Faculty Survey - Fall 2014

Survey Interpretation
Survey Text
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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 #6, 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.

There were several questions and/or concerns raised by faculty which CLM will work to address:

  • We have received several complaints about the lighting in 90A & 90B Shields since the rooms opened in Winter 2014. CLM worked with Design and Construction Management to add additional lights at the front and sides of the those rooms over Winter Break. This should resolve the lighting problems in those rooms.
  • There were several comments regarding the difficulty having students work in small groups given the furniture layout in the classrooms. The current room layouts have design trade-offs which make some aspect of teaching in the room problematic. We are investigating alternate room layouts which put a higher priority on facilitating small group work and hope to renovate a computer classroom in Olson with such a layout this summer.
  • There were several comments about the lighting controls in SCC being difficult to use. We are aware of the issue and are working with Design and Construction Management to investigate different controls for the exisiting light system.
  • There are ongoing issues of classrooms being too hot or too cold. We continue to work with Campus Facilites to address the issues and try to keep the temperature more consistent.

Survey Text

On 12/8/2014 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Fall 2014 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 35 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 21 13
Support from computer lab managers 0 0 28 7
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 0 27 7
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 3 32 0
Equipment reliability 1 7 27 0
Computer speed and usability 0 8 27 0
Preventing classroom interruptions 0 2 32 1
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 1 0 30 4
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 1 1 28 5
Smaller classrooms 1 1 26 5
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 0 7 26 2
Cleanliness of the classroom 0 1 34 0
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 2 6 25 2
Other - Please specify below 2 3 4 13

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • Cleanliness: A cockroach pops out from under the tables now and then.
    Environment: the corridors can be noisy, which means that I have to close the door, which is a bit claustrophobic in a room without windows. (21 Olson)
  • I loved being able to stretch out and work in Hutchinson 73. Thank you for being so accommodating.
  • Clarifying comment on equipment reliability: the overhead projector/screen seemed fuzzy at times, other times, not so. Then again, maybe my eyes... (1 Olson)
  • As you know, the 247 room is cramped. The lack of usable white board space is a problem: can't really have the screen down if need the board and vice versa.
  • The lighting in 90A is terrible, especially in the front of the room and the side closest to 90B. Students often wanted to move from that side of the room because it was too dark when they had to work with non-electronic materials. (90A Shields)
  • The lighting in 90B is very poor. From the back of the room, it is difficult to see writing on the board. the layout of the computers are not very conducive to direct instruction; however, I don't see how else the room could be arranged. (90B Shields)
  • 90B was too cold.
    Also, is there a layout option that would facilitate student interaction more?
    Lighting was terrible- makes the class seem duller and helps students to fall asleep. (90B Shields)
  • The lighting in 90A Shields isn't ideal. There should be more lights near the whiteboard.
  • I would like to see at least one scanner added to the classroom. (90B Shields)
  • The one significant layout improvement I would like to see (other than a smaller classroom, geared to our 25-maximum student enrollment) would be to have the whiteboard and the screen on different walls so that I could use BOTH simultaneously. (241 Olson)

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

Better 5
Same 14
Worse 1
N/A 11

"Better" Reasons given:

  • Smooth quarter!
  • Canvas?
  • I really like the layout of 90B. It is easy to navigate around the classroom, and students do not disappear behind monitors the way they do in other classrooms.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • Great service, just some minor issues with the equipment.
  • Great as always.
  • Room was often warm. I wish I could either lock the door or have some way to prevent late arrivals from walking past me and the monitor when they show up.
  • The SciLab classrooms and support staff are always fantastic.
  • Usual helpful service
  • I have taught in SC2103. The experience there was nearly the same.
  • no problem, everything is working order, good service

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • This is my first quarter teaching in 93 Hutchison and overall the experience was fine, but I experienced technological issues that were extremely problematic. I taught two courses in this class room and in each of the class meetings, multiple times computers either shut down on their own, or malfunctioned in such a way that student work was lost completely, or students couldn't complete exercises. This only happened on computers in the last two rows.

