Spring 2005 Distance Education Survey (Student Comments)

 

Question 16:  What suggestions would you make for future online courses?

                                                                                                                                  

  • I would make more of the online classes asynchronous.
  • none
  • Use the WIMBA room.
  • None.
  • N/A
  • MORE OF THEM!!!!
  • The teachers need to write very explicit instructions on the projects.
  • none
  • have a class time where you actually have a teacher instructing you
  • None
  • none
  • Make more of them only 1 or no face to face classes if possible.
  • None! Great class and the Instructor was great!  The Instructor made sure that each student was able to understand the course work.  This course is beneficial for every student who takes it.
  • n/a
  • Everything was fair to the students.
  • More courses are offered on-line graduate as well as undergraduate.
  • N/A
  • I like the format of meeting two or three times per semester  I think that all online would take away from some contact between class members and instructors
  • more live chat
  • I don't have any suggestions.
  • First class FtoF and another half way through semester.
  • Don't go completely on-line.  Vary class presentations.  Give more feedback on grades.
  • Encourage students to make sure they have adequate computer and word processing skills before they start
  • Have class time and WebCT
  • Chat sessions if the technology works properly are helpful in sustaining dialogue even though face-to-face meetings are limited.
  • n/a I love them
  • ALWAYS look at your schedule or you may be late on an assignment.
  • I don’t know
  • Teach this in a classroom
  • I have selected courses for the next two terms that are primarily on-line. The course offerings seemed very complete to me at this juncture of my studies.
  • Those available at this time are fulfilling my needs.
  • PLEASE offer more  more  more!
  • completely online
  • none
  • n/a
  • orientation for novice such as myself
  • Have more of them and charge less for tuition and no fees - cant do athletics and parking on line.
  • not sure
  • The gearing of the questions.
  • Have the students take more computer classes before doing on-line classes
  • None
  • none
  • none
  • None
  • More flexibility in completing assignments
  • None at this time.  The benefits of the extra time at home have outweighed not meeting face to face
  • Possibly make the midterm and final available online.
  • Have all of the assignments presented to the students at the beginning and let the students turn them in according to due date.  Don't spring assignments on Monday and make them due on Thursday. Those who work full time do not have enough time to do the work.  Needs to be more friendly toward working people.
  • Make this course an optional course.  I spent more time doing busy-work in this class then I did in my advanced courses; and I don't feel better for having taken this course.
  • none
  • none
  • Have some type of reminder about the course
  • I think that all courses online or other wise should have a midterm average grade available.
  • I like working on line but I think it is important to have some face-to-face time.
  • No suggestions at this time
  • none
  • none
  • none
  • Offer more classes that are completely on-line for graduate students.
  • Offer more on-line classes.
  • I felt that the directions were not clear in a few of the assignments.
  • Keep up the good work.
  • First having a professor available on campus more than 1hr a day or at 7pm when some students have already gone home. Second having your work graded on time especially when proceeding assignments could be improved by past mistakes.  I have work turned in on March 10 2005 that has yet to be graded.  Third instead of discussions on various topics maybe these discussion questions could be on problems/questions other students may have had on the same issues.
  • I loved the format.  More on-line discussions about problems people encountered would have been helpful for me.
  • none
  • keep doing the same
  • Not make chatting mandatory
  • Maybe to have an online forum with all participating students in the class online in a chartroom (once or twice during the semester.)
  • I think it is important to have some face-to-face time.
  • I don't have any suggestions at this time.  After I have taken another course I will have more knowledge of on-line classes.
  • More than one physical meeting of the students and teacher. Maybe one at the beginning of the semester one near mid-term and possibly one near the end of the semester.
  • no group work
  • NA
  • I would suggest that the UWG webpage itself be more user-friendly. It is almost impossible to find out info like "When is early registration?"
  • None
  • A list of assignments descriptions and due dates are very helpful.
  • Perhaps a one time face-to-face meeting.
  • I think we need more optional sessions for those who want more interaction. I think the instructor needs to make an effort to maintain direct communication with students through private email not just bulletin boards.
  • I think rather than relying on the bulletin board the teacher needs to make an effort to provide direct interaction. Maybe the teacher could be online for a Q&A web chat once a week.
  • Direct and detailed feedback from instructors. More optional sessions. Web chat with instructors
  • At least 2 of the quizzes was very mathematical in background.  The power point did not make the quizzes or book more "friendly".  The power point was slow, monotone and no more helpful than the book.
  • I thought it went pretty well
  • None
  • None
  • Nothing.
  • Allow for more chat discussions.
  • None
  • To have a meeting with everyone during the mid-terms to discuss it some more. I thought that having a group discussion would further enable everyone to do well since it’s on-line.
  • Being well organized and clear is very important!!
  • This course was very well done on-line and I don't have any suggestions.
  • Simplifying the some of the lecture presentations.
  • None.
