Student Comments on the Distance Learning Advisory Committee Student Survey Pilot

Student comments on the Distance Learning Advisory Committee Student Survey Pilot

December 2004

Question 7: Why did you decide to take an online course? Those who selected Other made these comments:

almost all the above

If I took the class, letters c, d and e would all apply (c. commute, d. schedule, e. convenience)

I'm a busy individual and I needed Developmental Psych for the nursing program

No childcare available for my 11 month old so I couldn't take these in a traditional classroom.

Question 16. Which other courses would you like to see offered via distance learning?

More business related courses

More elective courses

All

all math classes

HIST 1010, 1020; HIST 2010, 2020; ENGL 1010, 1020

math, literature, english, creative writing, any office admin.

psychology of death and bereavement, other psychology, sociology, literature, algebra

n/a

abnormal psych

math courses, sociology, psychology, or other elective credits for most degrees

math

would never take a telecourse again

psychology, intro to health, math

math

most courses could be handled online

more business courses

computer courses

economics, law

Money, banking

All courses! some of us who work find it hard to get certain classes closer to home and in the time range to get there on time.

Economics, literature

math courses, psych courses, anything that can be taught from a book

Mathlab courses would be convenient. Most of my other courses involve hands-on work (clinicals).

more history courses

Foreign Language and Math

all of them

Child development and Algebra

Every course .. there are many universities that offer a full degree from the convenience of your home. More single mothers, business owners, etc would then be able to continue their entire degree from home. This would be an excellent option for those that cannot make it to a classroom at a certain time each week. Also, I find lecture settings difficult. As I am a visual and hands-on learner, the online courses were a lot easier for me and more enjoyable because I could do my assignments at my own pace to a certain extent.

all computer related courses

anything possible

Word

non-Western history, economics

Sciences and English literary courses

some major requirements. How about a math, we have math lab where we teach ourselves, granted there's an instructor available but SAM could be online help

dosage and calculations

sociology

other programming courses

Question 17. What could CCRI/ the instructor do to make it easier for you to take a course via DL?

nothing

eliminate group projects

offer more courses

me as a student took this course because I am a mother and I have a house to sustain and a job. If the instructor had more communication with the student via phone or email, it might have motivated students like me a little more.

computer classes, math classes. A combination of classroom lecture with video conference complement.

It really couldn't have been much easier to take this course via distance learning. I was able to make the best use of my available free time to complete my assignments at my own pace.

I had one instructor that was absolutely useless! Having taken four distant learning courses, I rely on corresponding with my instructor for help and guidance. I saved all my e-mails to and from this instructor, because the responses provided no help and it took days to answer my requests. This was the first time I experienced a genuine lack of interest by a professor.

hold one or two classes in person

nothing. I enjoyed my online courses

nothing, it was fine

have a syllabus available before the start of the course to verify expectations

I think a telecourse instructor needs an understanding of the reason why people take telecourses. I have a family, a home and a job. I did this in an attempt to make my life a little easier not to get into a verbal war with P. Macaruso. I think that the instructor should realize that we (the students) are paying for a service and that it is not the other way around.

Tell students that the tests on WebCT were more focused on the online content and not the text.

I'm not sure all of my instructors have been great communicators regarding any problem I had

not much. Everything seems to be working fine the way it is

offer final exams online

have more online courses

give more feedback during the course

Maybe give tests in between the begining and midterm period. This particular course only had a midterm and a final with fifteen chapters on each exam. I thought that was a little bit of an overload for one exam.

Put math classes and other classes online besides the ones you offer now.

Provided all of the necessary information in a way which was easy to understand.

Put more variety in the online classes.

This was very convenient. I was able to wrap course time around my family's and my job's schedule.

Provided more course choices

have all distant learning classes be online

use some graphics and pictures

its fine

The instructor could be available in real-time after 5:00pm for those who have full-time jobs during the day. You sometimes need one-on-one immediate feedback.

One of my courses was a bit difficult and I was disappointed to see the bulletin board not being used by the students. The instructor used it to assign new assignments and remind of exams but beyond that, there was really no communication between teacher and students as you would have in a classroom. If they had a chat session you could attend where everything is live that would be helpful. Also, emails do not always get answered and the ones that do may take a day or more. There were some difficulties with that but I still kept pushing forward regardless and I think I did pretty well. I find out my grades tomorrow.

good communication

I thought this was pretty easy this way

Use more multimedia such as streaming video or demonstrations. Also, in the case of Excel, the test/quiz material did not test whether you knew how to use Excel. It tested irrelevant things like do you know what menu to use for ____.

send exams home to do

I think it was easy enough

nothing

if the instructor could be online at night after 6 p.m.

Question 18. What interferes with your taking a course via distance learning?

Nothing

other classes that need to be taken on campus

nothing

problems with course sites/tests

lack of choice

Work, timing, due dates and motherhood

Tv, videos, lecture CDs

nothing

I love the online courses. The TV courses are not convenient to watch and the quality of the broadcast is bad. It is hard to hear what is being said and if it is turned up too loud it starts to crackle

nothing

My instructor and his negative attitude

Nothing

nothing except maybe a power outage

other commitments, work, other activities

personal schedule

If there is only a midterm and a final and no other chance to bring the grade up if one of the exam grades are poor.

some of them I cant take because the teachers make the tests during the day. I ma a night student and need more choice in night classes and online classes.

Do not have access to to the tv courses at all.

Occasional troubles with home DSL. (Minimal)

telecourses - no cable

small selection of courses to choose

nothing

my job

reminding yourself to do your own work without a teacher to remind you in person

Only the lack of same-day troubleshooting with the professor.

nothing - I have no way of attending a classroom course so this is my only option

making the time to do the work

n/a

work schedule

nothing

none

Question 19. Instructor availability. Those who selected other made these comments:

message board
message board
All instructors were available, one just didn't give a crap.
cell phone
frequent messages on WebCT
all were ready available
met in person to discuss final
WebCT
meeting in person
webct

Question 22. How did you hear about the DL course you are taking?

counselor

catalog

CCRI web search

catalog

counselor

did not hear about it. I felt the need for input and only wish CCRI would expand in this area.

through CCRI Pipeline

course bulletin

Pipeline course search

counselor

course bulletin

through a friend

course listing from Pipeline

course bulletin

catalog

My boss's wife teaches at CCRI part-time and through him, mentioned them to me

great

catalog

CCRI web search

Catalog

course bulletin

another student recommended it

CCRI web search

faculty member – Mrs. Corsetti

course bulletin

CCRI web search

Counselor

Friends

Catalog

CCRI Pipeline - I was applying for classes last semester and ran across them

Catalog

course listing from Pipeline

CCRI Pipeline

Counselor

some I know took it

a grad from CCRI

course bulletin

friends

registration

found it offered online when I was signing up for the course