Here is a typical schedule for an Introductory Workshop with the topics that are covered:
Welcome
Angell Hall Computing Classroom
The Ehrlicher Room
The Ehrlicher Room
Eighteen evaluations were returned; 11 were from new students, seven from continuing students. On two evalutions, it was clear from the written comments that the respondent had misinterpreted the scale (read 5 as "strongly agree" rather than "strongly disagree"). The scores on these two evaluations were reversed to more accurately reflect what we believed to be the true opinions of these participants.
Scale for responses
1 = strongly agree
2 = agree
3 = no opinion
4 = disagree
5 = strongly disagree
Averages given below are the arithmetic mean of the scores.
"The structure of the workshop (brief presentations and working at an individual pace through the materials) was appropriate"
Received 17 responses
53 percent chose "strongly agree"
82 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.7
"The number of topics covered was appropriate"
Received 17 responses
47 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.6
"The level (depth) of coverage was appropriate"
Received 17 responses
35 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.7
"The workshop staff was helpful"
Received 18 responses
72 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.4
"The workshop staff was well-prepared and knowledgable"
Received 18 responses
61 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.5
"The handbook was helpful"
Received 18 responses
44 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.6
"The handbook was well-constructed"
Received 18 responses
50 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.6
"The general presentations were helpful"
Received 17 responses
41 percent chose "strongly agree"
94 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.6
"The Wednesday afternoon sessions were helpful"
Received 15 responses
33 percent chose "strongly agree"
87 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.9
"Overall, I feel that this workshop has helped me to be more successful in my classes"
Received 17 responses
59 percent chose "strongly agree"
88 percent chose "agree" or "strongly agree"
Average: 1.5
Responses to questions -- N indicates new student, C indicates continuing.
"What do you think was the best feature of the workshop?"
Interaction with the staff -- they were extremely understanding/supportive (and knowledgable) (N)
Best feature was the extremely helpful staff. Individualized attention for two days. What a deal! Handbook is excellent. (N)
The hands-on computer time (C)
Getting to find out what the internet is, e-mail, etc. (C)
Being able to work at my own pace and go off on a few tangents (C)
Good mix of lecture/lab; excellent help from workshop staff (C)
Mix of lectures and hands-on (C)
All of the staff and individual attention -- very open, easy to approach (N)
Hands-on work, at our own speed (N)
I liked the relatively unstructured aspect. (N)
The hands-on experience -- just having the chance to practice using a Mac and the Net, as I had no experience with either (N)
The group project was really great and helped show new sources of information. Professor Holland's presentation was very clear and was a very helpful explanation. (N)
The combination of hands-on work and presentations of the importance of technology were helpful. (N)
Kellogg Foundation presentation. Exploring the computer and Internet on our own. (N)
The one-on-one help available. (C)
The tasks and the willingness of the staff to help, especially getting the connectivity kits. (N)
"Do you have any suggestions for how to improve it?"
Follow-up survey on the hand-out -- I can't evaluate the handbook until I use it later. (N)
Maybe even a few more exercises so I'd have something very definite to look for and ask about. (N)
The lectures were too long -- not that informative for continuing students -- overwhelming for new students (C)
Structure sometimes seemed a little too indirected (C)
The individual exploratory approach is good, but it would help even more if there were more structured projects, more circulation by staff would help -- there was a tendency for staff to sit down with one or two people and stay there (C)
Really well done (C)
Perhaps more structure for second day (C)
Another presentation on [illegible] afternoon (give Rosenberg more time). (C)
I think a little more Netscape intro -- different tools -- a tour around the screen would be helpful. (N)
Do workbooks (or a summary sheet) separating basic commands for getting through something from anything less essential (how it is on other systems, etc.); those are ten times as distracting before you know the beeline through a thing. (N)
For someone with extremely limited computer background, I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all right now -- maybe more specific "how to" exercises to do on our own time. (N)
It appears that the manual could use some fine tuning which is to be expected. (N)
"Were there any topics or issues missing which you think should have been covered?"
Even more very detailed instructions listed numerically: (1) push this button, (2) type in this, for getting all the way in and all the way out of a system (N)
More help for text people; it would be nice to have for Lynx what you offer about Mosaic (C)
There is probably more than enough to start (N)
The diagram showing the campus networks' connections to MichNet, NSFNet, etc., could also show that U of M is one location out of many. (N)
I'm still slightly confused on the definitions and differences between a lot of the search tools. (N)
"Any other comments?"
The workshop is a "great idea" -- not only for getting an intro to the "systems" -- but it also provided the opportunity to meet (& begin to know) some of the students. I did feel over-whelmed -- but it was a lot of new "technology/tools" -- However some of the staff (the ones I worked with) understood and provided the support to "get through Wednesday". Also, I would have liked to see a "Simple Cheat Sheet" included (I'll make my own, hopefully, from the handbook). Overall -- I'm confused on the tools but feel comfortable in contacting "Staff" for help. (N)
Maybe have some sort of brief session mid-term or shortly after classes start in case new questions come up? (N)
I've noticed that there's a tendency for people giving help in these areas to take over the keyboard and lose track -- connection with person being helped. Hands off the keyboard and watching, commenting -- letting people make mistakes then, helping might work better in some cases. (C)
Really useful -- would have been a tremendous help to me at beginning of fall semester (C)
Good idea! (C)
Good Job! (N)
Good workshop! Very worthwhile!! (N)
The handouts were very helpful. Lee Liming's presentation on computing resources was very informative. (N)
I'm glad I had the opportunity to be introduced now to what we'll be doing. It's hard when we don't yet know exactly how we'll be applying these skills. (N)
It wasn't advertised well. (C)
I guess it would be helpful to give a little more attention to the fact that some students will be working at home on PCs and what adjustments need to be made. (N)
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