NEIU Departments whose instructors utilize the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) can take advantage of electronic end-of-semester surveys. E-surveys run during the final two weeks prior to the examination period for each semester. Because the setup, verification, and implementation of e-surveys is a manual process for the CTL, departments must request e-surveys each semester for instructors who are already using Blackboard (see the process flow below). The CTL sends out reminder messages by e-mail and campus mail to all departments at 8 weeks prior to the evaluation period.
New Customers (Departments New to Electronic End-of-Term Surveys)
Department provides CTL with an e-copy of the existing survey instrument.
CTL consults with chair and department coordinator to design e-survey.
CTL keys the new e-survey into EvaluationKIT.
Department chair tests the new survey and signs off that the survey is designed as requested and produces results as expected.
Go to "Regular Customers" work flow below.
Regular Customers (Departments Who Have Used Electronic Surveys Before)
At 8 weeks prior to evaluation release, the CTL e-mails departments to remind them to request electronic survey setup by 6 weeks prior to evaluation release.
By 6 weeks prior to evaluation release, department chair, secretary, or coordinator fills out the eSurvey Request Form.
At 4 weeks prior to evaluation release, CTL checks all requested Blackboard courses to make sure the instructors have set them to "available."
CTL reports to departments which courses are not in "available" status (and cannot be set up with e-surveys).
CTL associates the departments' survey data sets, survey projects, and course shells for the current semester.
2 weeks prior to evaluation release, CTL e-mails faculty with tactics for increasing response rates.
1 week prior to evaluation release, CTL broadcasts e-mail to students to emphasize the short time commitment, anonymity, and the fact that instructors have access to survey feedback only after grades are submitted.
Between 1 and 3 days prior to evaluation release, CTL activates the Course Evaluation button or link in all e-survey course shells.
The survey is open for 2 weeks prior to the examination week.
After grades are submitted, CTL e-mails department chairs and coordinators to share instructions for downloading survey results.
In order to ensure a high response rate for e-surveys, insrtuctors should take the following actions before the survey period begins:
Publicize the e-survey. Tell your students the following information at least 1 week prior to the opening of the e-survey (preferably in person, as an e-mail message, and as an Announcement in your course shell):
Expect an e-mail message with directions 1 week prior to the opening of the survey.
The e-survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
The e-survey is completely anonymous: no identifying information is recorded or tracked.
Faculty members have no access to survey results until after final grades are submitted.
By
taking the survey, students are helping their future colleagues;
changes and updates in course content, pacing, and instruction are
driven by student feedback.
Students MUST use either Internet Explorer or Firefox as
their browser! Using Chrome, Safari, or other browsers means that
students' authentication doesn't pass through to the evaluation.
Watch for the Course Evaluation button in your Blackboard course.
Beginning 3 days prior to the survey-opening period, the CTL will
activate a button/link in your course, so your students can get access
to the survey. The button/link will be there, but it will not be active
until 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the survey period.
After grades are submitted, instructors have access to the results of
your electronic end-of-course student-evaluation surveys. Here is the
process for gaining access to your report:
You MUST use either Internet Explorer or
Firefox as your browser! Using Chrome, Safari, or other browsers means
that your authentication to see the survey result(s) doesn't pass
through to the evaluation software.
In the course-navigation column, click Control Panel.
Under Course Tools, click Course Evaluations. The Project Results page displays.
Right-click
(Mac: CTRL+click) on the desired report (likely the green PDF icon,
which contains both numerical and open-ended responses).
On the resulting drop-down menu, select "save target as" or "save as."
Save the file to the desired location on your computer or portable media.
Note: A how-to-video of this process is available, as well!
After grades are submitted, department chairs and designated office
staff have access to the results of your department's electronic
end-of-course student-evaluation surveys. Here is the process for
gaining access to your department-level reports:
Log in with your user name and password, as provided to you by the CTL in a separate message. The Dashboard screen displays.
Click on the name of the desired survey results under the Project Name column (or click the corresponding icon in the View column). The Aggregated Results screen displays.
Right-click
(Mac: CTRL+click) on the desired report (likely the green PDF icon,
which contains both numerical and open-ended responses).
On the resulting drop-down menu, select "save target/link as."
Save the file to the desired location on your computer or portable media.
To save more reports, click Results-->Project Results in the top-right navigation area.
Note: You can see individual-course surveys, as well. At the bottom of the Project Results page is the Course-Level Results section. Select your department from the Select Level drop-down menu, and then click the Find Course
button. The list of all individual courses and their results files
displays. To create a batch report, listed by course, check the "select
all" check box at the top of the checkbox column, then click the Generate Batch Reports link.
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