Appendix C - Responses to Second Student Questionnaire

Appendix C

Responses to Second Student Questionnaire
This is the second version of the questionnaire. It was filled in by students on the course after they had completed Activity B. There were three students who did not complete this questionnaire. (Students E, G and H.)

Questions

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

1a

The aims of Activity B were:

1) To reflect on the effectiveness of the teaching strategies used in the case studies.

2) To encourage reflective practice with ICT by considering your own experience of teaching using ICT.

Do you feel that you have achieved these objectives?

Partly

Partly

Partly

Definitely

Partly

Not really

1b

Please add comments (if appropriate) about why you did or didn't achieve these objectives.

I've got FAR too much to do presently that is why I haven't contributed too much to discussions.

Yes it has been possible to reflect but time and lack of group discussion has left me feeling more could have been done on my part.

The Case study was not totally relevant to the ICT is delivered in FE colleges as time is an important factor here.

See previous questionnaire regarding assignment work. Need time still to think about all this

I don't feel that there has been any effective discussion of the tasks. In comparison to other modules I have completed, this is the one I feel least confident about and where I have received least help and tutor input. I am disappointed.

2a

Did you feel you had the skills and knowledge you needed for this task?

Partly

Partly

Definitely

Partly

Partly

Not really

2b

Please add any appropriate comments.

I had an understanding - yes

More references to research /literature would have helped.

I have more of them now. I cant remember what I replied to the first one!

Found the collaborative classroom stuff somewhat long winded compared to some others I had found. Although the ones I found were more research things.

I don't feel that we have been given any guidance but that this is more a self-help course.

3a

Were you given clear enough instructions about what you were supposed to be doing during Activity B?

Definitely

Definitely

Partly

Definitely

Partly

Partly

3b

Please add any appropriate comments.

I did not quite see the relevance of the case studies to the way I teach ICT - personally

It's easy to ask if you're not sure.

Time factor has been a major problem, especially bearing half term and end of year exams in mind. There has been time to reflect but little time to collect data.

4a

Which of these gave you the most direction and support during the task?
(1=most 4=least)

tutors
task
peers
self 1

tutors 3
task 1
peers 2
self 4

tutors 3
task 2
peers 1
self 4
tutors 4
task 3
peers 2
self 1

tutors 3
task 2
peers 4
self 1

tutors 1
task 2
peers 3
self 4

4b

Please add any appropriate comments.

I didn't ask anyone!

All equal in different ways!

Very disappointed with the tutoring and would be interested to hear why this module costs so much more than others. I know I have not been around (due to a course) but feel the course was inadequately explained to me and the importance of being on-line after school hours was underplayed.

5a

Did being in a group of students with a related interest help?

Definitely

Not really

5b

Please add any appropriate comments.

Interaction in the primary co-ordinator's group was limited since we are now a group of two!

Particularly as FE is very small in this course.

And I enjoyed discussion with those with different interests too.

No one else is teaching modern languages and so I have not been able to discuss anything other than general ideas and principles.

6a

Did the tutors give you the support you needed during the task?

Partly

Partly

Partly

Definitely

Not really

Not at all

6b

Please add any appropriate comments. (If the tutors did not, do you have any comments to make about how this could be improved?)

As I said - I didn't ask!

More involvement at a group level needed. It's still helpful to have more direction within a task.

No complaints here!

I know learning theory is a bit oblique but I would have appreciated some input. It seems to me that Vygotsky and Piaget are poles apart and the unexplained refs are a bit tricky to assess if you haven’t studied for a while and your brain needs kicking into gear.

I think there needs to be more face-to-face discussion and it would help to have a clear task to complete. It has helped me in the past to bring work to a meeting and to discuss it with peers and tutors. I have also felt that the discussion of literature has been poor - if not non-existent. I assume when submitting this essay I will be expected to reference work. Again I am most disappointed and regret not having continued with (another course).

7a

Did you feel motivated to take part in this activity?

Definitely

Definitely

Partly

Definitely

Definitely

Not at all

7b

Please add any appropriate comments.

Timing was unfortunately bad as it coincided with final examinations and marking of our students.

I am enjoying every aspect of the course much more than expected.

........ As it was connected to assignment

I feel very isolated and have not felt any interest on the part of tutors - not even an email to ask WHY I haven't left a message.

8a

What did you learn as a result of this task?

Helped me to focus on my own feelings of using ICT in my own subject area.

More about my own teaching. It made me think about examples of my own teaching which have been effective and those which definitely haven't.

Case studies can be a useful means of using ICT particularly in schools

Hard to state but: how others document what they do. Formally explaining
what I've done and writing it down. Becoming more self-critical. Assessing
ones own teaching.

Already looking at Collaboration but found the material on collaboration stimulating, what did I learn? That everyone seems to be just scratching the surface!