  • nothing
  • None
  • Have more of them
  • Please provide more online classes.  I live so far away that I have to allow 2 hours of travel time  and there are still so many classes I have left to take that are not offered online  I honestly wonder if I will be able to take all of the remainder of the courses in order to actually finish my program of study.
  • UWG does a good job with their online courses. WebCT is a good tool.
  • Keep some face to face especially for new students.
  • no group projects
  • In this particular course no adjustment is needed.
  • I like the courses.  I think teachers of on-line courses just need to be sure they have very explicit and understandable expectations and assignments.
  • offer more of them and bring back GSAMS sites
  • offer more of them and bring back GSMAS
  • offer more advanced degrees on line and bring back GSAMS
  • N/A
  • At least one face-to-face visit with teacher.
  • n/a
  • None
  • I think Dr. Packard did a wonderful job with it! Perhaps make things available sooner than one week apart.
  • Nothing
  • none
  • Simply syllabus and details necessary to complete projects.
  • none
  • Make a time that you will be in the lab every week just for people that are online.
  • I liked all of it but it did get difficult at times but that is why the instructor has office hours.
  • all of the class is online...except for the initial meeting of the class
  • none
  • none
  • Better teacher- the teacher was horrible!  The worst I have had at West GA!!!!!!!
  • less worry about discussion  more relative assignments
  • more of them
  • more PowerPoint’s to present info
  • more PowerPoint’s to present information
  • Offer more oft hem
  • None known.
  • no comment
  • Make more classes model after this instructor's set up. Her set up made sense. I would go to another class online and assignments would be in a different place.  Therefore my only suggestion would be uniformity in class layout and set up.
  • Laptops issued to incoming students.
  • Maybe one face to face class to explain the assignments
  • It would be nice if the CEPD course that is required for an Ed. S. were offered at least partly online.  Departments other than MEDT can have successful online courses.
  • None
  • The ability to have access to the professor by phone.
  • tests be a little easier than having us look through 200 pages of a book to find answer to fill in the blank questions
  • Do away with the face to face
  • I can't think of a thing tonight.
  • None
  • none
  • can't think of any
  • Make the few times that you meet meaningful and helpful. Don't just meet and throw out a few things to the students. We want to feel that class time is going to help us and propel us forward not leave us more confused than ever.
  • Just make it so it does not cause problems with the computer pop up blocker
  • Understand that most students have researched before and don't need to research 10 different subjects.
  • none
  • I like the way they are. Maybe little more details for projects.
  • Maybe a little more detail for class project instructions.
  • The instructor should be required to be present for the entire class period for at least one class day per week. Also I would decrease the use of poorly-written manuals and ridiculous tests!
  • make Wimba available
  • I wish a lot of on campus courses could be converted to online courses
  • Only take them if you have the internet at home.
  • This course is running smoothly. The tech support has been available and good. No problems
  • Have the opportunity for Wimba Room for collaboration of group work instead of chat room
  • An on-line course should be just that....an on-line course.  There should be no driving involved.
  • n/a
  • Have class that are all on-line
  • Do not say that a class is on-line and make the students come every other week
  • Continue the same way
  • None
  • none...very user-friendly format
  • I don't know
  • Offer both on-line courses and the courses in a traditional face to face setting
  • At least 4 f2f classes.
  • I do not like to communicate via e-mail. I like to have a teacher in person to talk to and ask questions.
  • syllabus to include online assignments ahead of time
  • Make more available
  • nothing
  • Nothing
  • none  everything was great
  • for the most part   I REALLY like on line classes .I wish there were more classes offered outside the core classes offered  as much as possible within the major of my choice  I realize there are ONLINE colleges  yet I prefer my courses and degree from a college I am familiar with  such as UWG ...
  • Written midterm and final exams.  I think I would have studied more if I were taking the tests in a classroom setting.
  • a mix of on-line and on-campus
  • organize in a less compartmentalized manner
  • none
  • I would like to be able to "reply all" on WebCT mail. We work in groups a lot and it was inconvenient trying emailing multiple people about a project.
  • Ability to "reply all" when using WebCT mail.
  • HAVE SEPARATE WAY TO COMPLETE ASSIGNS  W/O HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE COMPUTER LOGGING YOU OUT
  • None
  • Taking more time at the start of the course to explain exactly how the online portion of the course will be conducted.
  • None
  • For the future I would meet the first day of class just to go over assignments and make sure everyone is clear as to what to expect.
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • Add more formatting features to emails cc bcc and unsend.
  • Have at least two requires class meetings in order to insure everyone is on the same page and that dates are known. I also think if we had to check in more than once a week it would be better for students to complete all assignments... Like a smaller weekly quiz grade.
  • Visit the Ingram Library sooner.
  • none
  • None
  • If material is very difficult, structure 50% class meetings on campus (We had only 4 classes on campus.)
  • none
  • The prices for the on-line course can decrease because this is needed just as a regular class.
  • My teacher used Discussion Questions. Every student could get online and have an opinion on the current subject we were studying.
  • No suggestions.
