Faculty Survey - Spring 2012

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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 overwhelmingly positive.

CLM moved several rooms from Hart Hall to the Student Community Center (SCC) over Winter Break. A few faculty commented that they like the new SCC classrooms. However, we still need to work out some facility bugs with lights and other issues.

The top areas listed for improvement in Question 2 were "Classroom availability" and "Classroom environment". But overall most faculty were satisfied with those areas as well.

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

  • CLM will investigate better ways for students to save work in computer rooms and access it from other locations. We are hoping to tie into the students' existing Google Drive.
  • CLM will develop better procedures to ensure classrooms are prepared - doors unlocked 10 mintues before classes start, dry erase markers working, etc.
  • CLM will continue to work to prevent non-students from interrupting classes
  • 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 6/4/2012 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2012 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 36 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) 2 5 20 8
Support from computer lab managers 0 1 32 2
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 2 29 4
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 1 4 30 0
Equipment reliability 0 5 30 0
Computer speed and usability 0 4 32 0
Classroom interruptions 1 5 27 2
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 1 3 27 4
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 0 3 27 3
Smaller classrooms 1 2 28 4
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 1 6 26 2
Cleanliness of the classroom 0 1 34 0
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 3 4 27 1
Other - Please specify below 1 2 8 7

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • Classroom availability is a big problem. This quarter, I had to move my classes to alternative times in order to conduct them in a computer lab.
  • Classroom next door (separated only by a door) could get very noisy and disruptive - it would probably be better if this room was sealed (as the door was never used) or soundproofed. (1131 Meyer)
  • Everything worked perfectly for me.
  • It is often difficult to hear students in the rows further away from the main monitors. A layout such as the layout in 247 encourages students to participate and allows less computer dominated setting--it comes the closest to being able to have a "seminar" type of atmosphere in the classroom. Too often, students sit in rows far away from the teacher's computers, so that they surf on the web. This is extremely distracting for both teachers and students who thrive in participatory classrooms.
  • My main concerns--and they are serious concerns, because I am teaching in this same exact room at the same exact time in the fall--are the light issue and the lock issue. The most serious problem is that I teach at 8 AM, a time when nearly all of my students struggle to stay away, and the room's lights are only half on. I have bothered the staff repeatedly about fixing them, and they only just informed me on the second-to-last-day that this is a building issue, and cannot be fixed in my classroom. That said, the other classrooms have their lights on--it appears to only be a problem in my room: 2102. I cannot stress enough that the lights need to be completely on! My students need to be awake in order for me to teach them!!! Please fix this by the fall.
    My other concern is that I am often unable to get into my classroom until 7:50, or sometimes later. I need to be able to get into my classroom fifteen minutes early, in order to set up the equipment and my activities for the day. When I have to track down a staff member at 7:55 (and I do have to walk around quite a bit), in order to enter my classroom and get ready to teach, it frustrates me.
  • projector is slow and color is off
  • Rows are a bit tight to walk through--not sure if that can be changed though (73 Hutchison)
  • The erasers could be be more efficient at erasing.
  • The lab managers were professional, helpful, and diligent. One thing that might need some improvement is making sure only students who you enrolled during a scheduled class time are the only ones there. I had quite a few students (who were not enrolled in the class) beg me to let them work at the computer while I was trying to teach the lab. It was uncomfortable to say "no" sometimes, and when I said, "yes" I hoped to not distract the enrolled students. Basically-- there probably needs to be more computer lab resources across campus so that students who need to work on a particular software program can. Overall, wonderful experience teaching the lab. (1131 Meyer)
  • The lab was an excellent classroom experience. Occasionally, pens were not available for the white board, although the CRC's next door always supplied them upon request. There were a few infrequent occasions of students entering the room during the class session to use the computer lab, but this was much less of an issue this quarter than I have noticed it to be in the past when I've reserved computer rooms for class sessions. (2102 SCC)
  • The main thing that's missing is a straightforward way for students to store files in that they can access again in a future week or from outside the classroom via their Kerberos account. This would greatly facilitate completion of assignments on their own outside official lab time. In addition, it would be nice to have a room with a flexible setup with enough space for students with their own laptops to be able to use those (with internet access) and students without their own laptops to use the provided computers.
  • The new CRCs need to learn how to operate the dividers. The biggest problem is that they have is locating which key to use if they are new and didn't know which one it is (which take around 10 minutes) I suggesting labeling the keys since I've had 3-4 instances out of the 8 times I've taught there that the sub-in CRC had trouble with the divider. (2102 SCC)
  • The room could use a lectern. Also, because of its size, the room is a little awkward to teach in. That is, there's virtually no space between the instructor and the first row of students. Not sure if this is fixable (aside from lowering enrollments). (247 Olson)