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

  • Keeping students off the computers when I'm talking.
  • Can't really move the students into different seating arrangements (ex. group work). (21 Olson)
  • The setup does sometimes inhibit class discussions. (2102 SCC)
  • Difficult at times for group work due to spacing of the computers. I also found it difficult to reach students sitting on the insides of the rows, so I often found myself leaning over other students to reach them. (2020 SciLab)
  • When students are facing screens that I cannot see, it makes it difficult to see if they're on track. Having the observation screen open (where I can see what is on their individual screens) is not practical when I'm using the instructor's computer and the overhead for class work that is displayed to students while we're working.
  • toggling between screens
  • see above (The lighting in 90B is very poor. From the back of the room, it is difficult to see writing on the board. the layout of the computers are not very conducive to direct instruction; however, I don't see how else the room could be arranged.)
  • See above. (Room was often warm. I wish I could either lock the door or have some way to prevent late arrivals from walking past me and the monitor when they show up.)
  • It was a challenge to get students active in group discussion/collaboration. The students are just too drawn to the computer screens that are right in front of them.
  • I haven't had any pedagogical issues. The computer classrooms facilitate learning - they allow easy engagement with social media and online research/educational tools.
  • none
  • It can be tricky for students to collaborate in small groups f2f. It is sometimes difficult to test out the classroom computer interface ahead of time, since I compose/work on different platforms--as do many students.
  • not being able to write something on the whiteboard (say, a list of discussion questions or to record the results of a discussion) while also being able to look at an image or website or some other visual on the projection screen.

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

  • I don't know how to play a video with sound without the help of the computer class assistant.
  • The lighting is difficult to control and dim without turning completely off. (2102 SCC)
  • Nothing at the moment.
  • When I didn't know how to operate something, I simply pushed the "help" button. Someone always came right away.
  • Smartsite was down on one of the days I taught.
  • none of late!
  • large files - slow transfer speeds over network.
  • Computer seems to seize up when PowerPoint is used.
  • N/A
  • none
  • Classroom layout: If I need both the projector screen and the whiteboard at the same time, there isn't really enough whiteboard space to calculate problems out on the board. The whiteboard space behind the teacher's desk can be hard to see, you can't write below a certain level on the board.
    Equipment reliability: The projector would sometimes go off without any warning, and it would refuse to turn on for several more minutes. Also, I should be able to play sound over the speakers without having the computer projecting.
    Preparedness of the classroom: it was usually impossible to find working markers. I ended up purchasing my own to bring to class.
  • I still have not figured out how to dim the lights. Every time I try to turn them down, they turn off. (2102 SCC)
  • 90B could use a scanner. The lighting on the white boards could be better, but I rarely used the white boards, preferring to use the computer instead.
  • I think there was some kind of network problem, so for portions of two classes I couldn't login or use the Internet. This was a little tricky since 100% of my materials are online. Fortunately, some students could still log in and work, so I was able to invent a workaround that worked for most. And the IT help was able to fix the problem during class in both instances.

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

  • Very good. Just problems with students natural instinct to play online. The "observe" feature is very useful, but I'm not going to be always observing them while lecturing.
  • Overall, good. Some glitches listed above.
  • Very nice.
  • I loved being in the computer room and wished that I could have used the room even more.
  • All went well. The only issues came from SmartSite issues, which were not attached to the equipment in the classroom.
  • Excellent
  • Great. I am impressed.
  • Very good
  • Great. The CLM support and staff do excellent, fastidious work to support faculty in the computer classrooms and they deserve a raise. (You can quote me on that).
  • Great.
  • top notch!
  • Overall, very positive. My complaints are minor. When I called for support, I received assistance immediately.
  • The class went well and the technological resources are great, but definitely there is a different vibe/feel about learning/teaching in a computer classroom, especially one with poor lighting, cold temperature, in a basement with only artificial light, and with students not facing each other well.
  • This quarter, I had a typically great experience in 2020 SciLab. I prefer a computer classroom to a traditional classroom.
  • OK
  • Good.
  • Perfect.
  • I love this room!
  • Nearly excellent.
  • Fantastic. My students tell me teaching a hybrid will not work because meeting in a classroom is so useful. I can see why they think that. Thank you for your help.
  • Overall, it's fine.
  • excellent

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

  • Make the lighting so that it is easier to dim. Or post some instructions on how to dim them.
  • Thank you. The tech support was kind and I have nothing but gratitude for the experiences we have had in my Workload 57 classes.
  • Due to the class size being only around 21 students, there were enough open computers to possibly spit the class into two separate classes (of 20 apiece). I know computer rooms are precious space, so perhaps the possibility of a moveable divider to fit two small classes in one larger room?
  • They are much appreciated.
  • 247 is an ideal classroom but the others I have taught are too big, are not conducive to classroom discussion, and the acoustics make it difficult to hear students who are sitting in the back.
  • See my other entry.
  • Thank you so much to all the classroom support staff. They were extremely knowledgable and professional.
  • Keep up the good work!
  • none
  • The classroom is clean and ready for me each time; I love the magnetic whiteboard erasers.
    I taught in 90A Shields last year, and 90B's layout is much better. Great support from the students.
    Both Shields classrooms are a little dark, so perhaps different lighting in the future?
    Thanks for all you do for us.
  • This may sound ridiculous, but post some instructions for dimming the lights.
  • The room was a bit cool, but I would rather have it too cold than too warm. The students did not complain about the temperature.
  • Just that they are invaluable. If you ever need someone to praise the computer classrooms, let me know.

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