crb/feh distance learning project teacher survey 2006– 2007 school year boces distance learning...

BOCES Distance Learning Program Quality Access Support . .

CRB/FEH Distance Learning Project Teacher Survey 2006– 2007 School Year



24 CRB / FEH Distance Learning Teacher Survey Responses Were Received

5

19

First Time DLTeachers

Veteran DL Teachers

Numbers of first time and veteran DL Teacher Survey Responses



Section A

TechnicalTechnical



Agree / Strongly Agree

Disagree / Strongly Disagree

1. I was able to clearly see all of my students at remote site(s).

88%

8%4%

Technical

Uncertain



2. I was able to clearly hear students and teacher aides at remote site(s).

Technical

8%

92%


Disagree / Strongly DisagreeUncertain



0%

100%

3. Students at remote sites were able to hear me.



Technical

Uncertain



100%

0%

Uncertain

Agree Disagree Uncertain

**Student response*From remote site

perspective12%

11%

77%



3. Students at remote sites were able to hear me.

Technical

* Re: Hearing teachers, aides and students.



4. The materials displayed over the network were clearly seen by students.

Agree / Strongly Agree0%

100%

Technical

Uncertain



5. I felt comfortable using room equipment.



92%

8%

Technical



4%8%

88%

6. The room design was adequate for my teaching purposes.

Technical





7. I was satisfied with the technical support I received in dealing with network difficulties.

Technical

4%

96%






8. Technically, the distance learning system performed well this year.


100%

Technical



Section A

LearningLearningEnvironmentEnvironment




1. I could interact with individual students as often as I wanted.


Uncertain

4%8%

88%

Learning Environment




2. My interaction and rapport with students at remote sites was comparable to students at my home site.


Uncertain

71%

8%

21%




3. The distance learning system provides an effective way to teach classes.


4%

96%



Uncertain



Section A

OverallOverallProgramProgram



8%

92%


1. The system for transferring assignments between sites was adequate.


Uncertain

Teacher Response

Overall Program



8%

92%

1. The system for transferring assignments between sites was adequate.

Uncertain

Agree Disagree Uncertain

**Student response*from remote site

perspective9%

13%

78%


Teacher Response


* From CRB/FEH DL student survey.

Overall Program




2. We had little trouble making up missed classes when necessary.


Uncertain

18%

5%

77%

Teacher Response

Overall Program



5%

77%

18%


2. We had little trouble making up missed classes when necessary.

Uncertain


Teacher Response

Agree Disagree Uncertain n/a

**Student response*from remote site

perspective11%

21%

17%

51%

N/A

Overall Program

* From CRB/FEH DL Student Survey




3. The overall coordination of the project was effective.


Uncertain

8%

92%

Overall Program





96%

Uncertain

4. I would teach another course on the distance learning network.

Overall Program





96%

4%

Uncertain

5. I would recommend taking courses on the distance learning network to students at my school.

Overall Program





Uncertain

6. I would recommend teaching courses on the network to colleagues.

Overall Program

4%

96%





Uncertain

7. Overall, I am satisfied with the experience I have hadteaching via DL this year.

Overall Program

96%

4%





Uncertain

* First Year Instructors Who Responded*1. The training I received prior to teaching on the distance learning

system prepared me well for teaching in the DL environment.

Overall Program

100%

0%





Uncertain


* First Year Instructors Who Responded*2. Teaching via distance learning has lived up to my expectations.

Overall Program

80%

20%



Section B

TeacherTeacherCommentsComments



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For me, the best asset of DL is that I am able to draw on students from varying backgrounds to contribute to group discussions and debate.

Keeps students more responsible and reflective - Offers more academic offerings - Encourages group / cooperative learning - Shares cultures communities - Keeps instructor aware of time resources and student abilities.

Obviously the ability to offer and receive courses that would normally be prohibited because of limited enrollment at one school. Also I believe the interscholastic exchange from school-to-school is good for both students and teachers.

Interaction with students from other schools - Ease of using the AV equipment including computer.

Opportunity to work with students at other sites who are top quality students and provide them with an opportunity they would not normally have.

The program is economical to districts. The technical and administrative support from Albany is one of the program’s strengths.