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

Better 7
Same 15
Worse 2
N/A 11

"Better" Reasons given:

  • The fan noise that was present in Hart is no longer present. Everything is super efficient and the wipe wall is a great tool! (2103 SCC)
  • The SCC lab has an excellent layout that allows me to easily shift between work with the computers and class discussion/board use. The room's windows make the space a much more suitable learning environment and help students to remain focused and alert throughout the class period. (2102 SCC)
  • I'm taught in Olson21 for the previous 2 quarters and teaching in 2102/2103 is definitely an upgrade in every sense. Everything went smoothly. The only thing with that room I didn't like was the light switch since I didn't know which to press and I didn't know if the red light indicated if it was on or not. (2102 SCC)
  • The temperature of the computer lab is much better than before. (73 Hutchison)

"Same" Reasons given:

  • Facility was satisfactory. Staff were good.
  • Nothing changed from the last year's class. (1131 Meyer)
  • It's always good! (1 Olson)
  • The computer rooms I've taught in are generally conducive to teaching and learning. The computers are in good shape, and the staff members are always willing to help if necessary. (247 Olson)
  • Good all quarters (73 Hutchison)
  • It has been great all along. (1 Olson
  • Same room as in previous years, same experience: generally good setup and supportive and helpful staff. (73 Hutchison)

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • Classroom availability is a big problem. This quarter, I had to move my classes to alternative times in order to conduct them in a computer lab. (1131 Meyer)

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

  • I had to locked the computers so students do access facebook
  • I struggled to observe students who worked in groups. The Observation tool on the computer is great, but in order to use it discretely, I have to turn off the projection. Furthermore, if I want to work with students in groups, I have to shimmy between rows to (awkwardly) kneel or sit close to their shared computers. I recognize that this is a tradeoff in that the classroom arrangement is set, but this was certainly something I had (and still have to) think through in order to provide efficient interaction with my students. (2102 SCC)
  • It would be nice to play music during studio time without having to use the projector bulb. (2103 SCC)
  • keeping people off the computers and seeing people over the monitors
  • no
  • None (8 reponses)
  • It is often difficult to hear students in the rows further away from the main monitors. A layout such as the layout in 247 encourages students to participate and allows less computer dominated setting--it comes the closest to being able to have a "seminar" type of atmosphere in the classroom. Too often, students sit in rows far away from the teacher's computers, so that they surf on the web. This is extremely distracting for both teachers and students who thrive in participatory classrooms.
  • See above, RE: keeping my students awake in a darkened classroom at 8 AM. (2102 SCC)
  • Sometimes programs seemed to work differently on different students computers which was an obstacle to teaching. I'm not sure if it has to do with how software was set up, or if settings were modified by users, and don't have any suggestions, but it was the one problem I encountered. (2103 SCC)
  • The class management system is a great resource.
  • The classroom works well for my undergraduate course with a computer lab. For my graduate course with a computer lab, we do not reserve an official computer lab room, but rather reserve a room with one central meeting table, as that lets students use their own laptops and facilitates more discussion among students. It would be nice to have a classroom that had flexibility to do this as well as have provided computers in case we end up with a student without a laptop, but so far that hasn't been an issue.