I have learnt little from the task - but more from the course reader. I think most teachers are ware the their teaching of ICT can be improved and are probably aware of it's shortcomings - this task has really just spelt out the obvious. It has not helped me to think of ways to improve the effectiveness of my teaching.

9a

Did you feel comfortable using the VSC discussion area?

Not really

Definitely

Definitely

Definitely

Partly

Not really

9b

Please add any appropriate comments.

Especially when I leave gaps - I feel like I'm 'butting in' or have nothing more of relevance to contribute

The discussion area was very useful, particularly in finding out what others experiences are in ICT etc.

It improves the more you do it and it's very frustrating when you cant get on line or there's a technical hitch. I still prefer face to face! But I really like having time to respond and thinking about my answer.

Still feel the cafe is a waste of time inasmuch as it is more of a generalised noticeboard

It has been difficult to establish interesting links that discuss IN DEPTH the issues we are obviously concerned about. There has also been a problem finding mutually convenient times.

10a

Were you aware of who to contact if you needed help or had any problems?

Definitely

Definitely

Definitely

Definitely

Definitely

Partly

10b

Please add any appropriate comments.

I find it difficult to get logged on at home (internet problem!)

All very clear.

Again I didn't feel that comfortable with the tutors or that I would gain form purely electronic communication.

11a

Did you have any problems that kept you from taking part in this activity?

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

11b

Please add any appropriate comments about why you did or didn't take part.

Too much going on at work - can give details on Sat!

Final examinations of students meant time was short.

It was interesting and I felt support for what I was trying to do from
some participants.

Why would anyone be doing the course and choose not to take part?

Not on-line at home
On a course in Germany over half term - both of which I was assured wouldn't be 'too much of a problem'. School year slightly out of sync with maintained sector - i.e. we finish on 08/07 and have exams until 24/06

12a

Do you have any further comments to make about Activity B?

Good idea and I hope to apply the same analysis to my own research when I have time!!!!

I would have liked to read more case studies of effective teaching with ICT, not just from within the course group but other examples too. This could have been developed further in this part of the course.

It could have been a little clearer as to exactly what was wanted. Overall very useful.

Maybe writing about a classroom situation didn't get done enough. It seemed somehow wrong to post pages of stuff in there but of course that's just because I'm not used to it.

I worked my way through Damon and Phelps work on Peer Learning (see Sears bibliography for details) during this fortnight having obtained it through inter library loan and found it very stimulating. Is there any way any of that work could be incorporated? I know it is now 10 years old but even so it provided a well written, thought provoking, background against which to set much of this material.