1. What are the strengths of distance Learning?

Comments



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I had an aide this year who was not well trained in dealing with students. Cooperating schools need to make sure that they have high standards for the people they put in the labs.

I would like to offer more personal hands on but the distance [to my remote schools] and field trip cost prevents this option.

Missing numerous classes because of the system not working. Sometimes environmental problems cause system problems.

I think a major weakness in the system over the past several years is the move, driven by some member districts, attempting to make the system the sole service of AP and advanced classes.

Always the individual scheduling problems for each school district. For example, Scotia is on the system waiting while our students here at CRCS just arrive at the beginning of class.

Calendars for marking period were slightly different this year.

2. What are the weaknesses of Distance Learning?

Comments



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Laptop availability or perhaps desktop computers (monitor & keyboard) with towers below (hidden) – They are cheaper and would be an advantage in dealing with students’ papers & exams via email.

Thirty-two is way too many kids if we are going to run the class the way it is supposed to be run. I would suggest we limit the class to a reasonable number.

DL classes initially were reserved for those who were the best students and those who were serious about the subject matter. Some students are placed in the class because they need the credit.

The schedule needs to align better with participating schools’ bell schedules. The ideal situation would be to connect schools with the exact same schedules, but I know that is not going to happen so we’ll have to do the best we can.

To have the classes start as soon as possible in September. I think we waited a few days this year before we started.

3. What changes would you suggest for distance learning classes?

Comments



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Interacting with students from other schools was easier. Students weren’t as nervous about being on TV.

Students who are not serious about being helpful to other writers can often be cruel and this is difficult at times because if they whisper things in the microphones, I am not able to hear the cruelties.

I think I had a great experience overall and wouldn't change anything about it.

I never expected that the experience would cause me as a teacher to reflect so much on my methods of teaching.

Missing so many class days because of different schedules, snow days, assemblies and the system not working.

Nothing unexpected, I have been teaching DL classes for many years…I know what to expect.

I had not expected to gain more wonderful students.

4. Are there any outcomes from teaching this course that you had not expected?

Comments



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I used Blackboard to make documents available and I experimented with having quizzes online.

I did do DVDs and VCRs and individual “stand up" presentations.

I used the computer more - instant access to some of the information was very useful.

Having students do PowerPoint for the class and other demonstrations using camera footage from eagles, etc.

Yes, I used cooperative groups to make corrections - use of questioning - use of written text to assist DL sites in monitoring their progress.

Using the computer, it was nice to have because we used it spontaneously on several occasions, for example to play a music file.

I initiated a debate between schools.

Socratic method worked well. Great way to engage all students.

Comments

5. Did you use any new instructional methods to effectively teach in the DL classroom?



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Initially, I attempted to use email and web blog (blogspot.com) to receive and post assignments but schools had emails blocked and students had technical difficulties using blogspot.com.

Mostly fax. The aides were excellent in keeping students in touch.

Email was used extensively this school year compared to years past. It worked like a charm.

BlackBoard [online learning application] - Wiki - E-mail

We had no laptop [at our school] till November and then the district installed the original! Slow and slower.

I used email to communicate with the distance learning aides.

Comments

6. Did you use any other forms of communication with the students in addition to daily …...distance learning classroom instruction (such as e-mail or telephone)?



Comments

7A. Did you visit your remote sites or arrange for them to visit you?

Yes

No35%

65%

There were 20 responses to this question.



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While one of my remotes sites is just a hop and skip, Tupper Lake was a bit of a stretch….I wasn’t able to make it.

The schedules do not allow, especially if in the middle of the day. I would like to visit.

I wasn’t able to. However, we did meet when we took a field trip to the Crane School of Music in the fall.

I couldn’t visit but students all met together once last fall at a Mexican restaurant. I believe more visits may have been helpful but they were logistically difficult.

I visited each site a couple of times this semester. I also hosted a field trip with all schools this year.

I wanted to see my students face-to-face. I only went twice.

Yes, I visited each class once.

My schedule at school is difficult so visiting is minimal, but I was able to visit.

Comments

7B. What were the advantages / disadvantages to visiting your remote school(s)?

crb/feh distance learning project teacher survey 2006– 2007 school year boces distance learning...

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