Participants’ Reactions

There were 63 respondents to the Participant Reaction Forms.
Total attendance was 241

Part I:

  Overall assessment of the workshop?

Scale:	1-low	2	3-average	4	5-high	N/A
Evaluations:	1	0	8	40	13	1

 Did the workshop meet your expectations?

Scale:	Scale	1	2	3	4	5	N/A
Evaluations:	Rating	1	1	10	37	12	2

Useful to your work and professional development?

Scale:	Scale	1	2	3	4	5	N/A
Evaluations:	Rating	1	2	14	33*	10	0

                 *One person gave a 4.5 rating.

 Ability to use information on your campus?

Scale:	Scale	1	2	3	4	5	N/A
Evaluations:	Rating	1	3	18	28	12	1

  Are you likely to attend next year?

Scale:	Scale	1	2	3	4	5	N/A
Evaluations:	Rating	2	0	11	22	27	1

 Part II:

Which presentation did you particularly like? Why?

28 respondents listed the KEYNOTE

• interactive, a great way to start the day
• very “cutting edge” -- had not thought about it except definition, technology is anything that didn’t exist when you were born!
• all presentations I attended were strong and useful, but I found the keynote address to be the most informative in terms of providing new information
• very informative
• particularly helpful -- started my thinking about the different and changing literacies of our students
• informative, motivating, and fun!
• I believe with every ounce of my professional self that college graduates need to have alphabetical literacy. They also need technology literacy, but ...  Please pass this on!
• great approach! Good information that made me think at 8:30 in the morning.
• effective use of case studies with brief commentary inserted between speakers to make major points
• would have enjoyed plenary more if more time had gone to discussion or presentation of new info (had read case studies already)
• talked about the digital divide in a very personal and thought-provoking way
• I appreciated the observations that moved into values.  It would have been helpful to have less focus upon verbatims -- or to spend more time on analysis/response...
• excellent keynote. I liked her [Dr. Selfe’s] audience involvement and the digital divide awareness she fostered
• very interesting
• thought provoking, idea generating
• interactive, held interest, new info, made us think, made us examine our values
• different in presentation style and provided food for thought
• knew her stuff, competent, sharp
• very thought provoking, presented a new way of looking at literacy, makes me think about new ways to use technology in the classroom
• thought provoking and stimulating to me as an instructor
• thoughtful presentation. It gave me a lot to think about. When I began to write the statement on literacy, it was greatly different from what I would have thought I would write. Different focus -- connected me with my own experience.
• The opening was the most interesting because of the discussion of socioeconomic status and race and the effect that has on technological literacy. Also the emphasis on more than one type of literacy was interesting. It’s important to be aware that not all students enter college with the same level of technological proficiency.
• excellent! (3 respondents)

4 respondents also noted that they particularly enjoyed
"Conversations with Cynthia Selfe"

• It was great to have a chance to speak to the keynote informally!
• liked being able to interact and clarify directly

Evaluations mentioned the following presentations as noteworthy:          

“Do’s and Don’ts of Online Teaching and Learning” --
Haertl & Sullivan (6 evaluations)

• VERY useful information. I will pass along to our online instructors. Good handout. Nice presentation style for both speakers. Nice contrast. Great presentation style.

• ESPECIALLY effective
•  Presenters were well prepared and had a good handout to supplement their presentation
• Good combination of experience and distance ed research
• How to deal with social aspects, encourage discussions
• Liked hearing student and instructor views

                “Managing Technology Projects” -- Ersin-McCray & Landsberger (4)

• Clear presentation with useful items to consider when planning a tech implementation

• The dose of reality provided in this presentation is much needed in higher ed -- There is little focus on fiscal responsibility, etc. in higher ed -- at a faculty level, that is.
• Organized, clear, concrete
• Good advice, well-organized, savvy presenters

“Holistic Education on the Edge of Tomorrow:
St. Thomas Student Involvement Portfolio” -- Lee Hoedl (4)

• a great look forward
• material was clear, gave an overview of the positive, but did not let people believe that everything was perfect
• opened the discussion to the use of the e-portfolio after graduation

“Formative and Summative Approaches to Electronic Learning Portfolios” -- Jan Smith, Paul Treuer (4)

• material clear
• opened the discussion to the use of the e-portfolio after graduation

“Confessions of a Virtual Pedagogue” -- Joseph Santos (2)