	Questions	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1a	The aims of Activity B were: 1) To reflect on the effectiveness of the teaching strategies used in the case studies. 2) To encourage reflective practice with ICT by considering your own experience of teaching using ICT. Do you feel that you have achieved these objectives?	Partly	Partly	Partly	Definitely		Partly			Not really
1b	Please add comments (if appropriate) about why you did or didn't achieve these objectives.	I've got FAR too much to do presently that is why I haven't contributed too much to discussions.	Yes it has been possible to reflect but time and lack of group discussion has left me feeling more could have been done on my part.	The Case study was not totally relevant to the ICT is delivered in FE colleges as time is an important factor here.			See previous questionnaire regarding assignment work. Need time still to think about all this			I don't feel that there has been any effective discussion of the tasks. In comparison to other modules I have completed, this is the one I feel least confident about and where I have received least help and tutor input. I am disappointed.
2a	Did you feel you had the skills and knowledge you needed for this task?	Partly	Partly	Definitely	Partly		Partly			Not really
2b	Please add any appropriate comments.	I had an understanding - yes	More references to research /literature would have helped.		I have more of them now. I cant remember what I replied to the first one!		Found the collaborative classroom stuff somewhat long winded compared to some others I had found. Although the ones I found were more research things.			I don't feel that we have been given any guidance but that this is more a self-help course.
3a	Were you given clear enough instructions about what you were supposed to be doing during Activity B?	Definitely	Definitely	Partly	Definitely		Partly			Partly
3b	Please add any appropriate comments.			I did not quite see the relevance of the case studies to the way I teach ICT - personally	It's easy to ask if you're not sure.					Time factor has been a major problem, especially bearing half term and end of year exams in mind. There has been time to reflect but little time to collect data.
4a	Which of these gave you the most direction and support during the task? (1=most 4=least)	tutors task peers self 1	tutors 3 task 1 peers 2 self 4	tutors 3 task 2 peers 1 self 4	tutors 4 task 3 peers 2 self 1		tutors 3 task 2 peers 4 self 1			tutors 1 task 2 peers 3 self 4
4b	Please add any appropriate comments.	I didn't ask anyone!			All equal in different ways!					Very disappointed with the tutoring and would be interested to hear why this module costs so much more than others. I know I have not been around (due to a course) but feel the course was inadequately explained to me and the importance of being on-line after school hours was underplayed.
5a	Did being in a group of students with a related interest help?				Definitely		Not really
5b	Please add any appropriate comments.		Interaction in the primary co-ordinator's group was limited since we are now a group of two!	Particularly as FE is very small in this course.	And I enjoyed discussion with those with different interests too.					No one else is teaching modern languages and so I have not been able to discuss anything other than general ideas and principles.
6a	Did the tutors give you the support you needed during the task?	Partly	Partly	Partly	Definitely		Not really			Not at all
6b	Please add any appropriate comments. (If the tutors did not, do you have any comments to make about how this could be improved?)	As I said - I didn't ask!	More involvement at a group level needed. It's still helpful to have more direction within a task.		No complaints here!		I know learning theory is a bit oblique but I would have appreciated some input. It seems to me that Vygotsky and Piaget are poles apart and the unexplained refs are a bit tricky to assess if you haven’t studied for a while and your brain needs kicking into gear.			I think there needs to be more face-to-face discussion and it would help to have a clear task to complete. It has helped me in the past to bring work to a meeting and to discuss it with peers and tutors. I have also felt that the discussion of literature has been poor - if not non-existent. I assume when submitting this essay I will be expected to reference work. Again I am most disappointed and regret not having continued with (another course).
7a	Did you feel motivated to take part in this activity?	Definitely	Definitely	Partly	Definitely		Definitely			Not at all
7b	Please add any appropriate comments.			Timing was unfortunately bad as it coincided with final examinations and marking of our students.	I am enjoying every aspect of the course much more than expected.		........ As it was connected to assignment			I feel very isolated and have not felt any interest on the part of tutors - not even an email to ask WHY I haven't left a message.
8a	What did you learn as a result of this task?	Helped me to focus on my own feelings of using ICT in my own subject area.	More about my own teaching. It made me think about examples of my own teaching which have been effective and those which definitely haven't.	Case studies can be a useful means of using ICT particularly in schools	Hard to state but: how others document what they do. Formally explaining what I've done and writing it down. Becoming more self-critical. Assessing ones own teaching.		Already looking at Collaboration but found the material on collaboration stimulating, what did I learn? That everyone seems to be just scratching the surface!			I have learnt little from the task - but more from the course reader. I think most teachers are ware the their teaching of ICT can be improved and are probably aware of it's shortcomings - this task has really just spelt out the obvious. It has not helped me to think of ways to improve the effectiveness of my teaching.
9a	Did you feel comfortable using the VSC discussion area?	Not really	Definitely	Definitely	Definitely		Partly			Not really
9b	Please add any appropriate comments.	Especially when I leave gaps - I feel like I'm 'butting in' or have nothing more of relevance to contribute		The discussion area was very useful, particularly in finding out what others experiences are in ICT etc.	It improves the more you do it and it's very frustrating when you cant get on line or there's a technical hitch. I still prefer face to face! But I really like having time to respond and thinking about my answer.		Still feel the cafe is a waste of time inasmuch as it is more of a generalised noticeboard			It has been difficult to establish interesting links that discuss IN DEPTH the issues we are obviously concerned about. There has also been a problem finding mutually convenient times.
10a	Were you aware of who to contact if you needed help or had any problems?	Definitely	Definitely	Definitely	Definitely		Definitely			Partly
10b	Please add any appropriate comments.	I find it difficult to get logged on at home (internet problem!)			All very clear.					Again I didn't feel that comfortable with the tutors or that I would gain form purely electronic communication.
11a	Did you have any problems that kept you from taking part in this activity?	Yes	No	Yes	No		No			Yes
11b	Please add any appropriate comments about why you did or didn't take part.	Too much going on at work - can give details on Sat!		Final examinations of students meant time was short.	It was interesting and I felt support for what I was trying to do from some participants.		Why would anyone be doing the course and choose not to take part?			Not on-line at home On a course in Germany over half term - both of which I was assured wouldn't be 'too much of a problem'. School year slightly out of sync with maintained sector - i.e. we finish on 08/07 and have exams until 24/06
12a	Do you have any further comments to make about Activity B?	Good idea and I hope to apply the same analysis to my own research when I have time!!!!	I would have liked to read more case studies of effective teaching with ICT, not just from within the course group but other examples too. This could have been developed further in this part of the course.	It could have been a little clearer as to exactly what was wanted. Overall very useful.	Maybe writing about a classroom situation didn't get done enough. It seemed somehow wrong to post pages of stuff in there but of course that's just because I'm not used to it.		I worked my way through Damon and Phelps work on Peer Learning (see Sears bibliography for details) during this fortnight having obtained it through inter library loan and found it very stimulating. Is there any way any of that work could be incorporated? I know it is now 10 years old but even so it provided a well written, thought provoking, background against which to set much of this material.