Appendix C: Electronic Communication in University Teaching Questionnaire

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Thank you for your interest in the project and for agreeing to complete this questionnaire. We are seeking your views on issues associated with computer-mediated communication in university teaching over the next five years. The questionnaire is in three sections which have been emailed separately. Section A contains a series of statements relating to computer-mediated applications in teaching. Section B provides a series of statements concerned with possible forces which may retard and those that may provide an impetus to the use of computer-mediated communication in teaching. Then finally, Section C contains a series of statements and questions concerned with strategic issues associated with information technology and computer-mediated communication. Each statement requires a response to be indicated on a seven point scale; there is also an unnumbered option 'Not able to answer'. If you feel you really cannot answer the question then use the 'Not able to answer' option.

In order to answer this questionnaire you will need to be in reply mode so that your responses can be received for analysis. Also, each question has a comment option. Please feel free to add your comment when answering a question.

TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION PLEASE INDICATE YOUR RESPONSE BY PLACING AN x NEXT TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE OPTION.

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FOR EXAMPLE :

To what extent:

Will computer-mediated-communication influence teaching in the next 5 years?

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NOTE: If you are REALLY unable to answer any question please place an x next to the 'not able to answer' option.

THE QUESTIONS FOLLOW. Section A is included in this email, while sections B and C are in the following emails. Some sections may be answered from a university perspective or from a school/departmental perspective. Please be aware of this as you work through the questionnaire, because at the end of each section you will be asked to indicate which perspective you have used.

Before preceeding with the questionnaire it would be helpful if you could answer some demographic questions.

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Demographic Questions:

1. Sex......

2. Age......

3. Position .........................

4. Level of appointment.........................

5. Unit/Department/School .........................

6. Please indicate in which of the following you have experience (mark with an x one or more that are relevant):

(a) responsibility for setting IT strategies

(b) responsibility for IT operations

(c) responsibility for educational development and teaching technology strategy

(d) reflecting a range of academic views and experiences in the use of IT in teaching

(e) responsibility for the provision of distance education

SECTION A

PART 1

Please rate the EXTENT to which you see the following computer-mediated applications in teaching and learning occurring within either YOUR INSTITUTION or YOUR SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT in the next 5 years. Please try to use the full scale so that we can gain insight into the relative penetration of the technology in different areas.

To what extent will:

Q1.1 Course content be delivered on-line with full multimedia capability (text, graphics, animation, video and sound)?

Q1.2. Bulletin boards and on-line special interest groups be a standard component in most courses?

Q1.3. Multimedia simulations be used for laboratory, practical and/or field work?

Q1.4. Scientific experiments using specialised equipment be remotely controlled via the Internet?

Q1.5. Students be able to purchase CD ROMS and computer-based-learning packages as an instructional resource?

Q1.6. Internet resources be integrated into teaching programs?

Q1.7. Broadcast TV (PAGE, Open Learning) be used to deliver courses to off-campus students?

Q1.8. Students have on-line access to course materials - lecture notes, overheads, computer-based learning materials etc?

Q1.9. Students have the facility to log in remotely and conduct on-line searches of library and other research databases?

Q1.10. One-to-many (classroom based) videoconferencing be used to deliver programs to multi-site campuses or designated learning centres?

Q1.11. One-to-one (desktop based) videoconferencing be used to deliver information and communicate with students off-campus?

Q1.12. Computer based learning and communication be used to provide bridging and remedial programs?

Q1.13. All aspects of courses/units (enrolment, content delivery, communication, assessment, administration) in Australian universities be available via the Internet?

Q1.14. Interactive television be used for students off-campus?

Q1.15. Email act as a communications medium between staff and students?

Q1.16. Electronic communication (using email, the Internet or special conferencing software) be used to facilitate collaborative group work?

Q1.17. Courses still be delivered using traditional methods?

Q1.18. Traditional lectures incorporate widespread use of computer mediated presentation techniques (e.g. Powerpoint)?

Q1.19. Courses be OFFERED collaboratively with other departments, and universities using a variety of communications media?

Q1.20. Course material be DEVELOPED collaboratively with other departments, and universities using a variety of communications media?

Q1.21. Sending and receiving assignments using computer-mediated-communication be the normal mode of delivery?

Q1.22. Feedback on assignments be provided electronically?

Q1.23. Student's assignments be presented using full multimedia capabilities (text, graphics, sound and video)?

Q1.24. Students be expected to include current examples and research drawn from the Internet in their work?

Q1.25. Computer-mediated-communication be the main avenue for distribution of announcements, handouts and syllabi?

