topics addressed in this class is deserving of its own course, one on diet and inflammation/atherosclerosis, another on obesity, and another on cancer.
Excellent teacher. Explained difficult and technical concepts in a very easy and understandable manner. Knowledge base very well. Overall experience, a very worthwhile class where I was able to gain a solid foundation for future classes/research/future endeavors.

Michael Dunn: FSHN 486, Spring 2010     Back to top

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 486 - Nutritional Biochemistry II Crn (Section): 81488 (001)    
1. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.83 12 0.39 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (17%) 10 (83%)
2. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.83 12 0.39 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (17%) 10 (83%)
3. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.67 12 0.65 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (8%) 2 (17%) 9 (75%)
4. Other comments:
I really enjoyed his class. He's a really good teacher and approachable.
I have fun learning in this class! I wish more courses were taught by Dr. Dunn. Nutritional Biochemistry can be very confusing but the use of diagrams and outside material contributes a lot to the learning process. I really appreciate that the classroom format is "open" and that he asks us what we think instead of just blurting information out. I love that he uses ORGANIC CHEMISTRY principles to help explain what's going on, on a molecular/cellular level! Also very approachable.
I enjoyed his lecture, which allowed me to understand complex materials easily. His take-home exam provided me with the opportunity to explain what I have learned in my own words. I think I could not only improve my writing skills by writing in my own words, but also deepen my understanding of the subject matter. Thank you.
The way the material was presented; not only made me learn more effiecntly, but made sparked interest and made me want to learn more about each topic. I beleive that this was one of the FSHN core class that i learned the most and had fun in.
The material and information presented in class could have been presented in a much more interesting, understandable, and memorable manner. The continued use of only overheads was not very effective. Michael Dunn could have engaged the students more by having us do activities/exercises to help us remember the information better. All we did the entire semester was sit in the chair & listen to his lecture. Even though he called on students to answer questions, I think we would have understood & remembered information better if we had more hands on experience. Not all students, like myself, learn through mere lecturing. There are a lot of different types of learners, therefore Michael Dunn and other professors should teach to engage all students.
I learned more in this course than any of my othere FSHN courses. Dr. Dunn explained things in a way that made sense and linked concepts together.
I enjoyed learning about the key points of nutritional biochemistry. The explanations in class are really clear and I enjoyed the topics covered. The exams reflects knowledge and having a balance between really technical biochem stuff along with being easy to explain- I think this is really important. Thanks Dr. Dunn! The only thing of improvement is to clear up some handouts and move along the subject material a little faster.
Dr. Dunn taught the course in such a way that I could easily grasp the concepts and also apply those concepts to health situations. He is always willing to help students and encourages us to think outside the box and to learn more. I appreciated his supplemental hand-outs which helps those who are visual learners. The course really helped me make connections which things I have learned before. Great professor and great class!
I like Dr. Dunn's approach to the course. He didn't bog us down with busy- work assignments but also didn't back down from expecting us to know our stuff come test time.

Michael Dunn: FSHN 785, Spring 2010     Back to top

Campus: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Human Nutritn,Food & Animal Sc
Course: FSHN 785 - Diet and Cancer Seminar Crn (Section): 89020 (001)    
1. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of course content.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.5 4 0.58 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (50%) 2 (50%)
2. The instructor fulfilled the goals of the course.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.75 4 0.5 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (25%) 3 (75%)
3. The instructor communicated effectively.
Mean N-Size Std Dev   Strongly Disagree   Disagree   Neutral   Agree   Strongly Agree  
4.75 4 0.5 Freq(%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (25%) 3 (75%)
4. Other comments:
I thought the quizzes were a little silly/very "high school"; anyone who's in graduate school should know how to take notes by now. And, the grading was ridiculously picky for a quick 5 minute quiz based on a presentation you just saw --a case of point talliers really taking themselves way too seriously.
knowledgeable about topics but sometimes made comments during discussion to correct students may have discouraged open discussion. I would recommend being more flexible and understanding about students responses. That said this was an excellent course and professor. Very informative.