SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
BOCES
Student Survey
Distance Learning Program
2006 – 2007 School Year
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section A
2006 – 2007 School Year
Distance Learning Student Response Profile and Totals
572
Host Site Responses
Receive Site Responses
313
259
350
From Host Site
300
250
From Receive Total Responses
Site
146
200
459
150
85
100
50
0
113
170
5
1
Freshmen
39
2
Sophomores
BOCES
First Time DL
Students
80
Juniors
Veteran DL Students
Seniors
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
1. My class in DL had a variety of learning activities and was beneficial.
14%
Agree / Strongly Agree
8%
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
12%
78%
16%
6%
9%
Host Site
Responses
82%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
75%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
2. The teacher gave the same amount of attention to host site and remote site(s).
12%
Agree / Strongly Agree
12%
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
8%
Overall
Responses
5%
76%
18%
15%
Host Site
Responses
87%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
67%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
3. I was able to get extra help from the teacher when necessary.
5%
17%
Agree / Strongly Agree
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
11%
Overall
Responses
Not Applicable
7%
67%
4%
5%
2%
26%
52%
Host Site
Responses
86%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses 18%
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
4. I feel I learned as much in a DL class as I would have in a regular classroom.
11%
Agree / Strongly Agree
16%
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
7%
73%
15%
8%
21%
Host Site
Responses
85%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
64%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
5. Class materials such as tests, homework, assignments, etc. arrived on time.
6%
6%
Agree / Strongly Agree
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
2% 5%
Host Site
Responses
8%
9%
93%
BOCES
88%
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
83%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
6. I felt comfortable using room equipment (Elmo, VCR, copier/fax, etc.) when necessary.
10%
Agree / Strongly Agree
15%
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
6%
Overall
Responses
Not Applicable
69%
11%
10%
13%
17%
5%
7%
66%
Host Site
Responses
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
71%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
7. I was able to clearly hear and understand teachers/aides/students at other sites.
10%
10%
Agree / Strongly Agree
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
80%
8%
12%
8%
12%
Host Site
Responses
84%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
76%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
8. If I had to make up a missed class, it was easy to do so.
11%
Agree / Strongly Agree
13%
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
8%
Overall
Responses
Not Applicable
68%
10%
12%
9%
17%
4%
12%
Host Site
Responses
75%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
61%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
9. Given the opportunity, I would take another DL course.
13%
6%
Agree / Strongly Agree
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
12%
81%
14%
4%
8%
Host Site
Responses
84%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
78%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section B
2006 – 2007 School Year
10. I would recommend others take a distance learning course.
13%
5%
Agree / Strongly Agree
Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Uncertain
Overall
Responses
82%
14%
11%
3%
7%
Host Site
Responses
86%
BOCES
Receive Site
Responses
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
79%
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student
Comments
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
1. I took Distance Learning because:
Business law seemed interesting and important. I also wanted to meet new people.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I took this course because of the subject matter. I actually didn’t know it would be a
______________________________________________________________________
distance learning class but the different environment did not bother me at all.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
It was the only way to take Calculus in my school. I wanted the college credit.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I like extending class into other schools because you get other viewpoints. Also the
______________________________________________________________________
class that I wanted was not offered in my school.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I needed the credit and the course is what I want to major in at college. The course
______________________________________________________________________
wasn't offered by a regular teacher and I had the chance to earn college credit. I felt I
______________________________________________________________________
wanted to go to college for history or anthropology and the DL anthropology class
______________________________________________________________________
gave me a chance to (see) what might expect in the future.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wanted to learn about the Holocaust and I wanted to see how other schools work. I
______________________________________________________________________
heard it was an interesting class and you talk to new people.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wanted to take psychology and I really like learning in the DL room. An interesting
______________________________________________________________________
concept and a good study of technology, cooperation and human interaction.
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
Students most frequently said they took Distance Learning because:
They wanted that particular subject.
2%
The subject they wanted was only offered in DL.
2%
9%
They needed that course.
11%
They wanted AP or college credit.
44%
They wanted to try something different.
15%
They were interested in meeting new students.
17%
They were interested in the technology.
