Educ 5413 Pre-Course Survey

Educ 5413 Summer 2006 pre-survey

Educ 5413 Summer 2006 Pre-course Survey

Welcome to Educ 5413! Please would you respond to the questions below. The purpose of these questions is to help me get to know you so that I can gear to course towards your needs and interests. The first part of this is set of general “get-to-know-you” questions. The second part is a self pre-assessment on the key components of the course. This survey will take you about 20 minutes to complete. Please complete this survey (type your answers directly onto this survey), save the survey as “YourName5413Survey,” (e.g.helenmonganrallis5413survey) and e-mail it to me as an attachment at [email protected] if possible no later than Sunday noon, June 18th. Thank you! Helen Mongan-Rallis

1. Your name: (Last, then first). If you prefer to be called something other than your first name, please indicate this, too.

2. Tell me about yourself: briefly introduce yourself, telling me about who you are. Example: your major, if you are a teacher, what and where you teach; interests, hobbies and so on.

3. Special needs: If you have any special needs relevant to this course, (formally diagnosed special needs or any special circumstances in your life that may influence your work during this course) I invite you to tell me about these now so that we can work together to ensure that you are able to participate fully in the class.

4. Please list your reasons for taking this course and how (you hope!) what you learn here might help you in your chosen profession. In answering this question describe briefly what you profession is or will be once you graduate (e.g. currently teaching Middle School Social Studies or currently in senior year, plan to be a math teacher).

5. Computer access: a. Do you have off campus access to a computer that is connected to the Internet while you are taking this course? (yes/no) If yes, do you connect via modem or a high speed connection?

1 Educ 5413 Summer 2006 pre-survey

b. If you own your own computer, is it a desktop or laptop? Also indicate if it is a Mac or Windows/PC.

c. What kind of computer operating system do you use most? (Windows, Macintosh, Linux)

d. Background training in technology: Please list any courses and/or workshops you have taken in any aspect of using computers.

e. In what ways do you use regularly use computers, computer peripherals (such as digital cameras, scanners, CD burners) and the Internet most often both for your personal and professional use.

f. How you learn about computers best: Describe the ways in which you are most comfortable and learn best about using computers and computer peripherals (e.g. reading the manual and then trying by yourself, trial-and-error by yourself, one-on-one with instructor or other helper at your side, demonstration by instructor and then trying by yourself). List all that apply and add any other methods not included here.

6. What are your "pet peeves" specifically about instructors? (What I’m asking for here is the kinds of instructor behaviors and attitudes that "bug" you or interfere with your learning when you are taking classes in general and computer ones in particular. It’s useful for me to know these as it helps me avoid these and helps me improve my teaching!).

7. For the following, please rate you skill level for each of the items (write your rating next to each question). 3 = advanced 2 = proficient

1 = beginning 0 = never used/never done this before. Feel free to add a comment following any question should you wish you expand on your answer.

8. Taking photos with a digital camera [Rating = ______]. If you own your own digital camera, indicate what kind:

9. Using PhotoShop or other photo editing application to edit digital photos [Rating = ______]

10. Creating PowerPoint slides [Rating = ______]

11. Using PowerPoint as a presentation tool to teach part of a lesson [Rating = ______]

12. Using Inspiration [Rating = ______]

13. Creating your own free online social networking site using a free service such as MySpace, Facebook (or one of the other social networking websites). [Rating = ______] If you have used one or more of these, list which:

14. Uploading your photos to the web using one of the free photo sharing services such as Ringo, Flickr, Shutterfly, Ofoto or others: [Rating = ______] If you have used one or more of these, list which:

15. Creating web pages using free web service (e.g. Webspawner, Angelfire, iWeb) [Rating = ______]

16. Creating a website or web pages [Rating = ______]. Indicate web authoring software of system(s) that you have used (e.g. Mozilla Composer, Contribute, Dreamweaver, or other (list all that apply)

If you already have a website and would be willing to let me see it, what is the URL of the site (if you have more than one site, list relevant URLs)?

17. Creating and maintaining your own blog [Rating = ______] List URL (if you are willing to share it).

18. Contributing comments to blogs created by others [Rating = ______]

19. Reading blogs created by others [Rating = ______]

20. Creating a wiki [Rating = ______] List URL (if you are willing to share it).

21. Contributing to wikis that were created by others [Rating = ______]

22. Reading wikis created by others [Rating = ______]

23. Subscribing to and listening to podcasts [Rating = ______] (If you had done this, list most common podcasts you have listened to:

24. Creating your own podcasts [Rating = ______]

25. Creating digital story using any digital storytelling method [Rating = ______] If you have done this, describe briefly what you did and methods you used to create:

26. Using UMD’s ePortfolio [Rating = ______]

27. Using any other kind of electronic portfolio (e.g. Minnesota eFolio or one that you have created for yourself).

28. Doing a WebQuest (as a student) [Rating = ______]

29. Creating WebQuests [Rating = ______]

30. Teaching others to use different kinds of technology. Describe your experience here if you have done this. [Rating = ______]

31. Using Classroom Performance System (CPS) or equivalent tool as a student [Rating = ______]

32. Using Classroom Performance System (CPS) or equivalent tool as a teacher [Rating = ______]

33. Taking a distance education online course (where at least 80% the course or more was delivered via distance online methods) [Rating = ______]. If relevant, list which learning/course management system was used (e.g. WebCT, Blackboard):

34. Taking a hybrid class where distance education methods were used (mix of face-to- face and online methods) [Rating = ______]

35. Teaching a distance online course [Rating = ______]

36. Using Web Crossing or other asynchronous discussion forum to participate in online discussions [Rating = ______].

37. Taking a course via ITV [Rating = ______]

38. Teaching using ITV [Rating = ______]

39. Please describe other computer skills, knowledge, or experiences that you have had that may be relevant to this course and which have not been addressed by any of the above questions.

Many thanks for taking the time to complete this pre-assessment! Please email your completed survey (as attachment and paste into the email just to be safe) to [email protected] and send a copy to yourself so you also have this handy.