Faculty Survey - Fall 2021

Survey Interpretation
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Survey Interpretation

Computer Lab Management (CLM) periodically surveys faculty who teach in our computer classrooms. CLM uses this information to improve the quality of service in the computer classrooms. The survey results (especially questions #2 and #7) show that overall faculty are quite happy with the computer classrooms.

However, there were some concerns raised in the comments:

  • There were a few comments about the projection in several rooms. We investigated over Winter break and found some settings which improved the apparent brightness a little bit. However, for a long term solution we need to replace the projectors. We will look to replace them as we upgrade the various classrooms each summer.
  • There were comments about the layout in several rooms. Currently we have two general layout - but each has trade-offs which make some aspect of teaching in the room less than ideal. We are always looking for ideas from faculty to improve the designs of our rooms and will attempt to make changes as feasible.

Survey Text

On 11/29/2021 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Fall 2021 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 26 responses.

Question 2. Please rate the following aspects of our services:

  Needs significant improvement Needs some improvement Needs little or no improvement No opinion
Classroom availability (able to reserve times needed) 1 1 9 15
Support from computer lab managers 1 0 17 7
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 1 1 19 4
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 1 4 20 0
Computer usability and reliability 0 4 20 0
Preventing classroom interruptions 1 2 19 3
Classroom size (too small or too large) 0 2 18 5
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 1 1 19 4
Layout of the classroom 1 2 19 3
Classroom environment (cleanliness, sound, etc. ) 1 3 21 0
Other - Please specify below 5 1 2 8

Classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • My only objection to the Olson classrooms is that they are visually depressing, but I don't think that's your fault in any way. Olson is an older building and the basement classrooms are of course not going to have windows.
  • this is a great lab to teach in
  • I was teaching a film class in 90B Shields. The DVD remote is locked in a cabinet. No one can find the key; I wasn't able to show DVD clips during class. :(
  • The room was always hot. I had to prop the door open while teaching to cool it a little. (0347 Storer)
  • I know this is not in your immediate jurisdiction, but the handicap door opener to Olson is broken, on the side facing Sproul.
  • The whiteboard erasers accumulate ink and leave my hands completely black. Please replace them with a cloth.
  • Make sure in the training for new instructors that they know the speakers should be set to headphones
  • Really need a mic in the classroom and hookups for mac
  • I asked for 21 Olson's projector to be replaced weeks ago and it has not. It is barely able to be seen in the classroom with the lights on. Additionally, the markers are almost never refreshed.
  • The projector was petty difficult to read from unless you are in the front row. Even with the front lights off, most students had trouble seeing what was projected. We made complaints about it, but it remained poor quality throughout the quarter. The room was also usually hot. The layout of the classroom also makes it hard for students in the back to see and hear. (73 Hutchison)
  • There’s not enough white board space to write on (that all students can see) if I use it in tandem with screen. I’ve also noticed this quarter that staff are writing notes that duplicate existing postings (about where to drink, remember to log off) on white boards—a further waste of already limited space.
  • A few things come to mind: 1) often there are no white board markers; ideally there would be some at each board for my students to use during board activities, 2) there is only one eraser; one per board would be better, 3) the layout of the classroom is limiting; any chance it can become movable tables? or we can push tables together so students can be in pods?, 4) there was a lot of noise, especially on Thursdays, coming from above; can anything be done to mitigate that noise? I'm not even sure what was making the sound. Maybe a lab upstairs? 5) It would be great if students could project their screens to the whiteboards or walls; anyway to get that kind of dynamic flexibility in the room so it doesn't have to be a screen just for the teacher up front and can instead be a screen that anyone can use at different points to share something? Students could project drafts onto the white boards for discussion, for example? (0347 Storer)
  • room availability; we were unable to reserve rooms on the dates and times we needed.
  • Projector needs replacement. (2103 SCC)

Question 3. How would you rate your overall experience teaching in CLM Computer Classrooms this quarter compared with previous quarters?

Better 3
Same 15
Worse 2
N/A 6

"Better" Reasons given:

  • This is much better than two other places I have taught PSC 120.
  • Thank you for providing whiteboard pens.
  • Especially the CRC was always there and helpful.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • It's great being back on campus and with students again
  • Still comfortable!
  • It’s great to have students with access to computers during class. I’m grateful to teach in such circumstances.
  • It has always been fine.
  • Everything is always great in the SCC labs.

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • There was very little support, nothing got fixed; it impacted student learning.
  • unable to reserve room this year

"N/A" Reasons given:

  • I've taught in many computer classrooms before but this is my first time teaching in one at UCD.
  • Teaching in the computer classrooms has been a good experience for me!
  • I taught online for a year, then came to campus for the first time this fall. this is why i chose that option.

