Amherst College Classroom Study

Dear Faculty member at Amherst College,

As many of you already know, the College has hired Parsons Consulting Group to assist in a study of classroom use and suitability at Amherst College. We have developed master plans for a number of colleges, and have formed a particular interest in how the character and quality of classrooms affect learning.

Our goal is to reach a clear understanding of faculty concerns and aspirations for instructional space and classroom technology. With faculty feedback from this survey, we plan to document probable future trends in teaching methods at the College, and to suggest appropriate and effective ways of providing the space, furnishings and equipment to meet identified needs. We feel that the general quality of teaching spaces is vitally important, and would like input on all aspects of the teaching environment, including possible improvements in technology.

We have already looked at all of your teaching spaces, and have had preliminary meetings with various faculty and administrators. After reviewing the results of this survey, we will have meetings with representatives from the departments and all interested faculty at the start of the fall semester. We hope to obtain data and comments from as many of you as possible.

Please complete the following questionnaire by May 23. E-mail questions about the survey content or follow-up comments on classrooms should be sent to Parsons Consulting. Technical questions should be addressed to Philip Weiss. If you prefer a paper questionnaire, you can obtain one from the registrar's office.

Thank you again for your help. Your opinions are vital in directing this analysis.

Philip Parsons
Parsons Consulting Group

Questionnaire
This form allows you to comment on up to three classrooms in which you are now teaching or have recently taught. If you wish to comment on additional rooms, please complete and submit a second form. There is also space at the end for general comments. When completing the survey, you may type directly in the boxes. Some respondents writing longer answers may find it easier to write them first in MSWord, or another word processor, and then cut and paste them into the boxes. When you are done, go to the end of the form and click on Submit.

 1. Please indicate for this room only:

• approximately what percentage of time overall you use each type of instruction listed, and
• how satisfactory the room is for each type
  (NOTES: time allocations should total to 100%,
  Media refers to slides, overheads, video or data projection.)

Lecture (without media)		Discussion (without media)		Small Groups
Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor
Lecture (with media)		Discussion (with media)		Computers (Students at computer stations)
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor

• If your classroom were ideally configured and equipped, would you allocate time differently for this class? If so, please indicate below.

Lecture (no media)	Lecture (media)	Discussion (no media)	Discussion (media)	Small Groups	Computers
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

 2. Please comment on how the following affect your teaching in this room:

Proximity to offices, labs, seminar rooms, etc.:
Furniture type & configuration:
Lighting - daylight & artificial:
Acoustics/ noise level:
A/V & computer equipment:
Heating/cool./vent.:
Cleaning services:

 1. Please indicate for this room only:

• approximately what percentage of time overall you use each type of instruction listed, and
• how satisfactory the room is for each type
  (NOTES: time allocations should total to 100%,
  Media refers to slides, overheads, video or data projection.)

Lecture (without media)		Discussion (without media)		Small Groups
Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor
Lecture (with media)		Discussion (with media)		Computers (Students at computer stations)
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor

• If your classroom were ideally configured and equipped, would you allocate time differently for this class? If so, please indicate below.

Lecture (no media)	Lecture (media)	Discussion (no media)	Discussion (media)	Small Groups	Computers
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

 2. Please comment on how the following affect your teaching in this room:

Proximity to offices, labs, seminar rooms, etc.:
Furniture type & configuration:
Lighting - daylight & artificial:
Acoustics/ noise level:
A/V & computer equipment:
Heating/cool./vent.:
Cleaning services:

 1. Please indicate for this room only:

• approximately what percentage of time overall you use each type of instruction listed, and
• how satisfactory the room is for each type
  (NOTES: time allocations should total to 100%,
  Media refers to slides, overheads, video or data projection.)

Lecture (without media)		Discussion (without media)		Small Groups
Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality	Time allocation	Quality
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor
Lecture (with media)		Discussion (with media)		Computers (Students at computer stations)
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose onen/agoodadequatepoor

• If your classroom were ideally configured and equipped, would you allocate time differently for this class? If so, please indicate below.

Lecture (no media)	Lecture (media)	Discussion (no media)	Discussion (media)	Small Groups	Computers
choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%	choose0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

 2. Please comment on how the following affect your teaching in this room:

Proximity to offices, labs, seminar rooms, etc.:
Furniture type & configuration:
Lighting - daylight & artificial:
Acoustics/ noise level:
A/V & computer equipment:
Heating/cool./vent.:
Cleaning services:

1. Technology:
As technology becomes increasingly pervasive in our society, the college is eager to develop a thoughtful plan to manage its introduction into the classroom. How do you use educational technology in your teaching? How would you like to use it? What equipment would you like to have available, and how (permanent installations, portable equipment, specific rooms, etc.)?

2. Room availability/Scheduling:
How hard is it to get a room that works for your teaching style/needs? Do you feel it is more a problem of availability or of scheduling? For what types of rooms do you see the most need (seminar, discussion, group work, flexible; small, medium, large)? Which is more important to you, getting the time slot you want or the room you want?

3. Campus as classroom/Classroom environment:
Do you expect students to work in groups outside of class? Does the campus offer suitable spaces for this, including technology, if applicable? Are there opportunities and suitable places for informal discussion between faculty and/or students, especially before and after class?

4. Best teaching spaces:
Which do you think are the best teaching spaces at Amherst?

5. Other:
Please feel free to add any additional comments:

Thank you for your time,

Philip Parsons, Parsons Consulting

E-mail questions about the survey content or follow-up comments on classrooms should be sent to Philip Parsons. Technical questions should be addressed to Philip Weiss.