Teaching Reviews

Student comments for course overall:

Really LOVED this class (probably my favorite class I have taken at CC) and Juan Miguel and Anna!

I really appreciated having the weekly work days to spend more time on larger assignments and importantly take time for mental health and personal life stuff.

Although it was very hard, I am thankful to have learned so much from this class and glad I took it.

I really loved the group collaboration and being able to go through theories with a group and talking through complicated readings was very helpful

Student responses to 'What were the important strengths and limitations of the professor?':

Professor Arias was very understanding. If anyone had any suggestions for how to better the course, he always listened to what we had to say and changed things based on our opinions. Professor Arias always answered emails within a short amount of time and provided consistent opportunities for office hours.

Strengths: gave constructive feedback that helped in me improving throughout the course, supportive and thoughtful, clearly very knowledgeable on the course content Limitations: None

Strengths were that he was also there to help, answer questions, and was very good at explaining hard theories and topics. The TA was super helpful to have as another resource.

Very passionate and supportive of students. Obviously knew the content and was excited to teach about it. Limitations --> I think at times it felt like it was easier to ask help from the TA rather than the prof, which is fair with a larger class, but not what I was used to.

Strengths: knowledgable, kind and approachable, willing to help students out, connected material in clear and digestible ways, use of powerpoints was actually helpful Limitations: course assignments sometimes confusing->expectations not always clear

very open for conversation and friendly even though the class was quiet and didn't engage at times he was trying really hard to get people to engage more and listened to feedback and was always available to chat and help out!

strengths: presentations were very clear. Juan Miguel is a very nice, understanding, and helpful professor. limitations: none

Professor Arias challenged us to think beyond our comfort zones by expanding our zone of proximal development. This was one of the most challenging classes I've taken during virtual learning, but it was also the class I learned the most meaningful and profound ideas that I can apply to my future life as a teacher. Another strength of Professor Arias is that he is very creative and patient. For instance, he thought of new ways of explaining the theories using metaphors, video animations, and presentation graphics. As a visual learner, these variety of methods of accessing the information really helped with my learning.

"This course has reformed the way I think about the environment, my impact within it, and the potential avenues for actionable change."

"Take it [this class] -- it is a great experience and unlike any other class I've taken at Stanford"

"A hugely important course that opened my eyes to prevalent issues I hadn't before known existed. One of the few classes at Stanford that has changed the way I think about the world, and as a Product Design major, the way I approach design."

"This is the best class I've ever taken! The instructors are all amazing - wise and encouraging and inclusive - and I learned so much from my peers and from the community partner project. Anyone planning to do environmental work in the future should be required to take an EJ class, and honestly everyone should!"

"Take it if you like seminar-style learning and outside reading, but I would not recommend if you prefer lecture style teaching."

"Favorite class I've taken at Stanford. Engaging, so much fun to work with community partners, and wonderful teaching team."

 "Juan Miguel was incredible. The lectures were efficient and engaging, and moved at (for me) the ideal pace. His genuine passion for topics was evident, and it made me even more interested in what we were learning. I don't have any real suggestions — I think the lectures were on the fast-side for some, but for me they were perfect."

"Always willing to help. [Juan Miguel] was consistently helpful when I needed him, he also believed in me. Only person a part of [the Psych Department] staff that told me that. Had big impact on my performance."

"...incredibly prepared for each section, and offered fantastic guidance to address various assignments."

"Always very prepared and made an active effort to get to know us personally. Warm, helpful, and extremely thoughtful. It was a great experience to have during my first quarter of college."

"Very engaging and super prepared for each class. Definitely cared a ton about us and also inspired me to learn."

"Accessible, fun, good pacing, able to understand content and why."