• very well done
•  knowledgeable, honest

“MnVU” -- Bria & Wasko (2)

• Most useful presentation I attended

“Tales from the Virtual Classroom: A Doctoral Program’s Experience after One Year of Web Work” -- Ann Finch, Jeanette Black, Diane Stoy   (2)

• specific examples of what was done
• exhaustive handout

“What to do with a C.O.W. in the Classroom” -- Distad, Stormer, Winsand (2)

• We were able to see what is actually being done with good results
•  Practical info. Good critical analysis of what worked, what didn’t

“Avoiding the Cast Away Syndrome” -- Aldemaro Romero (2)

•  Successful presenter -- enthusiastic and demonstrated different uses of technology
• Useful for students.Fun -- interpersonal intelligences are being developed -- we can all identify

“Using Technology to Meet the Needs of Distance Learners: Overcoming the Challenges  of Teaching On-line Action Research” -- Jo Olsen Murray (2)

• good discussion
• good examples
• able to try out in lab

“Interactive Class Web sites as Research Tools:
Student Driven Meta-Analysis & Evaluation of Students’ Learning Process” --
Trombley et al. (2)

• similar to my own research -- gave me ideas powerful topic idea that needs more research good ideas,
• nice opportunities for discussion

“Creating Connections Using WebCT” -- Larry Porter (1)

•  well-organized
• included good information and discussion
•  hands-on use of WebCT
• can access the workshop material from my office later

 “Show and Tell: Replacing the Final Exam with Student Web page Projects in a Beginning Spanish Course” -- Dorothy Diehl (1)

• very helpful and creative and inspiring

“Online Resources for Teaching Higher Order Reading & Comprehension Skills” --  Michael Graves et al. (1)

• gave me ideas on how to implement technology effectively into the classroom

 “Virtual Peer Review: Teaching & Learning about Writing in On-line Environments” -- Lee-Ann Kastman Breuch (1)

• gave me ideas on how to implement technology effectively into the classroom

 “Faculty Fellowship Program of the University of Minnesota’s Digital Media Center” -- Kimerly Wilcox et al.  (1)

• dealt with hybrid web/traditional case studies
• clear, concrete

 “Making On-line Students Connect: Strategies for Converting the Traditional Classroom Experience” -- Andreas Schramm (1)

Sessions on Web course development (1)

I liked all of the small sessions I attended -- gained knowledge and insight from each one. The ones I attended were too basic for new information -- However, good overview and hearing other opinions and styles was positive.

All the presentations I was at were too basic -- more for people thinking about adding an on-line component or just getting started. Other descriptions seemed for a specific type of content or grade level. Perhaps I didn’t make the right choices, but there was little to indicate the level or depth of the workshops in their description.

 Should we have Pre-Conference Workshops at Classrooms of the Future VIII?

Yes:  33;     No:  13;     Don’t Know/Maybe:  5;      No answer: 12

What types of workshops would interest you at pre-conference sessions?

• Hands-on components of workshop such as WebCT, Blackboard, etc. (5)
• I wish I could have attended the 1-4 by registration session, but didn’t realize I had to register. If it had been a Pre-Conference session, I would have check it out earlier!
• Implementing WebCT, Blackboard
• WebCT enhancements
• Using WebBoard
• Hands on use of course tools
• How to stimulate active, thoughtful participation on-line
•  Facilitating student critical thinking and collaboration through technology
• How to evaluate process of on-line interactions and content
•  Hands-on learning, using the computer to apply materials to a certain scenario
•  Specific software workshops -- Flash, Dreamweaver, etc.
• Site Reviews -- Participants’ sites are submitted: design, presentation, content -- reviewed and/or remade
•  Roundtables with 8 to 10 people focused on discussing specific topics, such as standards issues in accepting on-line courses transferred for credit; redefining the “college experience” in an on-line educational universe
• Ethics & equity
• Fair use of copyright law
•  Distance learning (basic/advanced)
•  Workshop on distance ed design
•  Teaching science by distance education -- solving the lab problem
•  Technology-enhanced classrooms (basic/advanced)
•  Electronic learning portfolios (basic/advanced)
•  Research/evaluation of technology-enhanced learning
•  Web-enhanced teaching and learning
• Use of PDA’s in classroom learning
•  Concrete, step-by-step, issue-by-issue applications of building an on-line or hybrid course, with a non-technical cookbook or handbook
• Convert a f-t-f class to hybrid or on-line course. Bring a syllabus and do some hands-on work, idea sharing, etc.
•  Specific exercises that work in teaching with technology
•  Comparing comparable software approaches to problem solving
•  Costs/administration of tech classrooms -- hands-on workshop on administrative issues
•  Hands-on Web development -- developing on-line courses from scratch: not just using software, but how to translate traditional to on-line
• How to help faculty think about the use of technology in the classroom
• Look at specific software fore Web course development
•  Hands-on elements of an on-line class -- creating and participating
•  Opportunity to learn basics of some technology application
• More info on “How to”
• Discipline-related groupings actually using technology to enhance teaching in that area
•  Development
• I’d love to see on-line training solutions/products that are relatively inexpensive to create but pedagogically sound.
•  Something on medicine - nursing and how technology is being applied in their class presentations
•  Development of multimedia resources and implementation in on-line courses
• Basics for using video and audio clips
•  Evaluation strategies (for self, and in teaching students) of on-line resources
• Best practices of using Case Studies on-line
•  Technology and students with disabilities -- discussion is needed about how to make on-line courses and web pages accessible to students with disabilities
•  Sessions for faculty related to “virtual pedagogy” including teaching/learning strategy and evaluation and faculty load.
•  Cross-cultural dimensions of virtual learning
• I don’t think I would attend, but it would depend on the topic. However, I cannot think of a topic that would draw me.
• How to
  • (HTML)
  • (FrontPage - 2)
  • Building a Web Site

  • Adobe

  • Scanning and pasting

  • Flash 5 - simple use

If Classrooms VIII were extended to fill a day and a half, would you attend the entire event, or would you choose between the Pre-conference workshops or the main day’s sessions?

• Entire Event  (21)

Eight respondents felt the nature, quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Pre-conference workshops would determine their attendance.

I would attend the whole conference as long as the theme pertains to my area of expertise.  Good idea!

Would like a schedule at the end or beginning of the week (driving)

Would likely come for all, as it involves an overnight stay in any case

I’d do both if the Pre-conference workshops were focused, hands-on, and limited in # participating

Yes, if topics pertained to my work.

Would like to go to entire event, but depends on budget (time available)

• Main Day Only   (13)

Four respondents noted that one day is the perfect length, or that they had only one day available for this type of activity

This info or very focused kind of delivery model fits a niche

Probably only the main session; interests are so diverse it’s hard to imagine which topics would work for Pre-conference workshops -- but I’m open to experimentation

Run workshops concurrently

One day is perfect length!-- especially since most of us are from in town. There is also enough variety for the presentation slots 

• Choose between Main event or Pre-conference Sessions (7)

It’s kind of funny that we are learning the importance of hybrid classes yet instead of incorporating hands-on with face to face lecture format you currently have you are considering separating them.

• Depends on Topics Offered    (7)

One day has been ideal, but opportunity for more depth would be good

Do you have any suggestions for presenters at pre-conference workshops?

• Speak up!
• Hands-on tech support instructors that use distance learning
• Video/audio capture streaming -- issues
• Dr. Sharon Ridgeway, University of Minnesota
• Concordia U in St. Paul has on-line BA degree completion as well as on-line MA programs. The University is a laptop university and uses WebCT -- people with experience and expertise
• How about someone who does industry training for compare/contrast
• Person/people who discuss construction of knowledge
• Have most scintillating presentations right after lunch
• Disseminate information quickly -- hour and definitely half-hour sessions don’t warrant participant introductions, writing activities, and visiting with neighbors
• Start and end on time; allow time for Q & A
• Handouts are very helpful -- summary information -- ability to share applications of technology as well as learning new technology
• Bring a lot more handouts
• Frustrated there wasn’t more use of technology -- nice to have at least one with all the bells and whistles
• Use tech/demo for presentation rather than lecture
• Keep groups small, e.g. 12 - 15 persons
• Include hands-on computer work
• Tom Reinhartz, Rosemount H.S. and University of Minnesota
•  Identify target audience! There was a wide variation in experience in our sessions.
• Invite someone who can speak to issues of technology and students with disabilities -- I don’t have any names
• Make abstracts clearer in identifying presentations that will report on research vs. offer practical info (Virtual Peer Review was a disappointment, I was looking for methods, techniques -- presentation was data, research).
• In the descriptions of the sessions, be more specific.  I missed a session that had directly applicable info concerning my field.

Do you have any other comments you would like to add?

On the subject of parking:

• Very difficult to get around/find parking -- difficult enough for one to seriously reconsider coming down here for any other week day events.
• Parking is really a problem at this location
• Parking! -- better guidance or reserved spaces somewhere

On the subject of food: 

• Put coffee/rolls at intersection of main traffic flows
•  Food was very good

On the subject of maps:

• Please provide map (graphic - visual info) to help locate rooms in two buildings. Very nice location here.
• Map of layout of location of rooms at hosting facility.  Also, directions (by e-mail) to hosting facility
• Please provide map to find rooms
• Map in Conference Guide would have been helpful!
• Please include a map (visual literary component) of the floor plans where the sessions are held. Thanks!

On presentations:

• The Web page promotion needs descriptions of workshops ahead of time ... the better to plan attendance. Give more explicit guidance on which sessions are focused on beginners -- advanced users, what specific tech tools will be addressed, etc.
• I would have liked workshop descriptions to be available in advance and indicate what level of experience is being presented. (Is this workshop for beginners, or at a more advanced level?)
• It would be helpful to have the expanded course overviews on the Web before attending the conference. Please denote if presentation is very basic, or very advanced.
• Gauge level of expertise for presentations -- intro, intermediate, advanced
• Gauge WHO would find a presentation most useful -- by pedagogy, tech, software
• Have presenters emphasize what they learned -- don’t ask us to let them pick our brains.
•  Providing guidelines for presenters would be good, with suggestions -- e.g., don’t need a “get to know you” time.
• The symposium was very well organized, nice facilities, etc. Thank you for offering it.
• Shuttle from St. Kate’s -- waited by sign; a shuttle appeared; it turned out to be the St. Kate’s shuttle; fortunately and graciously the driver brought us to St. Thomas although he did not know the way. Where was the shuttle we were supposed to take?
• I’d like to see more cutting edge stuff (not sure how to define or choose ...)
• I think this conference should be hands-on. It’s the only way (in my opinion) to learn something useful and practical. I’m certainly not interested to know what an effective teacher so and so is(!)  What a waste of time!
• Allow a few minutes between sessions to allow for bathroom stops, finding location of next session.
• Require that all presenters provide a handout outlining their presentation
• The presenters have to be aware that not everyone in their audience is as technologically advanced as they are, if they could speak in laymen’s terms it would be more useful
• I like the present format
• The keynote was a disappointment -- although the ethnographic samples are interesting. There wasn’t a clear focus or key message.
• I hope you will send or make available the participant list.
• Next year why not use “Conversations about COTF” as a theme. Everyone was eager to have time to talk with higher ed colleagues!
• Thank you for making this conference possible!
• Thanks for free registration and lunch.
• Thank you!
• We drove because the airfare was too expensive without the Saturday night stay -- Excellent organization and pre-conference communication!
• Maybe include some other discussion sessions besides lunch.
• The keynote and some of the sessions were “Here is what I learned” or “Do’s/Don’ts” which really did not move forward into classrooms of the future. I would like to see the presentations be devoted to cutting edge applications or forward-looking 2nd/3rd generation ideas of how this tool will revise the idea(s) of classroom.
• I was somewhat disappointed in the quality of information content in the presentations I attended. I do not feel I know any more about distance education and translating a course to either on-line or hybrid approaches than I did before I attended.
• The half-hour sessions were less useful than the hour long sessions -- not enough time to fully explore topic and have discussion in 30 minutes.
• Repeat some of the classes -- difficult to choose.
• Don’t have so many sessions at once; at any given time there were at least two I wanted to go to
• Least interesting presentation -- “...” While interesting, this was a traditional session that really did not add any new insights about use of technology in/about classrooms
• Very well organized and structured
• I enjoyed the conference. Thank you!
• Good organization!!! Friendly, cordial, and an atmosphere of respect
• Good mix of topics. Good facilities for the sessions. One of the best keynotes -- I’ve been to most of the COTF conferences. Great job!!!
• Very nice facility for the conference. Helpful staff. Really enjoyed the keynote speaker.
• Great event! Well organized.  Thank you.
• COTF has come a long way -- clearly successful -- clearly growing!
• Getting better every year!

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