Faculty Survey - Spring 2022

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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 several comments about the projection in various rooms. We were hoping to start upgrading projectors over the summer. However, there were supply chain issues so the upgrades will likely be postponed to Winter break. We are planning to upgrade all the projectors over the next few years.
  • There were a few comments about lack of whiteboard space. We will look into the possibility of adding whiteboards. Plus we will review our practice of using portions of the whiteboards for administrative messages.
  • 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 implementing a new group-work focused layout in two classrooms in the Teaching & Learning Complex. The new layout was developed based on feedback from instructors and comments from earlier surveys. Those classrooms will open in Fall 2022.

Survey Text

On 5/31/2022 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2022 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 24 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) 0 0 13 11
Support from computer lab managers 0 0 17 7
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 0 20 4
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 1 22 1
Computer usability and reliability 0 2 21 1
Preventing classroom interruptions 1 2 19 2
Classroom size (too small or too large) 0 3 20 1
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 0 2 21 1
Layout of the classroom 1 4 18 1
Classroom environment (cleanliness, sound, etc. ) 0 0 23 1
Other - Please specify below 0 3 4 7

Classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • the more collaborative designed classrooms, like Olson 27 or Shields 90B are preferred for students as opposed to the rows not facing each other like in Shields 90A
  • Please don't write messages on the whiteboard (such as reminders to not have drinks or food in the lab). We have limited whiteboard space with the projector covering much of it already.
  • Students often struggle transferring files to and from their own computers, so something that could facilitate that would be great. Group projects are challenging in the current seating arrangement. I think another room for critiques of student projects would be helpful for DES16 in the future.
  • A few minor headaches: In some classrooms, it's impossible to use the white board and the projector simultaneously (students on one end of the class can barely read material written on the whiteboard on the other side of the class). Any chance we could get new white boards on side walls? Also, staff keeps writing messages on those much-needed ends of the whiteboard ("Don't forget to log out" and other messages already on posters in the room).
  • More white boards since when you have the screen down most of the white boards are covered.
  • projector needs to be 4K, like the iMacs--low resolution on the lecturers computer makes it hard to teach the Adobe software. (2012 SCC)
  • It was warm in there sometimes, but manageable...oh, and extra dry erase pens. The many white boards are VERY helpful, but I often had to bring my own pens for groupwork.
  • Is anyone using the scanners? they seem like older technology and take up a lot of space. Maybe just one or two are necessary - The chairs are really bad for my back (2102 SCC)
  • I appreciate the "Class is in Session. Please do not interrupt" sign. However, the class was interrupted by a graduate teaching assistant for another class (from different department) who wanted to use one of the computers to get ready to teach her course. Could you make the sign larger and more visible to ask not to enter the computer classroom if they are not the instructor or students of the class that is on the schedule?
  • There is noise from the pianos next door ... Sometimes students from other classes leave the room late or enter early (1 Olson)
  • I had a software issue, the teaching software that we use to look at the students computers, ABTutor, was being weird, I reported it and a CRC came in and chatted with me about it but it self-corrected. Happened again the next class, I reported it in class via email, and it was fixed and an email response before my next class session ended (I teach back to back). Cannot beat that service. BUT, the projector in 241 is going out and needs to be replaced. some days it takes a while to get the light bright enough to see the screen, others it responds normally. Sometimes when you have the screen blanked, and press the button to bring it back, it doesnt snap back into bright projecting right away, but other times it is fine. just an old projector i am guessing, but it should be addressed.

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

Better 2
Same 19
Worse 1
N/A 2

"Better" Reasons given:

  • None

"Same" Reasons given:

  • same quality
  • I find the student assistants always helpful and the computer rooms well-kept :)
  • these labs are really great to teach in, on the whole.
  • We only needed to reserve it for a single exam.
  • Teaching in computer classrooms has been an excellent experience, both in this quarter and previous quarters.
  • All good
  • I have had nothing but positive engagements with Olson 241, it is a great classroom, anything that I need help with is taken care of quickly and without hassle, room is always in great shape. when I say it is the same i mean it is still a well supported and solid classroom for my needs.

