Faculty Survey - Fall 2006

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Survey Interpretation

The survey results, especially question #6, show that overall faculty are very happy with the computer classrooms. The top area identified for improvement was "More classroom availability". Therefore, CLM will focus efforts on maintaining the high level of service in the computer classrooms and finding new computer classroom space.

However, there were a few commments that show areas where CLM can improve service. Computer classrooms temperatures can be problematic. We will continue to adjust the HVAC systems to try to achieve settings accepctable to all our clients. Many of the other issues relate to the physcial rooms and therefore are difficult to change. CLM will keep these comments and attempt to address those concerns the next time we upgrade those rooms.

Survey Text

On 12/13/2006 Computer Lab Management (CLM) sent the following survey to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Fall 2006.

Fall 2006 Computer Classroom Survey

Computer Lab Management would like to know how we can improve the quality of service in the computer classrooms. We have used feedback in the past to improve our services and facilities, and hope to use your feedback to improve further.

If you have taught in multiple classrooms, please respond for each classroom separately. For example, if you taught in both 21 Olson and 241 Olson please fill out this form twice, once for each room. This will allow us to match your comments with the specific computer classroom.

Name:
E-mail Address:

1. Which computer classroom did you teach in during the last quarter? (Please check only one. If you taught in multiple classroom, please reply separately for each classroom.)

2. Please identify the top three areas (number 1 to 3 in order of priority) where we can improve our services:
Better support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC)
Better equipment reliability
More classroom availability
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students)
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station)
Better support from computer lab managers
Better preparedness of the classroom
Newer/Faster equipment
Reduced classroom interruption
Improved classroom environment (for example: quieter, better temperature) - Please specify
Other - Please specify

3. How would you rate your overall experience teaching in CLM computer classrooms this quarter compared with previous quarters?
Better
Same
Worse
N/A (This is my first quarter teaching in computer classrooms)
Please explain your reasons:

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

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

6. What is your overall teaching experience in the computer classroom?

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

Survey Results

There were 29 responses.

Question 2. Please identify the top three areas (number 1 to 3 in order of priority) where we can improve our services:

  Number of 1's Number of 2's Number of 3's
Better support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 1 0 0
Better equipment reliability 0 0 0
More classroom availability 8 1 1
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 0 2 0
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 1 0 1
Better support from computer lab managers 0 2 0
Better preparedness of the classroom 0 3 1
Newer/Faster equipment 1 1 2
Reduced classroom interruption 2 2 1
Improved classroom environment 3 3 0
Other 3 0 2

Improved classroom environment reasons:

  • Hart 1102 is consistently too cold
  • Because it's a fairly big room, I found it more difficult to teach in than the computer labs over in SLB (93 Hutchison)
  • Students would like more open lab time in rooms where our class software is installed. (2020 SLB)
  • temperature in class uneven (241 Olson)
  • The temp. was unreliable--sometimes far too hot, sometimes far too cold. Students complained in both instances. (241 Olson)
  • The sight lines in the basement rooms are terrible, partly because the rooms are far too wide. Lighting is adequate, but not great. Some students are bothered by the noise. (1 Olson)
  • Air Conditioner noise in front of class makes it hard to hear students in back rows...picky, not a show stopper, just irritating at times 1102 Hart)

Other reasons:

  • Installing class software in other general purpose campus computer rooms would really help. (2020 SLB)
  • No other changes needed -- the equipment problem is being handled by changing servers (2020 SLB)
  • improved projection--larger screen? (241 Olson)
  • clarifying where 93 and 73 Hutch are in relation to 75 - signs are only for 75 and students were getting lost (93 Hutchison)
  • More control of lighting (73 Hutchison)
  • some type of editing/collaboration software--e.g., subethaedit or the like (247 Olson)
     

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

Better 4
Same 14
Worse 2
N/A 9

"Better" Reasons given:

  • I found the AB tutor control more user friendly than the software program I had used in SLB.
  • Last year, I taught in a computer lab managed by another unit.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • has been excellent, as it has in the past
  • My experience using the rooms has always been excellent and this year it was just as good. In particular, I appreciate Tim Leamy's help, support and imediate response to solve any problems.
  • Always good
  • I can't really complain about such a high quality program.
  • Excellent support and classroom prep

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • When I came in to teach, there was another class already scheduled in the room with a TA in charge. This took some time to straighten out, as he wasn't in any hurry to leave until it was established that they room had been scheduled for my class. This made my class get started much later. The TA also told some of his students that they could stay in the room to finish up some exams while I was running my class.
  • I had a lot of trouble this quarter with drop off folders. Copying the sample didn't set the right permissions and sometimes I could swear I'd set the right permissions and they didn't hold.

"N/A" Reasons given:

  • This was the first time I held a class in a computer classroom

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

  • None (6 responses)
  • interruptions from students who are not part of the class but still walk into the room and must be asked to leave.
  • students using non-class related applications if computer screens are not locked.
  • I taught an 8am class, and apart for the few weeks when the class opened a little before 8, it would usually open right at 8am, and I wouldn't have any time to set up.
  • I found the class large (had the students move to the front desks). You have to really speak loudly so students can hear you in this room (93 Hutchinson).
  • Software glitches, not the problem of lab mgt.
  • Too many students are tempted to check email, etc. while I'm lecturing.
  • It's still a challenge to take advantage of the various potentials: for example, we hardly used the printer at all
  • I want to have some time for personal interaction. Being able to shut down the machines helps, but the physical layout of a computer lab makes this difficult.
  • People walking in, asking if they can use an empty computer, then being quite unpleasant when told no. Students doing "other things" while they're supposed to be doing work class. 21 Olson is a dungeon--no windows, too hot. These are pedagogical in the sense of being disruptive.
  • Previously there's been issues with not enough board space with the screen down, but that wasn't a problem this time. It would be nice to make sure there's enough black markers in the room because the red and green and blue don't show up well with the lights turned down and when using the screen.
  • challenges using technology to have students work collaboratively