Q1.26. Distribution of exam results by electronic mode be the normal means of delivery?

From which perspective were a MAJORITY of the questions in Part 1 answered?

(please place an x next to the relevant option):

1 university perspective

2 departmental/school perspective.

Part 2

For the following statements please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each.

PLEASE REMEMBER to consider each question within a 5 year time frame.

How strongly do you agree or disagree that:

Q2.1. The major impact of computer-mediated-communication will be for off-campus rather than on-campus students?

Q2.2. The major impact of computer-mediated-communication will be for postgraduate rather than undergraduate students?

Q2.3. Course materials placed on the Internet by one institution will become commonly used across a range of institutions?

Q2.4. Information technology will facilitate the emergence of a common core curriculum for first year units in each discipline across Australian universities?

Q2.5. Computer-mediated-communication will lead to low demand courses being offered and accredited across institutions?

Q2.6. Computer-mediated-communication will facilitate greater interaction between students and staff?

Q2.7. Computer-mediated-communication will facilitate greater interaction among students?

Q2.8. As a result of information technology universities will become more flexible, permitting students to select units/courses from a range of institutions to be cross credited to a particular degree?

Q2.9. Universities will become more flexible with students having a choice of modes of delivery?

Q2.10. Academics will be expected to provide courses in both electronic and traditional format?

From which perspective were a MAJORITY of the questions in Part 2 answered?

(please place an x next to the relevant option)?:

1 University perspective

2 Departmental/School perspective

PART 3

We need your help in deciding the relative extent to which each barrier described in the following statements will cause resistance to the introduction of new technologies. Please try to use the full scale so that we can establish which barriers are strongest.

To what extent will each of the following create resistance to the implementation of computer-mediated-communication in teaching in the next 5 years.

Extent of resistance due to:

Q3.1 Lack of technical skill among staff in the use of information technology.

Q3.2. Age of academics and associated lack of exposure to technology generally.

Q3.3. Lack of staff awareness of the potential information technology has for teaching.

Q3.4. Perceived difficulty in capturing the essence of teaching and scholarship in computer-mediated-communication.

Q3.5. Conservatism among university decision makers.

Q3.6. Lack of strategic planning among university decision makers.

Q3.7. Students' need for social interaction only afforded through on-campus teaching.

Q3.8. Insufficient research to justify switching to different modes of teaching.

Q3.9. Lack of time to put the effort into information technology training.

Q3.10. The perception that information technology is threatening to job security.

Q3.11. Promotions and reward systems which emphasise research rather than innovative teaching.

Q3.12. Inadequate technical support and help for staff and students.

Q3.13. Increase in workload in offering units in several modes.

Q3.14. The time and expertise involved in preparing material for teaching in new formats.

Q3.15. Academics perception that more work will be created due to difficulties with student access, training and support.

Q3.16. Concern about access and equity for students.

Q3.17. Institutional resistance to cross crediting qualifications.

Q3.18. Concern about confidentiality and security.

Q3.19. Concern about copyright and intellectual property.

Q3.20. The ever changing nature of software and lack of backward compatibility.

Q3.21. The use of multimedia programs that are pre-packaged and produced external to the university.

Q3.22. Concern that computer-mediated-communication will replace face to face teaching.

Q3.23. Reluctance to collaborate across institutions because of competition.

Q3.24. Having to work in a team, rather than being in control of a particular course.

Q3.25. The capital costs involved in implementing information technology.

Please add any other barriers to the use of computer-mediated communication in teaching that you feel have not been covered in this questionnaire.

Free Response:

From which perspective were a MAJORITY of the questions in Part 3 answered?

(please place an x next to the relevant option):

1 University perspective

2 Departmental/School perspective

PART 4

In the next section of the questionnaire we would like you to help in rating the extent to which each of the statements will provide an IMPETUS or FORCE for the use of computer- mediated-communication in teaching in the next 5 years. Please use the full scale so that you can help us gain a sense of the relative importance of factors that will provide momentum for the use of computer-mediated-communication, whether desirable or not.

Momentum for change provided by:

Q4.1. Students' level of expectation that computer-mediated-communication will be used in teaching.

Q4.2. Student need for flexible delivery to fit in with life-style requirements (e.g. part-time jobs, parenting and travel time).

Q4.3. The potential for computer-mediated-communication to provide more equitable access to education for some disadvantaged groups.

Q4.4. Competition among universities in attracting undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional education students.

Q4.5. Opportunities to export education more readily to overseas countries.

Q4.6. Perception that other competing universities have a technological edge.

