Results of TEC Faculty Survey A survey of current faculty members across divisions was conducted by the Technology in Education Committee for General Grizzle using the Institutional Research Office s access to SurveyMonkey.com. The purpose of the survey was to identify the functionality needed by cadets in a device selected to fulfill the 1:1 Initiative. Survey conducted by Tamara Kinnally with input from the TEC. Survey population: 96 Faculty members from Athletics, Humanities, Library, Social Science, Math/Science, ROTC/JROTC, and the Student Assistance Center Surveyed members: 96 (100%) Surveys returned: 64 (approx. 67%) Results, listed in order of criticality: Office Suite o 81.2% of members require the Office Suite. o 87.5% state the Office Suite is critical. Access Web Based Services o 76.6% of members require access to web-based services. o 79.7% state access to web-based services is critical. Canvas o 65.6% of members require Canvas. o 68.8% state Canvas is critical. USB Port o 53.1% of members require students to use a USB port. o 65.6% state a USB port is critical. PDF Reader o 54.7% of members require a PDF reader. o 60.9% state a PDF reader is critical. Video Player o 50.1% of members require the use of a video player. o 57.8% state a video player is critical. On-line Access to Book Publisher Site o 40.6% of members require on-line access to the book publisher s site. o 45.3% state online access to the book publisher s site is critical.
E-book/E-text o 34.4% of members require the use of an e-book/e-text. o 43.8% state an e-book/e-text is critical. NOTE: Currently, students are required to use an online version of their Chemistry book outside of the classroom. Only 45 physical books were purchased to be used as classroom sets. Monitoring Software o 31.2% of members utilize monitoring software in the class. o 40.6% state monitoring software is critical. CD/DVD Drive o 37.5% of members require the students to use a CD/DVD Drive. o 35.9% state a CD/DVD drive is critical. Division Specific Software o 31.2% of members require division-specific software. o 34.4% state division-specific software is critical. Access Outside Storage (Google Docs, SkyDrive, Dropbox) o 25% of members require students to access outside storage. o 34.4% state access to outside storage is critical. VGA Port o 28.1% of members have students use the VGA Port. o 29.7% state a VGA port is critical. Headphones o 29.7% of members have students use headphones o 26.6% state headphones are critical. Respondus Lockdown Browser o 23.4% of members require their students to use Respondus Lockdown Browser. o 25% state Respondus Lockdown Browser is critical. Microphone o 17.2% of members have students use their microphone. o 17.2% state a microphone is critical. Webcam o 15.6% of members have students use a webcam. o 10.9% state a webcam is critical.
The following comments were made by instructors about the functions that are currently required by faculty members, but were not listed in the survey questions. I use Java extensively and write some of my own applications. If the device we have doesn't allow Java, I will be forced to throw away years of work and learn another programming language. Naviance - all high school students use Naviance weekly to prepare for college. Editing video software. Could be used daily in public speaking courses. Connection to a printer - lab or elsewhere - classroom perhaps. 1-2 times week or month. Prefer access to: Apps AND Software Touch Device AND Mouse AND Keyboard Printers. VGA Port is listed, but I put not critical because I currently don't require it due to classroom set-up. While some classes have easy access to the VGA cord, others have to be unhooked from the computer making this a time consuming process. Some of my students have wanted to utilize their computers for presentation in the past, but couldn't. If the student can write on their screen and I can project their work on the main screen will be great. I do not know whether it is doable or not. If we can, I will use this function every day. I have economic experiments that are performed on the computer that I use in my classes. This software is currently working on our lab computers and I would need the software to work on the student s computers if the labs were done away with. Reading from web site The following comments were made by faculty about the functions that they would like students to be able to use, but were not listed above. Google Earth, ARC GIS Explorer Battery Life because most classrooms do not have enough electrical connections Concern about multiple users connecting to the same network at one time - we always have issues at the beginning of school and sometimes throughout the semester. Cadets need an office suite on their machines, Word, PowerPoint, so they can work offline on assignments when the internet is down and they can't access the cloud. Possibly audio/video editing. It seems like the ability to edit video might be something that will become more useful. USB 3 HUB or Port. DVD/Blue Ray Player. The main functionality that concerns me is the ability to use a word processor and share those documents online through Canvas (so the word processor must be compatible with Canvas).