  • Change the test.
  • None.
  • get a different curriculum
  • No suggestions at this time.
  • Cover less information but give a brief quiz over everything in the course to motivate the students to learn thoroughly and independently.
  • None
  • Emphasis on quality of work which will promote more learning.
  • there shouldn't be any on-line courses
  • have more of them
  • more meetings throughout the semester
  • I would suggest a better explanation of modules
  • I do not have any suggestions because online takes a lot of time for working students.
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • I would august that there be a meet and greet for students and teachers at the beginning of the school year before classes start.  Now there is a mandatory orientation session but students don't NEED to go to the one given by their professor.
  • None
  • Give visuals of the steps of assignments that are going to be graded strictly.
  • Let students know about them up front. I had no idea that both NURS 3212 & 4470 were mostly online.
  • none
  • new modules
  • I would like there to be a way in which we can forward this email to our most used email accounts.
  • Nothing to complain about with regards to WebCT.
  • DO not offer them
  • n/a
  • the way Dr. Jones did it was great
  • NA
  • there should be more of them
  • Have email reminders sent to a student's main email the day before assignments are due.
  • not sure
  • Make the syllabus available before the class begins.
  • WebCT works great so no complaints about the system.
  • I don't have any suggestions
  • Make sure that all instructors or as computer literate as their students.
  • Make the assignments a little shorter.
  • N/A
  • To make WebCT work better.
  • None
  • Nothing   good.
  • Make sure the work that is required is significant.
  • More focus on learning.
  • Easier access
  • none
  • None.
  • N/A
  • None.
  • none
  • Instructor's assignments on syllabus changed frequently.
  • Have teachers who actually did their work if they are going to make us do ours.
  • none
  • none
  • None
  • No suggestions
  • none
  • Maybe require a few meeting times.
  • Have a required in class orientation about WebCT and related technology
  • None
  • Less extra paper work on the instructors part
  • None!
  • None.  You guys know this stuff better than me.
  • None
  • Nothing
  • None
  • Make all the tests due at the end of the course instead of during the course.
  • work the bugs out
  • I don't know.
  • Encourage people to come to the sessions during class time.
  • I don't really have any.
  • an
  • Nothing really it worked pretty well.
  • None.
  • Less group work
  • NONE
  • During the difficult portions of the course the instructor might offer a tutor time when students could come to the campus and get any needed hands on help.
  • can't think of any
  • Keep up with deadlines and go to class for help every now and then.
  • I cannot think of any suggestions for web ct
  • No Suggestions @ this time.
  • None
  • none
  • Continue to remind students to select a designated time each day/week to complete the course work.
  • If anything a bit more explanation for assignments.
  • Have more
  • a/a
  • a little more structurally organized
  • None at all.
  • none
  • don't know
  • nothing really
  • none
  • ditch the simnet program
  • no deadlines
  • Don't have any.
  • none
  • be more clear at the orientation  myself and a lot of my friends were somewhat confused
  • Add more online courses
  • I don't have any.
  • updated cd's and making sure all people had web ct icons for the class
  • Detailed schedule.
  • None.
  • Streamline the student user interface. Provide CLEAR and concise instructions.
  • N/A
  • Post replies on the message board(s) in a timely manner...
  • The reading class met twice at the beginning and will meet once for our presentations. My suggestion is to have all the on-line classes do the same. Meet once or twice to have some relationship with the professor and others in the class.
  • n/a
  • no
  • Give some compensation for those who turn their assignments in late (half their original grade is better then 0).
  • Don't know
  • Nothing
  • None.
  • no workbooks
  • n/a
  • labs stay open later
  • Nothing
  • None that I can think of right now.
  • Only meet face to face the first and last times. ``Make more on-line courses available-this saves on gas and also protects the environment.
  • none
  • no final
  • organized orientation
  • More communication
  • Option of mailing in my workbook
  • Require only one face-to-face.  If possible  do not have any face-to-face sessions.
  • More detailed directions  instead of a clustered syllabus. also  there were way to many icons on the main page so it made it harder to find what you needed
  • N/A
  • Make website improvements
  • None.
  • nothing
  • Nothing.
  • none
  • nothing
  • Keep everything the same.
  • Make the course easier to understand.
  • study groups
  • less busy work
  • nothing
  • nothing
  • Explain changes more clearly!
  • None at present
  • decrease online class attendance requirements
  • Adding a second computer utilization class and a class that includes the use of Flash and animation.
  • Group work is more uncomfortable to me if I have never met most of the students.  I prefer to meet before assignments are given.
  • No workbook!!!
  • None.
  • Everything was fine.
  • none
  • none
  • Narrow down the available lessons. There were like five lessons for each area  and that is too much  and it got confusing.
  • make a calendar of stuff that’s due and when it is due
  • more time to work on things
  • To have more actual class timer.
  • For the content to follow the text more closely since you don't participate in any lectures.  If the assignments are to complement the text students will better understand what is expected.
  • none