Faculty Survey - Spring 2017

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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. The feedback regarding the SciLab projection change (we replaced the projector with two large TVs) has been mostly positive so we will investigate if a similar change is possible in other classrooms.

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

Sometimes the whiteboard markers didn't work. So we need to do a better job checking and replacing them.
There were several concerns about the layout of the desks. 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. For future renovations CLM will investigate alternative room layouts.

Survey Text

On 6/7/2017 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2017 asking them to fill out this survey.

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Survey Results

There were 28 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	2	21	5
Support from computer lab managers	0	1	25	2
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC)	0	0	25	3
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.)	0	4	23	1
Equipment reliability	0	1	26	1
Computer speed and usability	0	5	22	1
Classroom interruptions	0	5	20	1
Larger classrooms (to accommodate more students)	1	4	21	2
Larger classrooms (to allow more workspace at each station)	0	0	26	2
Smaller classrooms	0	2	20	6
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold)	0	1	25	2
Cleanliness of the classroom	0	1	26	1
Classroom environment (for example: quieter, better layout) - Please specify below	0	3	24	1
Other - Please specify below	0	5	9	7

Classroom environment and Other reasons:

As an instructor it was difficult to move down the row of students to get to those who were furthest from the aisle. I.e. more space between rows wold have helped. (2020 SciLab)
It often took a while for the preceding class to leave the room
There are two switches for lights: one for front and the other for back. One can never know which one is for front and which is for back until before trying it. It will be much better if you can mark above the switches about which is for front and which is for back. (93 Hutchison)
We were mostly interacting with cloud computing using VNC. This occasionally bogged down, I suspect due to bandwidth.
The room I taught in was Art Annex 103 (Mac lab). I didn't see it in the list, but wanted to put that somewhere.
I used Wellman 102. That was not an option above.
SCC 2102 and 2103 are great. Cruess 207 computer lab is dirty, slow computers compared to SCC labs, and the projector was very "buggy". Computer attendants were not as informed as SCC lab attendants and lacked customer service skills. We need more PC options for Interior Design classes.

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

Better	8
Same	14
Worse	1
N/A	5

"Better" Reasons given:

Overall a fantastic experience.
It was great to have a student attendant in the room.
I taught a discussion section in the same room in 2016 and the experience was just as straightforward. It's nice when you don't have to fight the equipment and if there were ever any issues the CRC was always ready to lend a hand.
Compared to Cruess 207, SCC labs get an A+ in my book.

"Same" Reasons given:

the labs in SCC are spectacular, some of the best labs I have taught in at any school. Staff is helpful and on top of things. GREAT JOB
The computer classrooms have always worked well for me and my class. No complaints.
Computer is a bit slow starting up, as is the projector. Classrooms are more conducive to classroom interactions when tables face forward like in Shields 90A/B.
I TAed in this room before. Conditions were about the same. However, the new desk layout (bordering the room rather than arranged in rows) is a much nicer use of the space.
same excellent experience.

"Worse" Reasons given:

Slightly worse. Instructor computer seemed slower, especially when booting up.

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

None (8 responses)
Hard to incorporate small group discussions
None, very impressed with the quality
I have figured out how to make small groups work in a computer lab; movable desks would be nice, but one can work around it.
The classroom is arranged for students to sit in rows and face forward, which makes it difficult when I need students to move around or get into small groups. The desks are hard to move and students are worried about breaking the computers, so it's hard to convince them to do anything other than sit in rows and face forward. (90A Shields)
I like the new arrangement of the monitors on either side of the white board. (2020 SciLab)
I've had no pedagogical issues. The classroom is flexible and facilitates small and big conversation groups, as well as the standard overhead presentations.
It's tough to make sure everyone has enough room to practice body movements for animation, but we managed pretty well for the room size and enrollment.
In the rooms with two screens it was hard to talk to both sides of the classroom at the same time. But the room is so wide it is better than a single screen in the center. (2060 SciLab)
NA
Getting the students to understand design is not all on the computer, but a tactile, print/paper method and medium too.

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

Occasionally the instructor station has cables unplugged for some reason (sound or video) (2102 SCC)
None (8 responses)
No problems. I have noticed that the computer seems a bit slow when logging on.
None
Nothing major. See above; more bandwidth might be helpful. (referring to VNC connection to cloud bogging down)
I have had no issues that were not solved by the techs or my students!
The audio mixer was unreliable. If it wasn't working that day, I would just use the built-in speakers. (2103 SCC)
In the rooms with two screens it was hard to talk to both sides of the classroom at the same time. But the room is so wide it is better than a single screen in the center.
NA
See above. None at SCC, lots of issues at Cruess 207. Still need DVD / Blu-Ray support at lectern.

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

Excellent. You guys do a great job!
good
outstanding
Fine
Great
Just fine.
very good. the room was a bit big for my graduate class of 5 people
My primary concern about teaching in the computer classroom was that they were occasionally locked and I had no way to know this ahead of time. Getting the classroom unlocked required me to walk upstairs, wait in line to talk to a computer lab manager, and then wait until they were available to come unlock the classroom. This often delayed my class significantly. I understand that sometimes the computer classrooms are locked, but there needs to be a faster way to unlock these classrooms so that a locked classrooms doesn't delay a class by 10-15 minutes. (90A Shields)
Good
Clicking the desktop help icon and then people coming to help was the most amazing feature.
Very good.
Very good overall.
excellent
Strong. My students use the room for their own presentations.
Edifying
Like I mentioned above, it was an effortless experience.
Pretty good!
Excellent, looking forward to next year
Excellent at SCC classrooms (2-3 years at those labs), great every time!

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

My only suggestion would be to make printing free.
Late in the quarter we had quite a few interruptions of students coming in without consulting with teacher, disrupting class. There should be better control of that. (2060 SciLab)
None, first time user and it was far better than comparable facilities in the SOM and SVM
Keep up the great work!
No (2 responses)
None (3 responses)
Markers are sometime pretty wiped out, so it would be good to check and replace often.
Have markers that work. Most needed replacement. Have large signs indicating where students can sit when there is a small class in session. Let them know that they cannot talk to each other while class is in session if they are in the room working on another project.
During warm months, when the A/C is running, it is always too cold in the computer classrooms. My students complain about it. This is the case in the Olson classrooms as well.
My students and I appreciate the use of the computer classrooms, which are our best days of the week.
Great work!
Think about height adjustable desks. Ergonomics for

Question 8. SciLab only - What is your opinion of the new dual TV screens replacing the projector?

Better than a projector	8
About the same as a projector	2
Worse than a projector	1

"Better than a projector" Reasons given:

Allows for more whiteboard space
TVs worked better in bright light.
Easily seen by both sides of the room.
I like being able to use the whiteboard and the screens at the same time.
Previously, you had to make a choice between using the whiteboard or the projector. Now you can use both concurrently, which is a huge improvement. The only drawback is that half of the class may have difficulty seeing what you are pointing to on the screens.

"About the same as a projector" Reasons given:

In the rooms with two screens it was hard to talk to both sides of the classroom at the same time. But the room is so wide it is better than a single screen in the center.

"Worse than a projector" Reasons given:

Think its hard to choose one to focus on

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