Faculty Survey - Spring 2018

Survey Interpretation
Survey Text
Survey Results
Other Surveys

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.

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

  • There were several concerns about the layout of the desks and how it made group work difficult. In general we have two main layouts, but both have design trade-offs which make some types of teaching exercises more difficult. We have a possible new layout which is designed around small group work which we hope to construct in the new Teaching & Learning Complex scheduled to be completed around 2021.
  • There were a few comments about Blu-ray support. We are in the midst of replacing all the older VHS/DVD combo players with Blu-ray/DVD players. By the end of Summer 2018 we should have 8 of 14 classrooms updated, so it will take a few more summers to complete all of them.

Survey Text

On 6/5/2018 Computer Lab Management sent an email to faculty who had taught in the computer rooms during Spring 2018 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) 0 1 13 12
Support from computer lab managers 1 0 19 6
Support from the Computer Room Consultant (CRC) 1 0 19 7
Preparedness of the classroom (room cleared out, whiteboard supplies, etc.) 1 4 21 1
Computer usability and reliability 1 2 23 1
Preventing classroom interruptions 1 6 18 2
Classroom size (too small or too large) 2 4 20 1
Temperature control (room was too hot or too cold) 3 3 18 3
Layout of the classroom 2 7 17 1
Classroom environment (cleanliness, sound, etc. ) 2 1 23 1
Other - Please specify below 0 1 4 9

Classroom environment and Other reasons:

  • the room is much too big for my class. The instructor occupying the room before my class was always slow to vacate. (2020 SciLab)
  • The classroom is set up with the old-fashioned model of teaching where the instructor is at the front lecturing and students sit in rows, isolated from each other. Current models of teaching emphasize collaboration and peer response and class discussion, and if student we're in small groups (for example, in round tables of 3-5 computers) instead of rows the class design would match my curriculum.(93 Hutchison)
  • Hutchison classrooms tend to be rather loud and hot. The classroom set up (with the computers facing the front) makes it hard to observe students easily.
  • Lacking in the number or PCs for PC only programs (ArcGIS, Revit, AutoCAD, 3ds Max) I would argue they could be built for cheaper too.
  • The tables are spread out so far from one another that it is hard for students on one end of the classroom to hear someone speaking on the other end--a little cozier set-up would make discussion easier. Having the instructor station so far to the left in the classroom also makes it harder for me to engage students on the right end of the classroom when I need to be near the instructor computer. (27 Olson)
  • We need light focused on the whiteboard in 90B Shields. The center of the board is dark.
  • The layout of the desks is not optimal: the classroom is laid out like a tunnel. It would have been better if the instructor's desk were placed on the wider wall and the students were in single rows. (90A Shields)
  • I wish the screen were situated so that late students didn't walk in front of me to get to seats. In 247, the lights' glare makes the screen hard for students to read it, but turning off one of the lights doesn't help enough. Wish I could switch off only the lights near the front of the screen but not back lights.
  • Very hard to hold discussions - even small group work, students in groups of 3-4 are bobbing and weaving their heads around to see around the computers (75 Hutchison, 2060 SciLab)
  • As more and more classes use computers I see that needing MORE rooms like these being important. SCILAB 2060 was better setup and larger. However, I missed having a screen in the middle of the classroom as opposed to two on opposite sides.
  • 247 Olson was always too warm. 247 Olson is a bit crowded and cramped for the instructor to move around the room while students are working.
  • The classroom (247 Olson Hall) was above 74 degrees (often above 76 degrees) for most of the quarter. This is far too high for students who are already tired. The thermostat near the door did nothing to affect the temperature in the room.
    At two points during the quarter the Blank Screen function on the control box in the instructor's desk in 247 Olson failed to work. This was not a huge issue, but it feasibly could become important in a different context.
  • On some days, we were disturbed by a knocking sound on the back door of Hutchinson 73. The door says that it is supposed to be kept locked at all times.
  • The rooms are too cold during summer days. Some students still walk in even with the Classroom Reserved signage outside. Most markers are out of ink or running low by the middle of the quarter. (21 Olson, 241 Olson)
  • Wish there was some way to allow students to move desks around, not be locked into static configuration. That said, I really like the perpendicular layout of Olson 27 unlike the computer classrooms in Wellman where there are desks between me and the students.
    I also wish that computer classrooms had a document camera on a cart and/or one of the fullsize ones on the teacher desk. The small portable doc cameras just don't work as easily
  • I believe the computer hardware need some improvement, and I would like to see higher quality printer (Colored) get installed and be available for students with cheaper price than outside of the school. More small magnets for large class review also necessary. (2102 SCC, 2103 SCC)