All students' devices should be magically linked to an emergency alert system that would allow them to know where to go in the event of an emergency on campus. Different operating systems do not always share common apps; for example, the Microsoft Office Suite is not allowed on Android or ios, only Windows 8 or RT. Using the same technology would allow for easy use of common "share tools" (such as Microsoft Word 2013) that would let students work simultaneously together on the same file while at different locations on campus, while off post, or even on furlough. Having common technology would also make digital in-class quizzes simple to apply, as there would be less likelihood of glitches. If every cadet had a laptop, I-pad, or similar I would incorporate more technology in my class. One physical functionality I would like is a smaller sized device that would give students room on the standard desk to read, write, work, or lay out materials. I allow my students to bring their laptops, and I DO NOT like the physical space the larger laptops take up. They actually create a physical barrier between myself and the student when open; also, when not in use they are placed on the floor because they don't fit on the desks, and if on the desks they take up ALL of the desk. I like desks because I can rearrange seating as needed (so please don't think I want tables). But a smaller device would be wonderful. When I have 18 students sitting in my 18 chairs with backpacks, jackets, laptops, binders, etc out, the room is packed. Do keep the actual physical space of the classroom in mind. Writing pad will be beneficial. And if their screens can be shown on the main screen will be appreciated. I think that it would be helpful if the students could write on the device. Take notes, or do examples and then somehow project the problems they worked on. This is listed, but I want an e-book for my World History class. I also have online access to my global studies book, but feel an e-text would be better because then students don't have to have internet access to read the book when traveling on a trip. I also put that this on-line access wasn't critical because students still have hardback books. It would be really cool if these computers were both a tablet and computer (touch screens would be awesome!). Also, I feel that if the computers are touchscreen, they should run Surface since this operating system is made to work with a touchscreen. I would like devices blocked from web browsing during class hours - say 8 to 3 (I think this is listed though). Group discussions program. Twitter The following comments were made by faculty in the functionality comment boxes which were not related to device function. Please, please, please consider purchasing a tablet instead of laptops for all students. Easy access to internet is all that is required for most classes. A tablet has longer battery life,
easier to tote around, and students won't feel the need to sit next to an outlet all the time. Let them bring a laptop from home to leave in their rooms during the day. My students read lots, lots and lots and lots. E-books/texts superficially seem to make this easier, but in the last three years I have found it actually complicates reading. Good old fashioned books are what I will continue to assign. CPS Units 1-2 times a week - guessing it is division specific software... We cannot see into the future. As technology changes we also need to change. We should have the in class computers able to do whatever the teacher needs to be effective. If our computer labs are available to use and can access everything the students need there is no need for them to bring a same technology device. This is a BYOD world and to limit students to the same technology device for the two years serves no purpose except to show we are behind the times. Why make them have everything necessary for Physics if they will not be taking that class? My son is currently getting his degree in IT Security and the entire program has moved from a same technology device world to the realities of BYOD. I have been using the trial IPad in my English classes and have enjoyed syncing the device to my computer so that students can use it as a mini-smartboard. It is also helpful by allowing students to create presentations and allowing me to use e-texts to teach writing and cognitive concepts. The ONLY reason I listed Canvas as critical is for the Turnitin function. Otherwise, I am discouraged by it. Prefer to allow the students to pick the device of their choice in order to accommodate individual learning styles. We need to recognize that some students need physical books instead of online texts. I surveyed one class and 7 out of 11 prefer the physical text. Would like them to be able to read a book without any electricity. It would be great if they were able to use technology as a tool rather than an end.