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

  • Everything was fantastic!
  • no
  • None (5 responses)
  • Not enough computers - some breaking down. (93 Hutchison)
  • One time the projector stopped working, but the CRC fixed it within 10 mins (1131 Meyer)
  • SAS is not available in all the computer labs.
  • See above for the note on students being able to re-access files developed in the computer lab.
  • slow start up on projector and sometimes on panel
  • Sometime, Smartsite is not working and the files which I need to teach the class are located on Smartsite.
  • Students in the back rows used to have difficulty in reading my writting on the board when it was in light colors. I didn't realize it until my third class. I suggest we remove the green and red pens, leave the black and blue ones only, so that TAs who are new in the lab will not make the same mistake I made in my first two classes. (93 Hutchison)
  • The only problem was that one day the computer display was incorrect (the text on the computer was enlarged, skewing the proportions for the whole screen) and despite checking the settings, logging out, restating, etc. I could not figure out how to fix it. It was resolved by the next class. (1 Olson)
  • The technology has worked fine.
  • The walls separating computer rooms are really thin so noise travels easily. This wasn't a problem for my class, but it was a problem for neighboring classrooms. I'm a loud teacher and I like to use visual media including videos in my class. The sound of the videos carried (even at low volume) to other classes and I had repeated requests to turn it down.
    One way to solve this problem might be to include ear phones at each computers. As I write this, I realize that I could have encouraged students to purchase and bring their own ear phones on video days, but I didn't think of that earlier. Perhaps this could be a suggestion to other computer lab teachers.
    Lastly, I struggled with the pens and erasers in the classrooms. Often the pens were dry and the eraser seemed to be a sponge. I didn't think about checking pens each morning, and during class time I didn't want to interrupt the lesson to find pens that worked better. (2102 SCC)
  • I so wish the room could be made light proof. I taught/teach in the afternoon and the sun through the windows seriously impairs the quality of the projected image. Hope the runners for the blinds will achieve this?
    The sound control at the instructor's desk is quite irritating -- as you never really know where the level is set. (2102 SCC)

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

  • Excellent (4 responses)
  • Excellent!!! Any time I asked for any help whatsoever, the help I received exceeded expectations in quality, depth and speed. The teaching experience in this lab was wonderful and the technology never got in the way of the educational experience.
  • excellent; aside from numerous interruptions. (93 Hutchison)
  • Good (2 responses)
  • Good but less active participation than I would like and that is often possible in non computer classrooms. The computer classrooms, of course, have the advantage of allowing students to do a lot of in class writing.
  • Great (4 responses)
  • great - I loved it.
  • Great. I wouldn't teach in any other environment.
  • I liked it a lot. I need to do it more in order to make more informed choices about how I'll use the technology available.
  • I love teaching composition in a computer lab; it works so much better for the activities I like to assign. My problems above are more about the room itself than the equipment in it.
  • It was great. I really love the classroom.
  • It's very good. the CRC persons are very friendly and helpful.
  • Other than getting the rooms booked, my experiences have been positive.
  • Positive. There were no technological issues or interruptions.
  • Very good.
  • Terrific experience in general; Excellent support/trouble shooting at all times.

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

  • Great help from CRC - want to commend them all for great attitude, responsiveness and knowledge.
  • I recommend having a microphone in Hutch 73 so that I can use to increase the volume of voice instead of having to shout. Other than that, it's great!
  • It would be great if the students could get more time on the machines. They found it very hard to get to the room which had their programs saved on it.
  • Keep up the good work.
  • Keep up the great work!
  • Keep up your excellent work!
  • Leave whiteboard spray or wipes in the room--whiteboards very hard to erase by the end of the day.
  • no(2 responses)
  • still would love you to move the CRC call button
  • THANK YOU!
  • They are a reliably bright spot in the midst of challenging changes.
  • Overall -- no question -- I love teaching in these rooms.

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