For the past several years, when time has permitted at the end of a semester I have passed out 3x5 index cards in class and asked the students to provide specific feedback about the course (e.g., the usefulness of the assignments in the workbook, the approach they found best for preparing for our weekly quizzes.)

This semester, to obtain feedback about topics which I might not have even considered asking about, I distributed a blank sheet of 8x11 paper and a CCC envelope to each student in one of my Psych 101 classes on the day before the final exam and said basically:

‘You've been watching me talk to you for about forty hours now, but many of you haven't ever spoken to me outside of class about anything except administrative matters. So I'm asking you to write me a note, or type it or print it out on your computer, and bring it with you to the final exam. Tell me anything you want to, anything you've been thinking that relates to our course: The assignments took too long, or they took less time than I said they would at the start of the semester and you got through the course without doing nearly that much work, ha ha; or you liked the in- class presentations but the readings were boring; or you thought my jokes were corny, or sometimes I talk too fast; or that something you observed outside of class made you think about a principle we had studied, or whatever you want to say. The only thing you're not allowed to write is your name. If you want to give me signed feedback you're welcome to do so, but on this particular item please be anonymous'

I received a number of full-page replies, so I will not quote each reply in its entirety as I have done in semesters when I used index cards. But I enclose at least a short quotation from every one of those replies (although not all students taking the exam turned in an envelope, some saying they had forgotten, others not saying anything.)

"Your class was incredible, the best I had ever taken. ... The first couple weeks ... I think my exact quote was ‘I love the class and the professor is probably the best I have ever had ... .' I want to thank you for making me realize so much more about myself and others around me. You are my very own Dumbledore!"

"Your class has been very inspirational. This is the first class that I have ever really learned the information in. ... I also never looked forward to the class ending. You helped show me that I am very capable of putting the puzzle together and that I have the ability to use my intelligence."

"At first I did not like the class, but as time went on it began to sink in. Psychology is not one of my best subjects, but you made it somewhat interesting. Your way of thinking (to me) is brilliant. My old psych teacher never really taught ... I enjoyed your class very much. Thank you."

"First of all I want to say thank you for caring about your students the way you do. It's rare (because I've never seen it) that a teacher sits down with his students and tells them that no matter what they think they are capable of doing , they're minds can do so much more. This class was the first one in a long time, or even ever, that I looked forward to going to and while I was in your class it never seemed to drag on and make me feel tired like my other classes of the same time period did. ... I love being able to apply what I learned to my life. ... Thanks again for a great course."

"Sir I found your class very interesting but the lessons were too long and english is not my first language."

"After about a week in your class I realized that you were probably one of the best teachers I have ever had. I found your lessons to be very interesting and very accurate. I am seeing all of those behaviors and tendencies in everyone around me. It's almost scary some of the stuff we learned and how accurate it is. ... Thank you for all the insight and knowledge you have provided and thank you for the valuable lessons. I hope to keep in touch in the future."

"Psychology I with Professor Cohen has been an enlightening experience. I've learned and come to accept so much in the short time we've spent together in your class. You are a well of knowledge and it shows in your pupils. ... Thanks for everything Professor."

"Psych 101 with Professor Cohen is the best course I've ever taken."

"Thank you for what has been a very wonderful class. Something that I wish had been this rewarding the first time around. May God bless you in the future."

"I am captivated by your brilliance. ... I am admiring the gift that God gave to you. ... I am sending you a poem I wrote after the death of my beloved brother and niece. ... I will miss listening to you ... Yes you did enlighten my life by crossing my path."

"I may have kept quiet throughout the majority of the course but that's what I do when I choose to learn. This course has definitely been a favorite and I have already recommended to a few of my friends that they need to take this course."

"As the semester went on I found myself eager to come back every class and learn psychology. I also found that this class is only as difficult as you make it. Your way of teaching (professing) was by far the best I have ever received. Your class really made me look at every day life a little different. ... I honestly believe there should be more professors like you. This would make college so much more beneficial since the students will actually be enhancing their brains. ... I really enjoyed your class."

"Wanted to say thank you for an excellent class and that I appreciate the time and effort you put into each lesson."

"I found your psychology class very interesting. ... Every lesson was a foundation for the next one, and I implemented much of your lessons in my daily life. The class was filled with an enormous amount of moral insight. It showed in some ways that we were responsible for our own actions. ... Although you seemed rather strict at times, you were different in person. You provided help, for anyone who needed it. In conclusion, my outlook on life had changed for the better since I attended your class. Thank you."

"I really enjoyed this class. This class was not as hard as other people made it seem. ... This class was interesting and I enjoyed learning about psychology."

"I like to learn Psych 101 and I try to learn Psych 101. In this subject some words are difficult to understand to me. ... I can read english very well but I can't speak english very well."

"Let me begin by telling you how much I thoroughly enjoyed your course. I am forever grateful that you were the instructor. You were right when it came to the lessons and the amount of time needed to do them well. ... I learned a lot that blew me away. ... The best part of the course though was how you taught, how you had the way to make everything so powerful and meaningful. Maybe that's psychology but I think you had a lot to do with it. ... You're course, and the way you taught gave me direction in my life. It helped me see what I wanna do, and that I want to be great ... I wanna help people. ... You've opened my eyes to the world and to myself. I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart."