Global Change Meteorology/Agronomy/Env. Sci./Env. St. 404/504
Questionnaire - Spring 1998
This survey was based on one written by Ying-Shao Hsu as part of her Meteorology 504 research project.
Personal information
- Status:
77.78% Undergraduate;
22.22% Graduate
- Major field:
16.67% Biological science;
27.78% Physical science;
22.22% Engineering;
22.22% Agriculture;
0% Environmental Science;
0% Social Science or Humanities;
0% Design or Planning;
0% Education;
11.11% Other
- Gender:
22.22% Male;
77.78% Female;
- Age:
5.56% Under 20;
61.11% 21-25;
5.56% 26-30;
11.11% 31-35;
16.67% 36-40.
- Reasons for taking this course:
5.56% Required for my degree
38.89% Related to my major
12.5% Recommended by a professor
16.67% Recommended by a student
0% Is important for my future career
22.22% Is primarily due to a personal interest
0% Saw the course on the WWW and thought it would be interesting.
0% Other__________________________________
Opinions relating to an Internet Course
Computing and science literacy
- Before taking this course, I had used the following (check
all that apply):
83.33% Mac;
94.44% IBM PC or clone;
94.44% Word processing;
61.11% Fortran, Basic, or C language;
44.44% HTML language;
83.33% Spreadsheets;
100% E-mail;
100% Netscape;
77.78% Internet Explorer;
50% Mosaic;
50% Gopher.
- I have the prerequisites for this course (four courses in a
physical or biological science or engineering.
- Use of WWW for activities NOT related to this course.
0% never
16.67% rarely
22.22% sometimes
27.78% often
33.33% very often
- If you use the WWW for other activities, what best describes them?
44.44% education
66.67% entertainment
16.67% business
5.56% other: work, travel, music
- What browser do you use most often?
83.33% Netscape
5.56% Mosaic
11.11% Internet Explorer
0% Lynx
0% Other
- Number of hours spent per week on WWW for course related activities.
0% less than 1
33.33% 1-2
5.56% 2-3
27.78% 3-4
11.11% 4-5
16.67% 5-6
5.56% more than 6
- Where do you most often access the WWW?
38.89% at home
5.56% at work
16.67% Durham Center
16.67% Agronomy
11.11% Sweeney
5.56% Science I
5.56% Bessey
Attitude toward course material, WWW, and Computer Related Technology
For the questions or statements use the following scale:
| SD=Strongly Disagree | D=Disagree | U=Undecided | A=Agree | SA=Strongly
Agree |
- I feel academically prepared for this course.
22.22% SA;
66.67% A;
5.56% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD
- The amount of time required for computer use in this course is excessive.
5.56% SA;
22.22% A;
44.44% U;
22.22% D;
0% SD.
- I would prefer the level of science in the course to be lower.
0% SA;
16.67% A;
5.56% U;
61.11% D;
16.67% SD.
- With the instruction given, I feel I can move comfortably through the course materials and
requirements.
22.22% SA;
50% A;
11.11% U;
16.67% D;
0% SD.
- The WWW is a valuable educational tool.
55.56% SA;
38.89% A;
0% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- I am comfortable with using the WWW for my assignments.
61.11% SA;
33.33% A;
5.56% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- I am comfortable using electronic dialog.
44.44% SA;
11.11% A;
11.11% U;
27.78% D;
5.56% SD.
- Reading postings by other students on the electronic dialog contribute significantly to my
understanding.
16.67% SA;
5.56% A;
16.67% U;
38.89% D;
16.67% SD.
- Understanding global change issues would be significantly enhanced if students outside the
United States participated in the electronic dialog.
11.11% SA;
50% A;
33.33% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- I find the WWW to be very resourceful.
44.44% SA;
44.44% A;
11.11% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- Finding information on the WWW is easy.
33.33% SA;
44.44% A;
11.11% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- Using the WWW makes doing assignments more enjoyable.
16.67% SA;
50% A;
16.67% U;
16.67% D;
0% SD.
- I am comfortable posting assignments on the WWW using the electronic dialog.
27.78% SA;
61.11% A;
5.56% U;
0% D;
5.56% SD.
- The WWW is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the quality of education.
50% SA;
44.44% A;
5.56% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- I feel confident in my ability to download MPEG or Quicktime movies.
33.33% SA;
22.22% A;
11.11% U;
11.11% D;
16.67% SD.
- I feel confident in my ability to troubleshoot when problems with hardware and software
occur when using the WWW.
16.67% SA;
16.67% A;
27.78% U;
33.33% D;
5.56% SD.
- I would like to use the WWW in more classes.
27.78% SA;
38.89% A;
11.11% U;
22.22% D;
0% SD.
- The WWW cannot replace the lecture.
38.89% SA;
33.33% A;
11.11% U;
16.67% D;
0% SD.
- More training is necessary for using the WWW before the first assignment.
0% SA;
22.22% A;
11.11% U;
55.56% D;
11.11% SD.
- Since the beginning of this course, I have become more proficient at using the WWW.
16.67% SA;
33.33% A;
22.22% U;
22.22% D;
5.56% SD.
- I have received sufficient instruction on the use of computers/Internet for this course.
22.22% SA;
33.33% A;
16.67% U;
22.22% D;
5.56% SD.
- Compared to conventional course obligations (such as working problems, writing papers,
going to the library), reading and writing information on the WWW is more stressful.
5.56% SA;
16.67% A;
22.22% U;
55.56% D;
0% SD.
- Compared to conventional course source materials (textbooks, library sources)
Internet-based information is more difficult to use in preparing for exams.
22.22% SA;
38.89% A;
5.56% U;
27.78% D;
5.56% SD.
- It is easier or more convenient to read four pages of text from a book compared to reading
the same amount of material on the WWW.
11.11% SA;
50% A;
16.67% U;
16.67% D;
5.56% SD.
- Compared to having lecture materials freely available on the Internet, I would prefer being
able to purchase black and white copies of lecture transparencies and slides for $15.
16.67% SA;
22.22% A;
22.22% U;
27.78% D;
11.11% SD.
- The ability of the Internet to preserve color for slides and transparencies is important.
16.67% SA;
72.22% A;
5.56% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- The availability of lecture transcripts is important.
38.89% SA;
50% A;
11.11% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- The availability of lectures on Real Audio is important.
5.56% SA;
16.67% A;
38.89% U;
27.78% D;
11.11% SD.
- Having Global Change news events available on the Internet (as opposed to class handouts)
make the course significantly more interesting.
11.11% SA;
50% A;
16.67% U;
22.22% D;
0% SD.
- Having resource information available by clicking on hypertext links helps me understand
course material more quickly or in more depth than textbook material.
22.22% SA;
50% A;
5.56% U;
22.22% D;
0% SD.
- If I knew that I would not be tested over material from remote databases(e.g.NASA, Climate
Prediction Center, Planet Earth home page, Linkages, Population Conference home page),
I would not explore them in any depth.
0% SA;
44.44% A;
22.22% U;
27.78% D;
5.56% SD.
- Compared to conventional course source materials (textbooks, handouts, library) WWW
information allows me to learn material more quickly.
11.11% SA;
38.89% A;
16.67% U;
27.78% D;
5.56% SD.
- Compared to conventional course source materials (textbooks, handouts, library) WWW
information allows me to better understand course material.
11.11% SA;
22.22% A;
38.89% U;
27.78% D;
0% SD.
- It is easier for me to learn course material with the conventional method of course
materials presented in a textbook, handouts and lecture.
5.56% SA;
38.89% A;
22.22% U;
33.33% D;
0% SD.
- Having required course information from diverse sources on the WWW makes it more difficult
to know what is expected of me in this course.
16.67% SA;
55.56% A;
16.67% U;
11.11% D;
0% SD;
- Having my own portfolio helped me in understanding the requirements for this course.
27.78% SA;
72.22% A;
0% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- I liked having my personal portfolio "home" page.
38.89% SA;
50% A;
5.56% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- Being able to connect to information centers that provide real-time information on global
change helps me learn material better.
16.67% SA;
72.22% A;
11.11% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- I used my portfolio often when accessing required assignments.
38.89% SA;
61.11% A;
0% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- Having my work posted in my portfolio allowed me to assess my progress in achieving the
standards for each assignment.
22.22% SA;
61.11% A;
11.11% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- I prefer using the portfolio rather than having scheduled class time, so I could be flixible in working on my assignments.
16.67% SA;
55.56% A;
22.22% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- Compared to direct conversation with the instructor as in conventional lecture courses,
discussion by the instructor and off-campus experts via the electronic dialog helps me understand
material better.
5.56% SA;
27.78% A;
33.33% U;
22.22% D;
11.11% SD.
- Having access to assignments submitted by other students helps me understand material
better.
5.56% SA;
61.11% A;
16.67% U;
11.11% D;
5.56% SD.
- Use of the WWW contributes to my understanding of international issues.
16.67% SA;
61.11% A;
11.11% U;
11.11% D;
0% SD.
- Use of the WWW contributes to my understanding of foreign cultures.
5.56% SA;
61.11% A;
16.67% U;
27.78% D;
0% SD.
- Use of the WWW has helped my develop new computing skills.
16.67% SA;
33.33% A;
27.78% U;
22.22% D;
0% SD.
- Use of the WWW has helped me adapt pre-existing computing skills to new applications.
11.11% SA;
55.56% A;
16.67% U;
11.11% D;
5.56% SD.
- As a future graduate of Iowa State University of Science and Technology, it is important to
me to have experience with the latest computer techniques applied to my discipline.
50% SA;
38.89% A;
11.11% U;
0% D;
0% SD.
- The fact that I am participating in a course that uses the WWW makes me feel good.
27.78% SA;
50% A;
16.67% U;
5.56% D;
0% SD.
- I would recommend that other instructors consider using the WWW as a platform for courses.
38.89% SA;
22.22% A;
27.78% U;
11.11% D;
0% SD.
- The "pinball" exercise was a valuable tool in understanding how climate models work.
5.56% SA;
16.67% A;
16.67% U;
33.33% D;
27.78% SD.
- I will connect to the Global Change course on the WWW after this course is over to keep
posted on the latest changes in global change information.
22.22% SA;
44.44% A;
5.56% U;
11.11% D;
16.67% SD.
- I will connect to the Global Change course on the WWW after I graduate from Iowa State
University to keep posted on the latest changes in global change information.
22.22% SA;
38.89% A;
11.11% U;
11.11% D;
16.67% SD.
