Review of Surveys [R_of_S_0.001] March 15th 2001
REVIEW OF SURVEYS
Introduction
A survey of the MLE stakeholders was to be carried out as part of the user requirements specification. The survey was to determine their opinions on the following.
· information sources and their usage levels at DMU,
· the currently available online educational resources,
· computer ownership and levels of IT skills and knowledge,
· feedback on the usability of DMU websites
· the features that users would like to have provided on the MLE.
· The level of ICT experience of first year students at DMU
However, over the last two years at DMU, 8 surveys covering these areas have been carried out. Therefore, it was decided to use the readily available survey information. In addition, having reviewed the information, if there were any areas were any major were omissions then, to carry out a survey at a later date.
Data from 8 DMU surveys was reviewed and summarised. Most of the surveys have covered areas much broader in scope than the MLE project and so, only the aspects of the data which were pertinent to the MLE project have been extracted and used. References and contact names for each survey and its source are included in the references.
The 8 surveys included in this review were the following.
· ISAS Personal Computer [PC] Ownership and Use 1997, 1998 and 1999
· Collaboration in Research Support by Academic Libraries in Leicestershire [CORSALL] survey
· ANGEL - Group Interview Results – only DMU’s at this stage
· Nursing School - Online course survey
· Library Survey of Information needs for DMU Students
· Internet for Teaching and Learning papers
· Usage report on Campus information system - Campus Net Usage Report
· Key Skills – the level of computer skills and IT knowledge which students have when they arrive. NOT ARRIVED – Sue Bloy
· Marketing Internet Site Feedback. NOT ARRIVED – Kerry Law
A summary of the pertinent information from each survey is reported in order below, followed by a conclusion that identifies the MLE user requirements determined from these surveys.
ISAS Personal Computer Surveys
In 1997,1998 and 1999 surveys of “Personal Computer [PC] Ownership and Use,” [Ref1] were carried out by DMU with the help of the Information Services and Support, and Library Departments. The results from these surveys, which have a relevance to the MLE, are present in this section. It should be noted, that although many of the questions were repeated across the surveys providing trend information. It was decided to change the emphasis of the questions in each survey, to investigate different aspacts Information Technology support at DMU. A survey for 2000 is currently being carried out and the results will be added to this section when they are available.
The following results were available on computer specification and ownership, from full time, DMU, undergraduate students, in the 1997 survey. It should be noted that there were no results available for students that did not owned PCs.
40% had a modem attached to their PCs.
The major uses of the computer by students outside of the university were:
30% word-processing
15% spreadsheets
15% design and graphics
10% internet access
The following results were available on computer ownership from full time, DMU, undergraduate students, in the 1998 survey.
53% owned a computer
62% bought their computer before arriving at university or
58% bought a computer in their first semester at university.
33% of students stated that it was required for their studies
For those students that did not own computers, 47% approaching half of those surveyed, 19% state that they had satisfactory computer access already and therefore did not need to own a computer. The second reason was that they cost to much to buy.
Irrespective of whether students owned a computer
64% of students stated that they had access to a non DMU computer during term time and
50% had access during vacation periods and
27% used a friend’s computer
The following results were recorded on student Information Technology support from full time, DMU, undergraduate students, in the 1999 survey.
71% of students had access to a computer outside of university [this is an increase of 5% since 1998]
46% used a modem with their computers
The major uses of computers by students outside of the university were:
68% word-processing [increase of 38% since 1998]
42% internet access [increase of 32% since 1998]
39% spreadsheets [increase of 24% since 1998]
The main uses of computers by students inside the university were
92% internet access
70% word-processing
30% spreadsheets
The number of hours using computers
32% 6-10 hours inside the university
38% 6-10 hours outside the university
Of those students that had computers
47% purchased the machine themselves
33% used a friend’s computer
Summary of DMU ISAS surveys
The first trend that can be identified is that there has been an increase between 1998 and 1999 of 7% in the number of students that have access to computers outside of the university.
The second trend was that when students used a computer outside of DMU, if they didn’t have one of their own, they had access to a friend's. This increased from 27% to 33% between 1998 and 1999. This supports the first trend of greater computer ownership.
The third trend was that of the main use of computers, whether on or off campus was word-processing and for internet access. Word-processing by students has increased by 40% and is shown on Table 1. This may be the result of the requirement for students to word-process their assignments, whereas previously they did not.
YEAR / Percent1997 / 30
1998 / No data
1999 / 70
Table 1. DMU student use of computers for word-processing .
Students use the internet twice as much in the university as outside. [See 1999 survey.] This is probably a reflection for the costs of access outside when compared to unlimited access inside. In addition, the amount of use of the internet has increased across the surveys and is shown on Table 2.
YEAR / PercentModem Fitted / Internet Use
1997 / 40 / 10
1998 / No data / No data
1999 / 46 / 42
Table 2. DMU students who had a modem fitted to their own computers and the amount of time spent on the internet as a percent of use.
