Faculty Survey - Fall 2013

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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, #6 and #7, show that overall faculty are quite happy with the computer classrooms. In Question #2, the majority of faculty feel that each area "Needs little or no improvement". The comments from faculty were overwhemingly positive.

During Summer 2013 CLM made significant changes to three computer classrooms in Olson. These changes included replacing iMacs with smaller Mac minis, updating the projection controls, putting the instructor monitor on a arm, and upgrading the HVAC system. Several faculty commented positively about these changes and some even requested similar changes in other rooms. So we will contuinue our plans to replace iMacs with Mac minis and upgrade the projection systems in other computer classrooms.

There were several comments regarding the difficulty having students work in small groups given the furniture layout in the classrooms. For future renovations CLM will investigate alternative room layouts. Currently several rooms have design trade-offs which make some aspect of teaching in the room problematic. We are always looking for feedback from faculty to improve the design of our rooms.

Survey Text

On 12/5/2013 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Fall 2013 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 45 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 1 31 12
Support from computer lab managers 0 0 38 7
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 4 34 6
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 3 41 0
Equipment reliability 0 3 39 1
Computer speed and usability 0 2 40 2
Preventing classroom interruptions 0 6 34 4
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 0 1 35 8
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 0 5 33 6
Smaller classrooms 0 5 27 12
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 2 5 37 0
Cleanliness of the classroom 0 1 40 2
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 1 6 35 2
Other - Please specify below 1 2 6 17

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • Was perfect - Thanks to Tim Leamy and student staff!
  • This quarter I taught a writing class in a conventional classroom in which students were able to sit in a circle, and I taught a workshop in a computer lab. I found myself wishing very much that computer labs could be configured so students are in a circle, as that makes an enormous difference for class discussion. I realize this may not be possible, and I appreciate all you and your team already do to make the computer classrooms as useful as possible for the greatest number of classes and needs. (1 Olson)
  • I'm hoping that this classroom will be one of the next upgraded (as they have done in with the classrooms in the Olson basement). It would be great to have slightly smaller computer monitors. I feel like I loose part of the class when they are able to sink behind the large monitors, especially those on the wall by the CRC station. (241 Olson)
  • I'd like it to be possible to turn off the lights at the front only, to enable better visibility of the screen without decreasing light in the rest of the classroom. (21 Olson)
  • I use a computer classroom for my writing classes so that students can use the computers for research and drafting. However, these things aren't the only activities we do in class. We also have small and large group discussions and projects. It seems that no one has come up with an alternative to the traditional lab set up--the kind of set up that encourages independent work but DESTROYS all hope of having collaborative and participatory work. This is unfortunate. Our computer labs are designed beautifully to be computer labs, but they make terrible classrooms. If anyone has any interest in making our computer labs more useful as instructional spaces, I'd love to talk to that person. (2102 SCC)
  • As a support staff responsible for submitting room requests to your department, I must commend Tim Leamy on his consistently fantastic service! I'm sure he works with a great behind-the-scene team, but he's the person with whom I always interact. I'll forward this survey to instructors and TAs who meet in the computer labs for any input they'd like to offer.
    Thank you for your great service and support!
  • Tim was great to work with and availability was not a problem.
  • The consultant was unable to help me when I had trouble playing a video from online and the computer called for an updated video player, which the consultant couldn't install (fortunately one of my students resolved the problem).
  • Great experience for the most part. Only one problem day in Fall Quarter - could not connect workstation to screen. IT staff was quick to resolve the issue. Nice job!
  • At the beginning of the quarter I had some trouble with the computer timing out in the middle of a class, but Tim Leamy came to my class and took care of everything and I never had a problem after that.
  • Such a small point, but noticeable -- the whiteboard eraser was this sponge-like thing, and was very ineffective.