Q4.7. Possibility that the Federal Government will provide incentives for computer-mediated-communication in teaching.

Q4.8. The threat to Australian universities from overseas degrees marketed in Australia.

Q4.9. Expectations from the business sector and professional bodies that students will be literate in the use of technology.

Q4.10. The possibility that industry and professional bodies will provide accredited degrees if universities do not meet their needs.

Please add any forces for increased use of computer mediated communication in teaching that you feel have not been covered in this questionnaire.

Free Response:

From which perspective were a MAJORITY of the questions in Part 4 answered?

(please place an x next to the relevant option):

1 university perspective

2 departmental/school perspective.

PART 5

The following questions relate to strategic issues associated with the role of information technology and computer-mediated-communication. We are interested in the extent to which your university has a plan to deal with these issues in the next 3-5 years.

Q5.1. What stage has your university reached with respect to information technology and strategic planning?

Q5.2. What stage has your university reached with respect to teaching technology strategic planning?

To what extent does your university have specific plans for:

Q5.3 Compulsory student ownership of PCs in the next 3 years?

Q5.4. Outsourcing (to private providers) of modem pools, connectivity and student computer services?

Q5.5. Staff and student training in relevant information skills to ensure computer-mediated-communication teaching and learning?

Q5.6. Financial incentives to support the development of computer-mediated-communication in teaching?

Q5.7. Upgrading bandwidth connectivity to permit full use of the Internet?

Q5.8. Provision of on-campus computing facilities to ensure access for all students?

Q5.9. Restructuring of academic and non academic roles as a result of technological change?

Q5.10. Standardisation of hardware and software systems to be used for teaching and administration?

Q5.11. Centralisation of decision-making about information technology in the university?

Q5.12. Devolution of responsibility for computer services to schools or faculties?

Q5.13. Increased use of private providers rather than investing in information technology infrastructure?

Q5.14. The provision of state of the art uniform information technology facilities in most lecture theatres and tutorial rooms?

Q5.15. Dealing with continuing obsolescence in technology?

Q5.16. Charging undergraduate students for university server accounts?

PART 6

Rate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements.

PLEASE REMEMBER to consider each question within a 3 to 5 year time frame.

How strongly do you agree or disagree that:

Q6.1. The demand for university modem connections to enable student dial-in will exceed supply?

Q6.2. Future bandwidth will permit full use of computer-mediated-communication for teaching in your institution?

Q6.3. The Federal Government should provide universities with legal and financial resources to achieve higher bandwidths?

Q6.4. Diversity in the types of hardware and software used by students and staff creates a major difficulty in implementing information technology in teaching.

PART 7

The following questions concern resourcing issues. In the space provided could you please indicate your estimate of the relevant percentages.

Q7.1. What percentage of staff and students have/will have an account on a server in your institution?

Response:

..................% of staff now

..................% of staff in 3 years

..................% of staff in 5 years

..................% of students now

..................% of students in 3 years

..................% of students in 5 years

..................Not able to answer

Q7.2. What percentage of staff and students access/will access university accounts from off-campus via a campus modem connection (not via alternative AARNet/Internet connections)?

Response:

..................% of staff now

..................% of staff in 3 years

..................% of staff in 5 years

..................% of students now

..................% of students in 3 years

..................% of students in 5 years

..................Not able to answer

Q7.3. What percentage of staff and students access/will access university accounts from off-campus via private providers?

Response:

..................% of staff now

..................% of staff in 3 years

..................% of staff in 5 years

..................% of students now

..................% of students in 3 years

..................% of students in 5 years

..................Not able to answer

Q7.4. What percentage of students accessing university accounts from campus facilities will use:

On-campus desk-top or lab computers in 3 years..........%

On-campus desk-top or lab computers in 5 years..........%

Student owned portables in 3 years......................%

Student owned portables in 5 years......................%

...................Not able to answer

Q7.5. What percentage of lecture and tutorial rooms are/will be equipped with state of the art connectivity?

Response:

..................% now

..................% in 3 years

..................% in 5 years

..................Not able to answer

Q7.6. There is a considerable amount of discussion around Australia concerning EdNA. We would like your views on this issue (please comment below).

Free Response:

Q7.7. As a decision-maker what are the major challenges you face in keeping up with change in information technology?

Free Response:

Q7.8. Could you please list any important issues which you feel have not been covered by this questionnaire - any additional issues that we should consider?

Free Response:

THANK-YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. PLEASE COULD YOU NOW EMAIL YOUR RESPONSES TO US.