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
2. What did you like about Distance Learning?
I liked how we could have the input and opinion of other schools and people and it
______________________________________________________________________
was nice having a teacher that I never had before. I loved being able to communicate
______________________________________________________________________
with the other schools and meet new people. With such a small school here, its nice to
______________________________________________________________________
have a class with new people. I enjoyed learning alongside another class because we
______________________________________________________________________
could bring opinions from what we saw in our school environments together and the
______________________________________________________________________
discussion about what we see etc. was varied.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
It makes learning from a teacher who is not in the same room easy. I liked the unique
______________________________________________________________________
learning experience and the other people you meet. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn
______________________________________________________________________
how to use all of the technology in our classroom.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
It was easy to get involved. We rarely had tech problems and they were only minor. It
______________________________________________________________________
was cheaper than the college course would be and the system was relatively easy to
______________________________________________________________________
adjust to. The classes are small and although the teacher is in another site, there's a
______________________________________________________________________
lot of one-on-one between teacher and student.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I liked the teacher, the room, and the class itself. I like the work, it was easy to follow
______________________________________________________________________
along, also I like learning from the teacher over the system.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I liked having the opportunity to take a class not offered at my school.
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
Most frequently noted as liked by DL students:
Meeting and interacting with different students, teachers and schools.
A new experience working with the advanced technology.
Interesting and comfortable learning environment.
6%
The opportunity to take a class not otherwise offered.
8%
3%
The subject or course material.
The teacher or teaching assistant.
17%
47%
19%
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
3. What didn’t you like about Distance Learning?
It was sometimes hard to hear the other schools or the mikes would be too sensitive
______________________________________________________________________
and we would hear really loud banging sounds.... the occasional echo from voices or
______________________________________________________________________
loud noises due to volume differences.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I didn’t like that our class got next to no attention and our teacher would teach
______________________________________________________________________
without us but if his students weren’t there it would be a free period. I didn't feel like
______________________________________________________________________
I got to know the teacher or the other students very well.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Sometimes it was hard to accomplish everything in one class period as a result of two
______________________________________________________________________
schools talking...objects hitting microphones. It was hard to learn sometimes because
______________________________________________________________________
some of the people in the other classes were not controlled.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I couldn’t go [to our teacher] after school for extra help.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
That when the class was over, the TV cut out. If we were asking questions or talking
______________________________________________________________________
to the teacher, it just ends.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I didn't like the times when our schedules were not synchronized so both classes lost
______________________________________________________________________
[instruction] time, but I do not think this situation can be resolved.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
Most frequently noted as disliked by DL students:
Technical problems with audio or poor student/microphone/camera positioning.
Lack of interaction with or lack of attention from teacher or other students.
Disruptive students or lack of discipline.
Lack of extra help or lack of one-on-one with the teacher.
Not dealing effectively with bell schedule or school calendar differences.
* The second most frequent response to this question indicated that many
students found nothing to dislike.
“Honestly, I didn't dislike anything about it. It was a wonderful experience
and I really enjoyed the class.”
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
4. What changes would you suggest for the Distance Learning classes?
Nothing, the class seemed to run as smoothly as my normal classes.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Make visits to the schools mandatory. Meet the other students sooner rather than in
______________________________________________________________________
the second half of the course, it should be mandatory for all the kids from the
______________________________________________________________________
different sites to meet once in the beginning of the year.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Possibly more updated equipment, if there is any. Our DL equipment is about 5 yrs
______________________________________________________________________
old and there is more than likely more up to date equipment now.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Get sound levels worked out. Sometimes its very difficult to hear other students
______________________________________________________________________
and there is occasionally reverb and echo.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I would suggest that the teacher try harder to pay attention to [his or her] other
______________________________________________________________________
schools, not just their own students or the students they know. Be more involved with
______________________________________________________________________
both groups of students.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
There should be more control in the classes that do not have the teacher. Some schools
______________________________________________________________________
need to be more respectful.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Find a way for the students to talk to the teacher, one-on-one if they need it.
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
Most frequently suggested changes:
Visits by teachers to remote classes and or combined class field trips.
Technical improvements and better student/microphone/camera positioning.
More balanced attention to classes and better interaction.
More discipline to deal with disruptive and disrespectful students.
Deal more effectively with bell schedule and school calendar differences.
Set up some system of extra help classes after school.