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

Better 8
Same 25
Worse 0
N/A 10

"Better" Reasons given:

  • better computers - they interacted with my software better.
    Less interruption of our class due to better signage that lab was closed. (2060 SciLab)
  • I like the new screen on the desk that allows to control the screen etc. (21 Olson)
  • Compared to the chalk-filled nightmares that are the other classrooms in Olson, these rooms are a dream come true.
  • The monitor with arm is easier to use than the monitor riser was. The ventilation system seems to be better, too. Thank you very much. (27 Olson)
  • The ventilation seemed better. Also, I had smaller classes, so it was a little easier to do group work in the relatively small space in 247. (247 Olson)

"Same" Reasons given:

  • My experience is always very positive.
  • As always, it was a pleasure to teach in an Olson Mac lab.
  • SLB 2020 is a good computer lab. I have always been happy in it.
  • I've never experienced any technical issues during class, nor do I register any complain from students.
  • Labs are run well. Thank you.
  • The IET labs always support an excellent teaching experience, where the technology does not get in the way of the course content and delivery. The wipe board wall provides potential for creative brainstorming, ideation, feedback and collaboration.

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • None given

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

  • As noted above, the configuration of the room discourages (and maybe even prevents) group discussion. (1 Olson)
  • None (5 responses)
  • The main problem I've run into teaching in a computer classroom is the lack of board space. For instance, in the SCC computer labs, the walls or whiteboards, so I could effectively combine projecting things from my computer with work that had the students engaged on the board. In classrooms where the whiteboard is behind the projection screen, you can only use either/or. (27 Olson)
  • Honestly, the only issues have involved Smartsite outages. I've had a great experience in the CLM computer classrooms this quarter.
  • Again, just keeping the active engagement of students with the large monitors blocking sight lines. (241 Olson)
  • There is always a problem with sight lines because of the large monitors. We do a lot of class discussion and it's hard for students to see one another. I work around this by having students move around the class to work in groups with different students. I liked it better when the monitors were smaller,but I understand the reason for large screens. (2102 SCC)
  • Please see above: Huge computer screens that block your view of students is kind of a big pedagogical issue. (2102 SCC)
  • nothing significant in recent years
  • N/A (3 reposonses)
  • This was the first time that I had taught in a computer classroom at UC Davis. It would have been helpful to have a walk through the week before classes to learn about the technology available in the labs. My department offered some written instructions, but it would be easier to get in the lab and have someone walk you through the different programs.
  • Students logging on to social networking sites during class time. Guess it par for the course.
  • It's hard to move around and work with small groups in an organic way in this classroom, at least compared to a classroom where the chairs can be placed in a horseshoe shape. It can also be difficult to maintain rapport with the class as a whole when they're tucked behind their screens (although that's a problem any time they're allowed to use laptops, too). (2102 SCC)
  • Just the usual: the computers are sometimes a distraction (but there's nothing CLM can do about that,and I very occasionally lock the screens.)
  • NA - My teaching is much better in a computer classroom. Thank you.
  • I would like smaller monitors in front of my students so they won't try to hid behind them. Also, is it possible to block certain sites at least temporarily to keep them off social networking in the room? (1 Olson)
  • In a perfect world, I'd like it to be easier, furniture-wise, for students to work in groups. But I know this is hard to balance with the need for 1 to 1 computing.(73 Hutchison)
  • I love teaching in this classroom! The pedagogical issues I face are only my own personal goals for improvement. The classroom does not hinder me in any way.
  • Any.

