Faculty Survey - Spring 2015

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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, so CLM will follow up on these items:

  • There are ongoing issues of classrooms being too hot or too cold. We continue to work with Campus Facilities to address the issues and try to keep the temperature more consistent.
  • There were some comments about difficulty seeing students. Sightlines have become problematic as monitor sizes have increased over time. Two years ago we started replacing iMac with Mac Mini plus smaller monitors. That solution greatly improved the sightlines in those rooms. We will continue to replace iMacs with Mac minis & smaller monitors to improve sightlines.
  • There were several comments about whiteboards markers not working and whiteboards not erasing well. CLM will try to find new markers and erasers which work better for the whiteboards.
  • CLM will install the newest version of Keynote over Summer 2015
  • CLM will upgrade to the 64bit version of Windows 7. This will allow Windows to use the full 8GB of RAM on PCs with that much memory.
  • There was a comment about the projection system lacking the blank feature. We have upgraded the projection systems in Olson, Shields Library and the SCC to the new standard which includes a blank feature. We hope to upgrade the older systems in Hutchison and SciLab to the new standard over the next year.

Survey Text

On 6/1/2015 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2015 asking them to fill out this survey.

Survey Results

There were 34 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 1 22 10
Support from computer lab managers 0 1 26 7
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 0 1 25 8
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 0 4 30 0
Equipment reliability 0 3 30 1
Computer speed and usability 0 3 30 1
Classroom interruptions 1 2 30 1
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students) 1 4 22 7
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station) 0 4 25 5
Smaller classrooms 1 4 17 12
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 4 2 28 0
Cleanliness of the classroom 0 2 30 2
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below 1 5 27 1
Other - Please specify below 3 1 8 7

Improved classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • Markers were in bad shape in first half of quarter until I left a message for the tech staff. New markers were immediately supplied by next class.
  • Several times the pens wouldn't work so those might need to be replaced more. This quarter no trouble with heat in room like last term.
  • Would like to have latest version of Keynote. Currently only support version 9 in labs. I prefer Keynote, but must create presentations in newer version and then re-save for 9. Is there a reason for not having latest version? (2103 SCC)
  • Availability of the computer rooms in SLB are terrible! Students consistently complained about not getting access to the computers with graphing software.
  • VERY nice and friendly young lab assistant who takes his job seriously.
    There were two times this quarter though, when the door was locked and was only unlocked 3 minutes before class started. I teach 8-10am. The person whose name is listed on the door didn't pick up either so we just waited. Not a huge deal since it didn't fall on an exam day.
  • I have a small class (10 students) so it was a very big class for my class size, but it doesn't matter because there are larger classes using this lab too.
  • It would be better if students could lower their screens so that I could see their faces.
    A smaller computer classroom would be preferable to a larger one.
  • It's often too cold in the classroom when the A/C is on. The students complain about it.
  • I wish I could rotate this classroom 90 degrees, so that the entry door was in the back of the room and the projector/teacher's desk was facing the entrance. That would prevent late arrivals from walking behind me. Moreover, many of my students near the front rows cannot see the edges of the white board (which are the only areas available for writing when I'm showing projected images). There's a lot of white board space, but it's not accessible to everyone in the room. It'd be better to have the screen projecting on one full side and a wide white board on the other, rather than have the screen take up everything in the center except the edges.
  • I would like to be access the 8GB of ram installed on these machines. Currently limited because the Windows operating system that is installed is 32 bit.
    I would like a 40 seat classroom that has either Linux or Mac/Unix machines available.
  • It would be nice to have an area for discussion that is not in front of computers
  • I would like some collaborative software such as Adobe Connect, so I can put students in collaborative groups using the technology.
  • The room tended to run hot, sometimes over 80 degrees, after students had been in the room for a while. Very difficult to maintain focus for very long in a room that warm. The student consultants kept saying they couldn't do more than leave notes for the managers.
    In terms of layout, it would be easier to help students and have them work together if the aisle went down the middle. Since the vast whiteboard wall doesn't seem to get used much, I wonder if it would work better to have the aisle in the center.(2102 & 2103 SCC)