Note: Comments indicating that a student did not feel any changes were necessary were more
frequent than any of the categories above.
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
5. What surprised you about Distance Learning?
It surprised me how much more you can actually learn and actually get personal help if
______________________________________________________________________
you need it. That we work as a group to help each other if someone is behind.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
That the teacher gave equal attention to all the students and not just the ones on the
______________________________________________________________________
host site. The teacher was somewhere else and yet it was still easy to communicate as if
______________________________________________________________________
he were here at my school. I was surprised by how easy it was to communicate with the
______________________________________________________________________
other DL classrooms. How you could see others and hear them with virtually no delay.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I was surprised at how it was practically the same as being in a classroom. Being able
______________________________________________________________________
to hold teleconferences with Howard Zinn and Pearl Harbor survivors.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I was surprised at how good you can hear see other classmates. Its almost as if we are
______________________________________________________________________
all in one room together.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
This is my fourth distance learning class so not much surprises me. It is just like a
______________________________________________________________________
regular class.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
My classmates would say something mean about me and everyone could hear it but
______________________________________________________________________
nothing was done. How rude other students were.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
Most frequently noted as surprising about distance learning:
That it is unexpectedly easy to become comfortable with the system.
Interaction with remote teachers and students was easy.
The environment is comfortable and enjoyable.
54%
It worked so well.
An appreciation for the advanced
technology.
Little or nothing surprised me.
7%
12%
It was harder or in someway less than
what was expected.
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
27%
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
6. Did you feel the teacher made an effort to compensate for any limitations
in the DL system?
2%
10%
Host Sites
Receive Sites
29%
26%
64%
69%
I didn’t feel there were any limitations.
Yes, the teacher did make effort(s) to compensate for limitations
in the DL system.
No, the teacher did not make an effort to compensate for limitations
in the DL system.
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
(If you answered “No”) Please describe what you wish your teacher could have done.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish he would have made a better effort to include all the sites.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish our teacher paid some attention to our site and did not continue with class work
______________________________________________________________________
when we weren’t in session.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish out teacher would have answered our emails…..allowed us opportunities to get
______________________________________________________________________
extra help.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
He should have told his students to be more respectful.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish [our teacher] would have realized that our schools had different schedules and
______________________________________________________________________
different important events that would change work schedules.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish our teacher had tried to come to our school.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish he allowed us some opportunities to get extra help.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Students that feel the teacher did not make an effort to compensate
Students wished that the teacher would:
Not ignore their remote students or pay less attention to the receive sites.
Make some provision for extra help or private communication.
Visit the remote students at least once.
Only 6.1% of the responses indicated that the students felt their teacher did not make
an effort to compensate for limitations with the system.
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Student Comments
(If you answered “Yes”) Please describe the efforts the teacher made to compensate.
Our teacher visited our school on a couple of occasions and went over things several
______________________________________________________________________
times during class periods. He was really good because he came to meet us, and
______________________________________________________________________
teach us in person, and we also went on field trips.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
She made sure everyone was treated fairly and worked hard to make difficult
______________________________________________________________________
situations work. She worked around everyone’s schedule so that no one missed
______________________________________________________________________
anything important.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Our teacher used the website “tappedin.org” to assign homework and activities, which
______________________________________________________________________
worked well. He made the students keep quiet when another school was talking.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Our teacher made people behave and did everything she could to accommodate every
______________________________________________________________________
student and make sure they had a good learning experience.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
He gave study materials to other school who couldn’t go to him for extra help.
______________________________________________________________________
He tried to make personal contact over the system, so all classes felt that they were
______________________________________________________________________
equally involved. He was able to do everything as you would in a regular classroom
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Our teacher made it seem like he was here. He was the best teacher EVER!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support
SAN-HFM
Distance Learning Project
Student Survey
Section C
2006 – 2007 School Year
Students that feel the teacher did make an effort to compensate:
Most Frequently Recognized DL Teacher Efforts
Visited receive sites and promoted interaction between schools.
Used the technology to its best advantage.
Made e-mail and/or phone contact available.
Made efforts to resolve technical issues.
Provided extra help and review sessions.
6%
15%
13%
22%
44%
BOCES
Distance Learning Program
Quality . Access . Support