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

  • Computers crash while using certain software such as OpenOffice, Excel.
  • None (7 responses)
  • Occasionally one of the student computers wouldn't start, and once there was a problem with one of the keyboards.
  • Occasionally students couldn't log in, but the computer resource helpers always arrived swiftly and solved any problems.
  • At one point the students had a difficult time saving their work when I was using an older Word Doc format. The CRC assistant helped us work it out and I was able to fix the issue in my own document before my next session.
  • N/A (2 responses)
  • when you do Powerpoint it defaults to the desktop view on screen and you have to switch it -- an issue when students were doing their presentations; dedicated pointer/clickers for advancing slides would be nice for those of us who do a lot of onscreen work and/or student presentations; clickers that work with Prezi would be great
  • During one session, the instructor's computer screen was not projecting on the white screen.
  • Tech issues were infrequent and handled promptly.
  • The button to turn on the projector was very difficult to use. You have to hold it in, and sometimes that is not enough. It might take 30 seconds to a minute to get it to turn on. It is not a major deal, but it can be annoying if it takes a long time for the button to make the connection.
  • Couldn't connect workstation to screen once. Otherwise classroom ran fine.
  • A couple of computers were glitchy all quarter. A few times the overhead monitor wouldn't come on, not matter what I and the consultant tried.
  • It is difficult to integrate SmartSite with my own Web pages, especially when SmartSite isn't working, but I don't think that is anything any of us can control. (I hope to pilot a different LMS next quarter.)
  • Difficult to integrate with SmartSite. Explained with response to Olson 27.....
  • The strangest experience this quarter was, twice, when a document wouldn't open on one computer in the room but would open on all the rest of the computers. The CRCs kept asking me what program I created the documents in (the docs were created years ago, but have been saved and modified on several computers in the years since). Since they were opening on 24 other computers, I have a hard time seeing it as a document issue (also, if it is, am I supposed to go recreate hundreds of writing handouts just to make sure that doesn't happen again)?
  • Couldn't get my laptop onto the campus wifi. Never asked for help on this though, as it was not a big deal.
  • I know this goes beyond our financial capabilities at this time, but someday it would be helpful to have better eye contact with the students (the monitors can get in the way), so some system to move monitors out of the way during lecture/discussion...I know that is kind of pie in the sky at this time.
    Another possible improvement would be the ability to connect to speakers to play sound without turning on the projector (and wasting the bulb). Because we use this classroom for ""studio,"" we often want to play some music (I don't allow students to wear headphones during class/studio).

Question 6. How was your overall teaching experience in the computer classroom?

  • Enjoyable
  • Excellent - loved it!
  • It was only a workshop this quarter, so I don't really feel like there was an "overall experience."
  • Very good (3 repsonses)
  • The room was perfect. The only slight issue is some people came in who weren't in my class while I was teaching, which was kind of disruptive.
  • Very good. Thank you for the changes.
  • Great (5 repsonses)
  • Excellent (4 repsonses)
  • The computer room consultants keep the room in good shape and come quickly when called. Although they typically are helpful, they don't seem to know much about SmartSite, PowerPoint, or any other program I might be running that is causing me problems or questions.
  • Overall, my experience was quite good. The CRC student workers were exceptional! Always timely and friendly.
  • While I like the technology in the space and the white board wall is incredibly useful, these do not make up for the loss of collaboration and dynamic interaction in the classroom.
  • it's generally very good
  • The room was great. 100% satisfaction.
  • fine
  • Excellent. Support staff did an exceptionally great job.
  • The experience was good. The CRCs in the room were helpful, patience, and knowledgeable.
  • The experience was good. The whiteboard was often dirty in the room, and I rarely saw a CRC.
  • Overall, excellent
  • Good, aside from the sometimes serious temperature issue. (Students shouldn't have to wear coats and gloves during class!)
  • Good. The upstairs Olson computer classrooms work better than the basement ones.
  • Great. Thank you very much. My students appreciate the lab(s), as do I.
  • Great. Thank you.
  • Very good, as usual. The technology is first rate. The rooms are comfortable. The staff is quick to respond. We're very lucky to have these rooms and the support we receive. Thank you!
  • Very positive.
  • Excellent! Thank you so much!

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

  • No, but thank you for asking.
  • Thanks for the great service! I like how even though I made the reservation last minute, I still got into a classroom.
  • I'd like to see more white boards that aren't behind the projection screen.
  • I am extremely impressed with the helpfulness of the CRC student employees. They were always quick to help me and polite.
  • I think you need to come up with an approach to designing your labs that resists the one-size-fits-all mentality. The traditional arrangement of a lab works, but not for ALL purposes.
  • Thanks for running a great operation
  • N/A (3 repsonses)
  • My ranking for "preventing classroom interruptions" comes from two things. First, we had more than one student who'd left a drink on the drinks area during the previous class come back during our class to get it. Perhaps move it closer to door instead of across the room? Second, the level of noise in the hallway when other students congregate outside was distracting to some students.(21 Olson)
  • I had to ask students to clear the room a few times, because the sign at the door indicating the room had been reserved was not properly display. Aside from these little things, it all went well.
  • No (5 repsonses)
  • The IET team is excellent!

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