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

Better 4
Same 20
Worse 3
N/A 7

"Better" Reasons given:

  • I very much like 90B Shields in terms of space, light, equipment. I've generally had no complaints about the labs in Olson, but I like 90B better.
  • Room temperature was better.
  • No interruptions, board was clean, did not need help with anything at all. All the equipment worked great without any problems at all in ten weeks.
  • I enjoy teaching in the SCC; it's a very pleasant work space. I also love having the monitor at eye level--and being able to easily teach both standing up or sitting down.

"Same" Reasons given:

  • I have no complaints about the computer classroom in the past or present.
  • Exemplary both quarters
  • Liked improvements in screen/projector controls added previous quarter. No changes this quarter...works great!
  • It's always good!
  • Always excellent!
  • Seems like labs are very well taken care of.
  • I've never had a problem in the SCC!
  • Always been great.
  • I have found Tim and the CRCs to be very helpful. Very impressed.
  • Nothing has changed.

"Worse" Reasons given:

  • Availability is getting worse and worse each year....
  • The projector does not have a ""black screen"" mode, so it shines in my eyes if it is not turned off in-between times when I need projection. But if I do turn it off, then there is a significant delay when I need to turn it back on. Not ideal.
    The white board does not erase. The boards need to be replaced.
    The pens are running out of ink.
    NB: The Olson labs are much better, and that is where I am used to teaching. (73 Hutchison)
  • I had problems with the state of the white board in the room. The previous instructor would not wipe the board clear and it seems that the ink was up there long enough to get baked in or something else happened so it would not erase well. This was a consistent problem with that room.(93 Hutchison)

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

  • I finally had to lock down the computers because the students, despite all my warning, were doing unrelated class things. Not you fault just a nuisance because I had trouble unlocking them.
  • None related to the classroom equipment or layout.
  • Being able to monitor what students are doing while also giving instructions at the front of the class.
  • I have a hard time not seeing students' faces when I'm talking to the group. Plus, when they are hidden behind a display I find them less engaged overall.(2013 SCC)
  • Students playing online. I want to give them access to articles online as we discuss, but many also open Facebook, Wechat, Forever21, etc.
  • Need to learn how to use the document camera...
  • I mentioned this in my previous form too that I want to allow students access to online articles in class but they open other websites too. I know it's not an easy fix and it's hard to just block "some" websites because other classes might need those websites. So if needed, I'll lock their computers, but usually I just give them freedom since they are adults and should know the consequences of their actions.
  • Harder to do group work or class discussion.
  • None
  • See above.(I wish I could rotate this classroom 90 degrees, so that the entry door was in the back of the room and the projector/teacher's desk was facing the entrance. That would prevent late arrivals from walking behind me. )
  • None
  • I teach a traditionally structured writing course with little to no need for computers--so the computers frequently caused more distraction than engagement in the class. But this issue rests more on the department assigning this room rather than the computer classroom itself.
  • Difficult to have a discussion b/c desks in rows, but we managed
  • I like the Olson classroom layout the best and was happy that I was located there this quarter. I have figured out a way to work with small groups and larger groups, so no pedagogical issues.
  • The projector screen covers up so much of the whiteboard that I have a hard time using both in a way students can see. Due to the monitors positioning, I cannot use much of the bottom of the board, leaving only about two thirds of the uncovered board usable for instruction. (93 Hutchison)
  • N/A
  • Students can allow the computers to distract them. I try to keep them using the computers as part of the coursework, but think I could do more with digital collaboration tools.
  • None
  • Organizing students to work in groups is challenging in this room. (2102 & 2103 SCC)
  • The only challenge I've encountered is manageable; that is, group work can be challenging because it's difficult for groups of four or five students to collaborate in a non-modular space. But this is a small price to pay for having such a great (lab) resource. (And I think this comment is possibly irrelevant, if not old news.)