     

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

  •  I had to turn off windows firewall, but that was easy (after I got admin access from Tim)
  • occasional log in difficulties at some workstations
  • The shape of the room makes it difficult for students on the sides to see the blackboard.
  • None. (4 responses)
  • difficulty digitizing from department cameras; this is a big problem which will hopefully be improved when we in tcs have our own lab with video capture stations. The protools debacle is ongoing...
  • None. Computers worked very well.
  • I was unable to show a video that I had saved on my disc because of some computer blocking mechanism.
  • Everything was handled very nicely!
  • Software glitches, not the problem of lab mgt.
  • Some problems with permissions: who has access to what folders, for example. There were a few problems placing flash drives in the USB ports off the keyboard.
  • All works fine.
  • Recently, not one. The project is slow to come online, but that's pretty darn minor.
  • People who haven't updated their Kerberos login/pw since 2003 can't log in to the computer lab systems. They become very frustrated.
  • If people haven't updated their Kerberos login/pw since 2003, they are unable to log in to the computer lab systems. They become very frustrated about this and it sets a chaotic tone for the lab.
  • We needed the F8 key for the program we were using and this key was set to perform another function on the computers - so we couldn't use the program. It wasn't anyone's fault per se - we found the problem and tech fixed it for us quickly.
  • Once the sound wouldn't work for video, and most of the time the computer won't play flash media presentations for online videos/media.
  • I had a lot of trouble this quarter with drop off folders. Copying the sample didn't set the right permissions and sometimes I could swear I'd set the right permissions and they didn't hold.. Printing difficulties were the other main issues.
  • Only in one instance: one student's computer failed with about 10 minutes of the final exam left. Luckily, he had saved his final exam on a flash drive, so there was no problem.
  • Minor..always resolved
  • schallenges using technology to have students work collaboratively--it's both technological and pedagogical
     

Question 6. What is your overall teaching experience in the computer classroom?

  • Excellent (5 responses)
  • has been excellent. our support consultant (the guy, cannot remember his name) was excellent and very helpful
  • Very positive. The computer lab managers in particular were totally helpful and professional.
  • overall - it's very good; you guys do a great job.
  • GREAT STAFF SUPPORT
  • Thought the computer classrooms were great and the equipment was very easy to work with.
  • I liked the atmosphere of SLB better, but my overall teaching experience was good in 93 Hutchinson.
  • Really good, thank you.
  • Positive.
  • It is a nice place and I like it.
  • Good experience.
  • Excellent--the consultants were extremely helpful.
  • Freshman seminars.
  • It was fine except that there is not any computer support person for this lab. Also there isn't a phone one can use in case of emergency.
  • It's always been pretty good - the usual problem is having the students find which room they're supposed to be in.
  • Good (2 responses)
  • Fine
  • Good. The desktops are a bit noisy, and it's hard for students to see over them for class discussions. As I noted above, the room is too wide for easy discussions. Otherwise, the room is fine.
  • Excellent-no major problems
  • positive

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

  • Great job -- nice to have access to first-class facilities.
  • just wish there were more of them. or would be helpful to have wireless in the classrooms then perhaps would not need as many specialized computer classrooms.
  • I have hard time finding material in Hebrew to work at the language lab. I was wondering if this is the lab's job to help me locate this material, or I'm supposed to find it myself.
  • Tim Leamy's support and quick response to any problems contributes greatly to the excellent experience in using the computer rooms.
  • more! more classrooms and labtime for students!
  • It's great being able to take a class to a computer lab for just a couple of days each quarter.
  • I used our hours in 2020 SLB as open lab time, where I could help students one-on-one. We always allowed other students to use the lab at the same time. It would be nice if the lab could appear as "conditionally available" or something on the Web page, rather than as being used by a class. If all classes did this, probably my students would have more access, which was their main complaint.
  • The student assistant assigned to our room was excellent -- very thoughtful, skilled, and a pleasure to work with. Thanks for asking for feedback.
  • There is the direction in the hall way to Room 73, but students might not know that room 93 is associated with room 73.
  • No.
  • The students adapted to use--and even like--the Macs right away. With a single exception (in which a student was using a beta Word), there were no compatability issues. Great job, guys.
  • Keep up the wonderful support.
  • Not really.
  • It would be good to have a lab tech on site and a phone in this lab.
  • I think it's reasonable to allow instructors teaching a 2-hour lab to have bottled water--perhaps with a sports lid--in the classroom. I've been asked not to have any water in the classroom by the lab techs. When you have to present for a 2-hour period, you really need water. Perhaps we could be allowed to leave bottled water on the floor next to the instructor's station.
  • Yes, they are too difficult for students to find in a timely manner, and some are too far away from the central campus and our regular classrooms. The one ongoing problem is that there are always other students coming in and interrupting or there are students that are already in the room who don't want to leave.
  • Like most other UWP instructors I've talked to, I like 247 Olson the best, primarily because the laptops interfere less with group discussions than do the desktops.
  • The computers are much more reliable than they once were. Thank you!
  • It was fine!
  • none
  • more training, well in advance of first week of quarter, esp. for first-time users
     

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