Faculty Survey - Spring 2011

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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.

  • From Question #2, the majority of faculty feel that each area "Needs little or no improvement".
  • The responses to Question #6 were all positive, including 5 excellents, 4 greats, and a fantastic.
  • Comment: I've had consistently positive experiences in the computer classrooms.
  • Comment: Excellent computer classrooms on campus! Staff is intelligent, well-trained, and very accommodating. IET support is excellent!

The top areas listed for improvement in Question 2 were "Classroom availability", "Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station)" and "Temperature control". But overall most faculty were satisfied with those areas as well.

Based on the comments there are several areas that CLM will investigate further:

  • CLM will continue to look for better options to address the screen size versus sight line issues. Unfortunately computer vendors tend to increase monitor size each year, which makes it difficult to maintain good sight lines in the computer classrooms. CLM will research alternatives to the large iMac computers in an effort to improve sight lines and facilitate student interaction.
  • CLM installed a wireless microphone into 1102 Hart. 1102 Hart has more HVAC noise than desired which makes it diffuclt to hear from the back of the room. Facilities has worked on and off on the problem for several years but has not been able to resolve the issue. Based on the positive reposnse from faculty to the wireless microphone CLM plans to install the same microphone other computer classrooms with noise issues.
  • CLM will continue to work with Facilities to address classroom temperature issues. But unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a single HVAC setting which will meet each faculty member's desired temperature for a room.

Survey Text

On 5/31/2011 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2011 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 27 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) 1 2 20 4
Support from computer lab managers 0 0 25 2
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 2 24 1
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 1 26 0
Equipment reliability 0 2 25 0
Computer speed and usability 0 2 25 0
Classroom interruptions 0 1 25 1
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 0 2 21 4
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 0 4 19 4
Smaller classrooms 0 1 17 8
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 0 8 18 1
Cleanliness of the classroom 0 0 27 0
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 1 2 23 1
Other - Please specify below 0 4 6 2

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • Excellent computer classrooms on campus! Staff is intelligent, well-trained, and very accommodating. IET support is excellent! But... Is there a way to access/reserve computer classrooms in later afternoon/early evening hours? I was able to reserve for earlier class section and unable to reserve for a late afternoon class section. Not much of a problem for this class, however, half of my students did not have exposure to the IT subjects I taught that may have helped in their undergraduate research.
  • Given how many conflicts there are in student schedules, it would be tremendously helpful to have the possibility of extended hours on computer classrooms and/or to let the faculty member lock up afterwards if necessary. I have found it difficult to offer my computer lab, plus office hours with computer access, at times that are least conflicting with other student scheduling issues.
  • If it were possible to create more space for students to work in small teams at their desks, that would be handy. The current spaces and layouts are adequate, but from time to time it'd be nice to open up more desk space.
  • It would be awesome to have discussion or group oriented desks in a smaller computer lab (for about 25 people for writing classes like mine). I really appreciated the computer lab managers' work this time because they got me into a classroom with just 24 hours notice. Thanks!
  • More MACs in the print room. I am unable to access our class folder from the PCs.
  • Size of the monitors in 1 Olson (and similar rooms) remains a HUGE problem. They destroy the sight lines in the classroom. Best room remains 247 where the laptops don't intrude--when you aren't using the machine you can have a discussion (and people can actually see each other).
  • The classroom provided a clean cool working environment for myself and the students. I was happy with the attendant, offering assistant but not hovering.
  • The video editing room is excellent for teach my small film production course
  • When I plugged my laptop into the main station at the front of the room, I couldn't figure out how to get internet on it. Plugging in the ethernet cord like usual didn't work.

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

Better 6
Same 17
Worse 1
N/A 3

"Better" Reasons given:

  • CRCs have been especially attentive and personable.
  • Better environment
  • Lab management provided me with a microphone when I had lost my voice due to illness.
  • Quieter better equipped room.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • I've had consistently positive experiences in the computer classrooms.
  • Always good service as long as instructor is able to reserve classroom.
  • I'm very pleased with the quality and consistency of service.
  • Great, as was last quarter.
  • We have been receiving consistent excellent support from the Computer Lab Manager Tim Leamy and his team over the years. The computer classroom has become a critical resource for our Bioinformatics trainings. We host several Bioinformatics workshops a year and often require complicated software and system customizations. We are always amazed by the capability that Mr. Leamy has to find solutions for all of our specials needs in a short notice.
  • The signs outside the door restricting entrance into the room helps minimize interruptions.