Question 4. What pedagogical issues, if any, have you faced while teaching in a computer classroom?

  • None
  • None!
  • Needing to write on the whiteboard while the project is still running; either have to write on sides of board, which makes it hard for students on the other side of the room to see, or blank projector and retract the screen, but if I'm in the middle of a presentation, them I have to put the screen back down, so there's no integration of whiteboard work with the presentation.
  • None
  • If the screen is between the door and seats, late arrivals are a big interruption.
  • Lack of flexibility; student work is difficult given the set up of the tables/space between tables/immobile computer screens; the room is oriented toward INDIVIDUAL work rather than collaborative work/workshopping which is the HEART of writing instruction.
  • Mostly at the beginning in getting my laptop to interface appropriately.
  • None
  • its not easy for the students to move around and collaborate. these rooms favor a "seated at computer" vibe. its ok, but when i wanted them to present, i took them outside for a more dynamic experience. some students bring laptops and they only want to work on them, others always used the room computers. there was space for both. overall my basic pedagogical needs were met.
  • Lecturing while using the computer requires me to lean over the desk to use the mouse or type or to sit (which I don't want to do since I can't see all the students). I wish there was maybe an adjustable desk or something so that it was easier to use the computer while standing.

Question 5. What technological issues, if any, have you faced while teaching in a computer classroom?

  • It's often difficult to connect to eduroam in Storer 0347.
  • Early on, figuring out how to configure my computer to interface with the video/audio equipment.
  • The bulb in the projector failed during the quarter but I worked around that.
  • Someone turning off the instructor computer in the middle of the day. Also, couldn't figure out how to get the printer to work in 127. A student wanted to print his work and the printer didn't contact to his desktop; we also couldn't tell if it was on or off.
  • Need a mic, students have trouble hearing in the back
  • See above with failure to fix/replace projector (this was also reported by several of my colleagues as well, to no avail).
  • Sometimes when I highlighted things in Excel or Word, the highlighted area wouldn't show up on the projected image.
  • Many students want to use both their laptops and the classroom computer at the same time or their laptops one day and the classroom computer another day, depending. Is there anyway to make the work spaces more flexible? (I taught in a computer classroom once that allowed students to push the classroom computer down behind the table and use the tabletop to work with their laptop, including an outlet for their laptop. Could some of the stations have that kind of flexibility?) Also--the eduroam signal is inconsistent in the room.
  • After the interfacing issues, no problems.
  • None (luckily!)
  • i had a couple machines freeze up and a project that needed to re-start, but overall the CRC showed up quickly and helped fix every problem. the CRC option is incredible, i am a huge fan.
  • Students are using their laptops more than the provided computers. They need charging capabilities for their laptops.
  • Projector needs replacement. (2103 SCC)

Question 6. The COVID pandemic caused many changes to teaching at UC Davis. Do you expect to continue any of those changes in the future that would affect how you use the computer classrooms?

  • I liked that the instructor computer had a webcam attached so that students who were ill or not approved to come onto campus could Zoom in. It would be nice if the student computers also had Zoom capabilities so that there could be more interaction between virtual and in-person students.
  • Not that I can think of.
  • The main change was simultaneously zooming lectures.
  • I'm interested in learning how to teach a class on zoom and in person at the same time-- how to use the microphones in the classroom & on zoom.
  • Take-home final
  • Yes: I Zoom in students who can't be there. It's a little awkward when I need them in group discussion with peers who are in class, so I then have them Zoom into a classmate's laptop or phone
  • N/A
  • I will continue to do activities with students that leverage them sharing their own screens and talking about what is displayed. I will continue to use group writing tools like padlet and google drive extensively. I will continue to have students submit their assignments only electronically. (I haven't collected hard copies in nearly a decade!)
  • No
  • None.
  • your rooms meet all of my needs except stationary stations that limit collaboration in some ways.
  • not sure

Question 7. Do you have any other comments or suggestions regarding the computer classrooms.

  • None.
  • I appreciated the cleanliness and care this quarter. One suggestion: are there are any spare masks kept anywhere nearby, like the CRC room? It would be a good idea if there were some disposable masks available in case a student needed one (in the case where a mask broke or became unusable during class time). Thank you for your care during this first quarter back.
  • There was an issue with empty hand-sanitizer dispensers earlier in the quarter, but that seems to have gotten better.
  • I'm glad we have them!
  • Respond to direct requests for help?
  • I'd love to participate in some pilots of writing courses held in computer classrooms that might experiment with different classroom designs and see what kind of affordances/limitations it creates! If there is any program like that--I'm very interested in learning more! Thanks.
  • None.
  • i am a huge fan. the mac minis are fast and responsive. the tech is reliable and the CRCs are a lifeline for when you need it most. great work in my opinion.
  • Thank you!

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