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

Better 2
Same 20
Worse 0
N/A 3

"Better" Reasons given:

  • The temperature is less cold in the lab. The labs are clean and well kept.
  • I like this facility and crews

"Same" Reasons given:

  • I have no problems with the labs - they are great!
  • same great service. i prefer to have my classes in SCC than at Cruess
  • Excellent as before

"Worse" Reasons given:

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

  • The old-fashioned design of the class in lecture-style rows makes discussion, group activities, and peer response workshops difficult. (93 Hutchison)
  • Getting students to participate in group work in computer classrooms can be challening.
  • See layout. Hard to see what students are doing and hard to small groups. (The layout of the desks is not optimal: the classroom is laid out like a tunnel. It would have been better if the instructor's desk were placed on the wider wall and the students were in single rows.)
  • None (5 responses)
  • See above (I wish the screen were situated so that late students didn't walk in front of me to get to seats. In 247, the lights' glare makes the screen hard for students to read it, but turning off one of the lights doesn't help enough. Wish I could switch off only the lights near the front of the screen but not back lights.)
  • See above on discussion/group work (Very hard to hold discussions - even small group work, students in groups of 3-4 are bobbing and weaving their heads around to see around the computers)
  • It's difficult to complete group work in the computer classrooms sometimes since there is very little room for students to turn around and work with each other. Even if they all turn their chairs to face each other or they work on single computer together, it gets too crowded.
  • As I said above, I want to be able to have students move around more easily, make a big circle and cluster for small group work. The static configuration also makes them more likely to always sit in same spots, which can lead to stale interactions.
  • hardware

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

  • None (6 responses)
  • Minor issues that the CRC always fixed easily.
  • I have had only minor technological issues, and each time, a CRC person has been able to solve the issue quickly--the CRC workers are amazing!
  • I noticed that the display of some computers wasn't right, because of which students had to switch their machines and restart their work.
  • This was my own fault. I am not familiar with ABTutor and accidentally did something to block students from the internet. A CRC was able to help me resolve the issue
  • Last quarter the projector screen broke near the end of term, but it was fixed this one.
  • sound

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

  • Positive
  • Great (3 responses)
  • Great except for the set up of the classroom.
  • I like teaching in computer classrooms overall.
  • I enjoy teaching in a computer classroom because of the flexibility it offers me as a teacher.
  • Excellent
  • Fine.
  • Very good (2 responses)
  • Excellent, it's a great room
  • It was cool - I'd rather be in a lab than not, I think
  • Excellent, thank you!!!
  • Great. I enjoy teaching in the computer classroom.
  • Good.
  • I enjoy the labs and will use them again.
  • Very nice.
  • Fine. I would rather not be in one since most students seem to bring their own computers anyway, but I get that scheduling hybrid rooms is complicated. The computer classroom does allow for some nice interactive online affordances and/or when they need to print things (rare), but again, most of them are already using their own machines to do this kind of work.
  • satisfied

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

  • Tim Leamy was helpful throughout the reservation process, assisting with scheduling and ensuring that necessary software was installed ahead of time.
  • Thanks for all you do to support our students' learning!
  • Nope!
  • need to keep blu-ray dvd support
  • Keep up the good work
  • No.
  • the class rooms are always clean and the staff is helpful
  • Perhaps we can move the computers into small group formations so that group work is easier to conduct.
  • The student worker/attendants are always super friendly and helpful whenever we interact. Good job to them!
  • Thank you

Other Surveys

Survey Text
Survey Results
Survey Interpretation
Other Surveys