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • Overall, things were positive. However, a number of times the room was not ready (printers still off, pens out of ink, etc.). CRCs not particularly attentive to teachers or room preparation.

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

  • General surveillance (making sure my students are working, rather than, e.g., on Facebook) is a challenge, but one I solve by walking around ominously.
  • hard to work in groups
  • It's best when the projection screen is not centered, to facilitate being able to write on both the black/white-boards and show computer simulations at the same time.
  • see above referring to #2 - Size of the monitors in 1 Olson (and similar rooms) remains a HUGE problem. They destroy the sight lines in the classroom. Best room remains 247 where the laptops don't intrude--when you aren't using the machine you can have a discussion (and people can actually see each other). This remains a huge issue for me.
  • Students get distracted by whatever is on the screen. Students can see each other's work when they're doing exercises or quizzes online.
  • Students getting off task while online can be a problem (checking email, Facebook, chatting, etc.). I'm not sure if adjusting the layout of the classrooms would fix this. (The "observe" feature on the instructor computer is a handy feature that helps with this issue.)
  • We use extensively Linux operating system while the computer lab supports only Windows. However, we could circumvent the limitation through using Web browsers and third party SSH tools.
  • None (6 responses)
  • None, it was GREAT

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

  • 1. It will be great that the room can have a microphone system. Because the noises generated by the computers, sometime it is hard to hear what speakers say from the back row or from the seats far from the center. 2. It will be helpful to have a brighter projector. (2060 SciLab)
  • A lot of the students had problems with Excel freezing or zooming in only to be incapable of zooming out. Occasionally, the projector didn't work and had to be restarted or I had to consult the CRC for help.
  • Changing software versions.
  • I can imagine difficulty with computer function, projector, etc
  • I never remember how to lock their screens. Someone suggested having them turn their screens around for discussion parts, which is a good idea.
  • mostly glitches with students' saved or e-mailed work or with students' computers freezing.
  • mostly glitches with students' saved or e-mailed work or with students' computers freezing.
  • My students and I have had login problems once or twice, but the problems don't occur frequently enough to be terribly concerned. One time this quarter, for about 20 or 30 minutes, none of us were able to log into the computers. But the problem was fairly quickly resolved.
  • Once the lamp in the projector didn't work and I had to change my class plan on the spur of the moment because we couldn't use the projector that day.
  • Some software glitches but nothing that was not quickly resolved.
  • The technology gets better, more transparent, all the time.
  • Typically I am able to switch the SmartPanel settings from "Computer" to "Laptop" when I want to go from the screen to the whiteboard (without switching off the projector completely and then having to wait for it to warm up) but this quarter on "Laptop" setting the projector shines on the whiteboard the words "No input is detected on rgb," which my class has adopted as a metaphysical or existential comment on whatever I write on the whiteboard but I hope to see it go away. Also, the projector doesn't always project exactly square with the screen, and text is lost on the left side. (1 Olson)
  • None, again really GREAT
  • None (4 responses)

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

  • Excellent (5 responses)
  • fantastic
  • Fine.
  • good
  • Great (4 responses)
  • It was fine other than the technical difficulties.
  • Our experiences has already been excellent. We are very pleased with the outstanding technical supports and the services from the friendly staff.
  • Overall positive; however, not as positive as teaching in the Olson labs.
  • Overall, it was great, as usual.
  • Pretty good.
  • Very good?
  • Very positive. You and your staff do a nice job of keeping the equipment up and running and the classrooms neat and orderly.

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

  • Great help in the classroom, nice set-up, easy to teach there. Thank you!
  • Great job by Tim Leamy!
  • I have no suggestions this year.
  • I hope that the video editing facilities will continue to be included and maybe even expanded on campus.
  • It is difficult to book a whole day usage during quarters. But it is understandable.
  • Keep up the good work.
  • no
  • None.
  • thanks to all, especially Joe Castillo who organized it so i could use the room and gave me a thorough orientation

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