Faculty Survey - Fall 2015

Survey Interpretation
Survey Text
Survey Results
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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 overwhelmingly positive.

There were several questions and/or concerns raised by faculty, so CLM will follow up on these items:

  • There were a lot of crickets in Olson Hall, perhaps due to the construction over the summer. By the end of the quarter the problem was essentially resolved.
  • Based on question 2 there is still room for improvement in the areas of classroom temperature, cleanliness and environment. So we will continue to work on those areas.

Survey Text

On 12/2/2015 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Fall 2015 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 23 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 15 7
Support from computer lab managers 0 1 19 3
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 1 18 4
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 3 20 0
Equipment reliability 0 0 22 1
Computer speed and usability 0 1 22 0
Classroom interruptions 0 3 18 2
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 0 2 17 4
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 1 1 18 3
Smaller classrooms 0 0 11 10
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 1 3 18 1
Cleanliness of the classroom 1 3 17 1
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 2 2 17 2
Other - Please specify below 0 2 5 5

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • I was impressed at how organized the CRC was. Very happy with the experience.
  • Classes were frequently interrupted by insects, mostly crickets, that would wander around the room. I think this may be a problem with Olsen, as I have a class in 105 that has an insect issue too.(27 Olson)
  • Room was often too hot.
  • I really like the brightness and quiet of this classroom, as well as the ample space for students to move around, as my students work in groups often. (90B Shields)
  • The resource is amazing and pretty close to perfect. Here are the three observations I have about "areas for possible improvement"--based upon feedback from students.
    1. At least three times when I arrived to teach, the air was stale; we did not know how to adjust the thermostat (nor did the lab tech), so we opened the door and the windows. Note: Students complained about the air, which was a surprise to me; I am usually the fresh air fanatic.
    2. Students in the back of the room couldn't always see when I shared a student's screen--i.e., when using the Tutor (I think it is called) app. I asked students whose screens were been shared to magnify to 200%, which wasn't always enough. It might be worth making a quick instructional video to help people like me learn to use the software on the fly. (Because I taught online 50% of the time and had students asking me a lot of questions before and after class, I was possibly slow to adapt to new--and valuable--software in lab?)
    3. It is a little tricky having students work in groups in 2103 SCC; however, the overall advantages of having the lab far outweigh this minimal difficulty. Thank you again for sharing this lab resource with us. Students consistently say the labs help them to learn; I agree. (2103 SCC)
  • It would be good that we have a workshop or that we know who to contact in case we have problems (I guess that is problem of my department, though)
  • Lots of grasshoppers this quarter! (21 Olson)
  • The projection screen is in the center of the room, covering all but the extreme left and right ends of the white board. It's very difficult to do any teaching that combines projector use with writing on white board, because students can't read the notes on the white board if they're sitting close to the front on the opposite side (i.e., student in front left can't read the extreme right side of white board).(1 Olson)

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

Better 2
Same 15
Worse 0
N/A 6

"Better" Reasons given:

  • We had zero network problems. The projector worked every day.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • My classes have enjoyed spending one of their three days in a clean, bright lab, and the assistants have always been helpful.
  • The quality of the room was great. The computer lab is well maintained.
  • Great as always
  • always someone there to help when I need it - have never had a problem
  • You guys do consistently good job; when problems arise, you address them quickly and effectively.

"Worse" Reasons given:

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

  • We had poor turn out from our student participants, but I don't think this is connected to the computer classroom.
  • none
  • not enough space for group discussion
  • none
  • None due to CLM
  • Now that we are seeing more ""underprepared"" students, it's sometimes more difficult to keep them on task. (They might want to check their e-mail for example.) This surprises me because I'd always counted on the ""authority of the resource"" (i.e., the inherently interesting challenges of being in class) to keep students on task.
    As mentioned, it can be tricky to collaborate in groups.
    Because I teach online (I assume) about 7 students bring their laptops to class. It might be helpful to have a docking station--or some way for me to be able to see what is on their laptops! Who knew!
  • students get distracted when there is always a screen in from of them.
  • I do not know how to use the programs so I basically used smartsite to do activities.
  • No opinion
  • Occasional unexpected glitches when things that should (and normally do) work well fail to do so

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

  • none
  • none
  • none
  • Use of classroom folders was, on occasion, subject to delays. For example, projects submitted via dropoff folder were slow to appear in the folder.
  • My only occasional quibble is with the quality of the markers, which at least once per quarter run out of ink.
  • This quarter the only challenge was in being able to project students' screens large enough that all could see.
  • none
  • no opinion
  • Occasional failure of documents to show up visibly in the class folders, even though they are present
    Occasional permissions roadblocks when even though I'm the instructor I get a window telling me that I don't have permission to insert or remove documents from the pick-up or drop-off folders
    Such incidents are infrequent, but when they do occur it seems to be random with no apparent reason or workaround

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

  • Good
  • Great
  • good
  • Very positive. Since discussion time is limited, we could chat on Smartsite and everyone was able to be heard. We could also significantly revise our writing and practice impromptu writing, as well as take paperless quizzes. I so appreciate using the lab and the change of venue.
  • Great
  • Excellent
  • Great.
  • Fantastic. Thank you very much. The labs continue to be the main reason I teach at UC Davis. The labs differentiate UC Davis from other college/university campuses, and, in my opinion, help to justify the cost of tuition.
  • very good
  • I would prefer to teach the same class in a regular classroom.
  • Fine
  • Great
  • Overall, great! Thanks for your support.

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

  • No, my first experience teaching in a computer classroom was good
  • Add a cable for a external laptop to be projected or amplify music.
  • Thanks for all your hard work and creative problem solving!
  • Just that they are great. Please let us know if we need to do more to support your team, because you support the UWP--and our students.
  • Would be nice to have more area of flat space for stations due to accommodate artwork.
  • Keep up the good work
  • I noticed that the person teaching the hour before me was not erasing his/her board at the end of class. It seems like sometimes staff erases boards after classes and sometimes they don't. It might help to clarify that policy. Should instructors always be responsible for erasing board at end of the class? That seems fair to me, but if the person before me is relying on staff to do it, I wind up having to get rid of all their notes before I can start class.

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