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

  • Just as noted above trouble unlocking the computers when I needed to. Also, would be nice if I could highlight only the ones I need to see in "spy" mode instead of having to review them all. Maybe there is a way and I just don't know it??
  • None.
  • Occasional difficulty in saving student work en route to drop box.
  • See comment on Keynote
  • We had difficulty with wireless, which was fixed during the quarter.
    Power availability for students with their own laptops would be great.
  • Having the teacher projection system mirroring exactly what students see on their computer.
  • N/A. You are doing a GREAT job!
  • none
  • I would rather have white boards, rather than chalkboards, in all classrooms, although this is a low-tech issue.
  • none
  • I prefer Macs to IBM-type computers for user-friendliness.
  • none
  • When I taught in Wellman the projector light was out for a week; I've had students' monitors not turn on in SCC and Olson but the tech helper usually sorted that out pretty quickly.
  • With the new system, it is sometimes impossible to get the projector to come on at the beginning of the class without turning the whole system off and then turning it back on again. This can waste valuable class minutes.
  • None
  • My Linux solution is to use virtual box which can get slow and funky. I would prefer a solution that allows us to directly run a Linux or Unix environment.
  • None this quarter.
  • N/A
  • none
  • None
  • Tech has seemed to perform well.
  • I think there's a loose wire in the projector; it flashes on and off intermittently. I think your team is aware of the problem, as I remember seeing you in class one day. :-)
  • No issues

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

  • Fine, oh, the teacher computer in 27 Olson. There is something wrong with the screen thing. I couldn't get it to stay down unless I put it way down--I almost forgot. It just kept popping back up.
  • great! staff was helpful--thanks!
  • Very good.
  • Great
  • Excellent
  • Really good.
  • It was good. No problems this time at all.
  • Excellent!
  • bueno
  • The computer rooms in the basement of Olson are spectacular--better than any others I use elsewhere on-campus, e.g., the library.
  • *thumbs up
  • great
  • Good!
  • Overall, my experience was great as usual.
  • Excellent
  • Good overall, but could be improved.
  • Very good
  • For a computer classroom it's great. Though I wish there was larger space for students to do more collaborative work on the same computer--this layout would facilitate engagement in classes more suited to group work (like mine and many others).
  • Excellent.
  • Smooth--no complaints at all
  • fine
  • I was very happy with the room and with Tim Leamy in particular. He was professional, prompt and helpful. Things went very smoothly and I directly attribute this to his hard work.
  • Overall, very good. Having computers set up in this way is great for using Google Docs and SmartSite tools for teaching. Again, physical organization into groups so students can confer is challenging, though.
  • Excellent. I remain a fan of our computer classrooms.
  • I had a positive experience teaching in the lab. The lab was clean and well organized.

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

  • Well, as you have been discussing with the UWP the configuration of the room makes group work and controlling non-class related work on the computers difficult.
  • We used Wellman 102--it was not on this list.
  • No.
  • More of same
  • Nope. Wireless, and lots of outlets!
  • I appreciate the service you offer.
  • Ways to lower the monitors when we are in discussion or demonstration.
  • not this one
  • Keep up the good work. Computer-aided classrooms definitely enable my ability to teach writing to engineers and scientists with efficient, effective, and excellent delivery...
  • nope and tim is very nice!
  • Thanks for asking! Hope these comments can lead to improvements in the 73 Hutchinson lab / classroom.
  • Very happy with the classroom labs
  • Thank you for what you do every day every quarter for us.
  • Towards April, May, and June this room would be uncomfortably hot during the time of instruction (late afternoon/early evening).
  • nope
  • None
  • I think that's all.
  • It has been helpful to have Audacity installed in the past. However, I am not sure if we will be using it in the fall. Thanks to everyone on the lab management team for being so consistently helpful. I often tell students how lucky they are. I don't know of many faculty/students on other campuses who are this privileged.

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