The implications that this survey data has for the MLE are the following.
· There is an increase in computer ownership by students.
· The main uses of computers are word-processing, the internet and spreadsheets. The amount of word-processing and internet use is increasing. This is supported by the usage figures and the ownership of modems.
· Students spend between 6 to 10 hours per week using computers. The available data does not relate this to computer ownership or, whether students used both the university’s and home computers for this period. If students do, then his could result in them using computers for 12 to 20 hours per week. [This would seem to be a more realistic figure.]
· Computers are used 6% more outside of the university than inside. This fact, when coupled with the increase in modem ownership and the increase in internet use, indicates that providing resources to students online is a sensible action to take.
CORSALL survey
A project to investigate ways in which the libraries’ of De Montfort, Leicester and Loughborough Universities could collaborate in providing resources to their researchers was carried from March to December 2000. [Collaboration in Research Support by Academic Libraries in Leicestershire CORSALL.] The project surveyed researchers to obtain their opinions on using resources based at libraries other than their own and also, to determine any reasons for not using other university’s facilities.
The CORSALL project [Ref 2] highlighted two of issues concerning the use of electronic journals and databases. Access to these and similar resources may be provided through the MLE.
Firstly, researchers would like greater access to electronic journals, specifically more titles and for better off-campus availability. However, despite this wish for improved access, 24% of researchers did not use electronic journals and their reasons for not doing so were: not being sure of what was available and a lack of training in using the systems. Secondly, researchers stated that there reason for not using electronic databases was because they were uncertain about what was available.
The DMU Library homepage directs users to descriptions of all the available resources. It is assumed that similar information is provided at the other library sites. Therefore, the problem seems to be more clearly signposting the resources and motivating users to read and use it rather than not providing instructions and information. Nevertheless, a common issue which was highlighted in the project was that there should be more information and training available. In particular, this needs to focus on the Faculties of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences who from the survey results are the most reluctant users of electronic based resources.
Consequenlty the MLE project should ensure that the user needs of the students in the Faculties and Departments of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences are particularly addressed to ensure that they are motivated to use the MLE. This is an inclusive approach to design and should result in all types of student being able to easily access the online resources at DMU via the MLE.
ANGEL - Group Interview Results
This section reports the results of the interviews carried out as part of the ANGEL projects formative assessment activity. The interviews were held in February 2001 at De Montfort University. South Bank University, London, developed the format of the interviews, the questions and the recording methods. Three sessions were held, with academics and administrators from DMU. In total, fifteen people attended. The sessions, although called interviews, were conducted in a semi-structured manner and therefore took the form of focus groups.
The results from the three sessions have been combined and no attempt to attribute comments to specific individuals or sessions has been made. This is because it is the group results that are of interest and not specific issues posited by individuals, which could if taken on their own or given too much emphasis, result in a bias in the design which meets only the requirements of a few users. Attendees where asked to consider the points from THEIR OWN perspective, in terms of their current or potential use of these systems.
Listed below are the most often mentioned points together with any significant points, which particularly knowledgeable or, experienced individuals introduced.
· There was a major concern that any online educational material should be written to support student learning rather than to satisfy any technical or administration requirements.
· Learning materials should shadow modules and support the student on their path to the learning objectives.
· Information should be provided in a structured, simple, easily navigable, wide and flat format.
· The system provides an opportunity for students to control their own learning and to monitor their progress using various types of online assessments.
· There is a major dislike of any help system that interrupt the user or, that provides only "information" and not "help".
· Help systems must be context related and be under the control of the user and not the machine or system.
· The system should be simple, flexible and load or, update quickly with no large graphics or “clever” pictures.
· There is great enthusiasm for staff home pages, online teaching materials and notice boards, but support in terms of training, budgets and infrastructure would be required.
· Almost all of those attending had heard of an online educational environments, but very few had used one. Many felt that they were (would be) too rigid and would require changes in the institution for them to work well.
· There is a problem with getting a common approach amongst staff, departments, Faculties and the University. Everybody needs to use the same or, a similar approach, while allowing for the detail (content) to be different.
· If assessments were carried out online, would there be an increased risk of plagiarism and an increase in the use of un-credited or un-referenced material.
· Very few attendees want to learn or use either a new email system or, web search tools. They wanted to stay with what they know and are familiar.
· Rather than careers advice, a placement service would be useful for students, either for short placements of several months or for year-long placements.
· Everybody could see the benefits of such system, but were concerned about how well it would be supported throughout the University.
Nursing School - Online course survey
At a meeting of the Education Focus Group of the Nursing Specialist Group of the British Computer Society held in September 2000, a survey of online courses was proposed [Ref3].
The survey was sent out to English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh universities offering various types of Nursing & Health Care Courses. In total 78 institutes where identified. A paper based survey questionnaire was used which was available also via the Web for electronic submission. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative questions was asked.