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • None

"N/A" Reasons given:

  • N/A

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

  • Just the desk/space design as previously mentioned
  • It was difficult to get students to work/ talk together, and they were reluctant to print out copies of their designs to mark up
  • Really, the biggest issue is trying to get students to move around to work in different groups, because once they get logged in, they find it annoying to log in somewhere else. Plus, there's only so much space for this. I have no idea how one might address that, though, given the limitations we need for a computer lab.
  • I love teaching in a classroom where everyone has computer access. I wish some of them weren't facing away from me, and that students who come in late didn't have to walk past me to get to their chairs. Not sure how that layout could be improved though.
  • I did try to conduct a Zoom session while also having my students in-class, but it was too challenging for me to navigate between the screen and students in person.
  • none
  • Storer has more space and white boards, which are issues in some of the smaller labs in Olsen.
  • Only proctoring, didn't have any issues.
  • I got some complaints from the students that the lights were too bright and made it difficult to read what was projected. I solved the issue by turning the lights off, so in the end, it was not such a big deal.
  • no issues
  • the locked in stations are a bummer for group work, though many students come with laptops that they want to use. that is good and bad in some ways, students on laptops dont always log in to their computers, so if I want to use the software I need them on those machines. otherwise I really dont have any concerns.

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

  • A printer that can do 11x17 color prints would be incredibly useful for design students
  • None.
  • I get the sense that the computer/projector combos are getting old and buggy. I had to request assistance when the projector stopped unexpectedly 3 separate days this year--more than last 3 years combined.
  • I did have some trouble using my laptop. The screen wouldn't show up and so I just used the PC in the computer lab.
  • a few student computers having problems
  • projector needs to be 4K,
  • The monitor wouldn't turn on once, so I called a student assistant to help, and they solved it promptly. That's the worst of it. Now that we don't have to bring our own adaptors and everything is available for us, it's much better.
  • No issues
  • If the projector has not been turned on in a while, it takes time to warm up. I wonder if there are more modern types of lamps (LEDs) that wouldn't have this problem.
  • N/A
  • Sound was out one day, and we only got it fixed after I had to move on to another part of the lesson during that class hour. Settings for the computer did not allow sound and had to be reset.
  • Zoom camera didn't work/record.
  • the room was locked once, but it was quickly unlocked
  • some students bring their own computer and the wifi can be slow for them.
  • its always the stationary seating. sometimes we present elevator pitches, sometimes we go to random computers and read what the student has written and comment on it, sometimes we need to stand up and do some improv/ice breakers to get the blood or creative juices flowing. being stationary at these machines is a liability for that type of instruction, but its a trade off. I can teach around it, and having a machine for every student (especially the mac mini setups you guys have) is far superior to expect every student to always have a laptop.
  • There were a few times when I wanted to adjust the monitors (in 2020 SciLab) to make them brighter, but I didn't know how.

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?

  • Yes, more virtual/ hybrid hardware (better mic, speakers, another camera that can I can move away from the computer to lecture etc.) would be great
  • Running Zoom while class in in session. It's not my favorite, but I'm glad that the computer lab is set up to do this.
  • I would like more information about how and/or which computer labs may have a record option for students who get COVID. I simply met with them in zoom sometime after, but a recording of what is presented/discussed would be helpful. I'm not sure that is available in every lab.
  • Attendance issues have been a real problem. That is not a computer lab issue though.
  • We plan to use the classroom again for running the exam.
  • Yes, I don't believe in timed writing exams. Because we have to reserve a computer room for finals, I finally gave up doing in-class finals.
  • N/A
  • I went paperless long ago -- better for the environment.
  • I appreciate the hand sanitizer, masks, & tissue paper.
  • I have students watch recorded lectures before coming to the lab room. But that does not affect my use of the computer classroom.
  • I cannot think of a single change that I made that I cannot compensate for in a computer room.

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

  • Staff have been amazing
  • Thank you for a good year. The staff is always immediately helpful when problems occur. While room layout isn't ideal, it beats the alternative of just having a lot of students on different laptops running different programs.
  • No. Thanks for the ongoing support.
  • Thank you to the student assistants for their upkeep of the rooms and their support. They are always kind, respectful and helpful. I appreciate them.
  • see above, consider removing scanners, and maybe refresh chairs.
  • It would be nice if there was sufficient classroom space for the lower division CS classes to have labs. This is currently unreasonable given the number of students that would need to be supported.
  • Strangely, I prefer the basement classrooms in Olson because they are spacious and seem to be the best laid out.
  • You are doing a great job. Thank you!
  • Thank you for all of your support.
  • Thank you!
  • nice job!
  • I wish there was more room on the instructor's desk for papers, etc. Maybe some type of rolling table that could be pushed out of the way when not needed?
    Also, many students use their personal laptops in the computer classrooms and need plugs for charging. (0347 Storer)

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