The report presents data and commentary from 20 deans of engineering programs at American colleges and universities, regarding their shift to distance education resulting from the coronavirus epidemic. The study looks closely at the technologies and practices adopted, including but not limited to use of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and many other applications, use of the learning management system and video sites such as YouTube. The report also examines how much work time deans are spending on the shift to online education, and what the prospects are for the summer term for getting back to, or not, classroom instruction.
The study also looks at how instructors are communicating with students, at the extent of asynchronous and synchronous distance education, with how the experience has impacted the way that engineering deans have viewed distance learning, and much more. Survey respondents evaluate the help that they have received from their IT departments, centers of teaching and learning, the library and other college and university departments involved in the massive shift to online learning.
Just a few of the survey’s many findings are that:
- Private college deans of engineering spend 82% of their staff time on the shift to distance education.
- 45% of deans of engineering surveyed have changed their grading paradigm with the switch to online learning.
- Google Hangouts was used by 20% of engineering programs surveyed with most use by private colleges, of which 25.87% were using Google Hangouts.
- Class listservs were the predominant means of student communication in 15% of programs.
- Data in the 96-page page report is broken out by size and type of institution, by tuition level, for public and private institutions and enrolment level.
Table of Contents
1. THE QUESTIONNAIRE
2. PARTICIPANTS LIST
- Characteristics of the Sample
3. SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
- Work Time Spent on Developing Online Instruction
- Most Useful Resources in Developing Online Instruction in Engineering
- Engineering Classes Difficult to Hold Online
- Classes Easiest to Shift Online
- Special Measures for International Students
- Changes in Grading Paradigm
- Most Commonly Used Applications for Distance Learning in Engineering
- Asynchronous Vs. Synchronous Distance Education
- Difficult Aspects of the Transition to Online Education
- Percentage of Classes with a Course Page on the Learning Management System
- Making Class Materials Available Over YouTube, Vimeo and Similar Services
- Advice on Use of Zoom
- Most Important Means of Instructor Communication with Online Students
- What do you need the Most Help with in Going Online?
- Satisfaction with Help Received from You Institution in Going Online
- What could the Library and IT services be doing better to support your efforts?
- What the Library and IT Services have done particularly well
- Importance of Help Provide by the IT Department
- Importance of Help Provided by the Academic Library
- Importance of Help Provided by Instructional Designers
- Importance of Help Provided by Distance Learning Units or Departments
- Importance of Help Provided by Centers of Teaching and Learning
- View of Distance Education in Light of Recent New Experience
- Outlook for the Return to Classroom Instruction in Summer 2020
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Which phrase best describes your college policy regarding its reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Table 2 To the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.1.1 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.1.2 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by enrollment
Table 2.1.3 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 2.1.4 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 2.1.5 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 2.1.6 Does the phrase no or little prior to distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.2.1 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.2.2 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by enrollment
Table 2.2.3 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 2.2.4 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 2.2.5 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 2.2.6 Does the phrase modest levels of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.3.1 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.3.2 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by enrollment
Table 2.3.3 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 2.3.4 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 2.3.5 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 2.3.6 Does the phrase significant level of use of distance or blended learning the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 2.4.1 Does the phrase predominantly a distance learning program already the best describes your program or department's experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 3.1 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction?
Table 3.2 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.3 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 3.4 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.5 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 3.6 Approximately how much of your work time in the past ten days have you spent on moving classes online or otherwise preparing for online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
What resource, online, institutional, or otherwise, has been most useful to your department or program in shifting to online education? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Which engineering classes in your department or program have been cancelled or postponed due to the difficulty of conducting them at a distance? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Which engineering classes have been easiest to shift and conduct online? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Have any special measures been taken to help international students adjust to online or blended education? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 4.1 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced?
Table 4.2 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced? Broken out by enrollment
Table 4.3 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 4.4 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 4.5 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 4.6 What grading scheme changes has your program or department made or experienced? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5 Are any of the following being used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.1.1 Has BlueJean been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.2.1 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.2.2 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.2.3 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.2.4 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.2.5 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.2.6 Has Zoom been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.3.1 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.3.2 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.3.3 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.3.4 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.3.5 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.3.6 Has Go To Meeting been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.4.1 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.4.2 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.4.3 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.4.4 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.4.5 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.4.6 Has Google Hangouts Meet been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.5.1 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.5.2 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.5.3 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.5.4 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.5.5 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.5.6 Has Skype been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.6.1 Has TeamViewer been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.7.1 Has Nearpod been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.8.1 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.8.2 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.8.3 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.8.4 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.8.5 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.8.6 Has Microsoft Teams been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.9.1 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 5.9.2 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.9.3 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 5.9.4 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.9.5 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 5.9.6 Has Adobe Connect been used in your program or department in your online instruction? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 5.10.1 Has UberConference been used in your program or department in your online instruction?
Table 6.1 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes?
Table 6.2 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes? Broken out by enrollment
Table 6.3 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 6.4 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 6.5 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 6.6 Which phrase best describes the mixture of real time and video download course delivery most common in your department or program online education classes? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
In general, what has been most difficult about this transition and what have you done to overcome this difficulty? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 7.1 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system?
Table 7.2 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system? Broken out by enrollment
Table 7.3 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 7.4 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 7.5 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 7.6 About what percentage of classes in your department or program have a course page on the institutional learning management system? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 8.1 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site?
Table 8.2 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site? Broken out by enrollment
Table 8.3 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 8.4 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 8.5 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 8.6 Have you made lectures or supplemental material available over YouTube, Vimeo or other video sharing site? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
If you are using Zoom, what can you advise your fellow faculty about its use? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 9.1 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program?
Table 9.2 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program? Broken out by enrollment
Table 9.3 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 9.4 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 9.5 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 9.6 Which of the following is the most important communication tool used in online instruction in your department or program? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
What do you need the most help with to maximize the effectiveness of your online classes? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 10.1 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online?
Table 10.2 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online? Broken out by enrollment
Table 10.3 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 10.4 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 10.5 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 10.6 How satisfied are you with the support that you have received in helping you and your students to move online? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
What could your library and IT support services be doing better? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
What have your library and IT support services done particularly well? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11 How much help have you received from the following in developing and implementing your online courses.
Table 11.1.1 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses?
Table 11.1.2 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.1.3 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 11.1.4 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 11.1.5 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11.1.6 How much help have you received from the Information technology department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 11.2.1 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses?
Table 11.2.2 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.2.3 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 11.2.4 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 11.2.5 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11.2.6 How much help have you received from the library in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 11.3.1 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses?
Table 11.3.2 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.3.3 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 11.3.4 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 11.3.5 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11.3.6 How much help have you received from the instructional designer in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 11.4.1 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses?
Table 11.4.2 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.4.3 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 11.4.4 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 11.4.5 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11.4.6 How much help have you received from the distance learning unit or department in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 11.5.1 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses?
Table 11.5.2 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.5.3 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 11.5.4 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 11.5.5 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 11.5.6 How much help have you received from the center for teaching and learning in developing and implementing your online courses? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 12.1 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes?
Table 12.2 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes? Broken out by enrollment
Table 12.3 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 12.4 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 12.5 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 12.6 Has your experience thus far with online education made you think more or less highly of it as an educational tool to be used in law schools after the COVID-19 crisis concludes? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Table 13.1 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program?
Table 13.2 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program? Broken out by enrollment
Table 13.3 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program? Broken out for public and private colleges
Table 13.4 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 13.5 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of college
Table 13.6 Which phrase best approximates what you think will happen for the upcoming summer session at your engineering program? Broken out by prior to the inception of the pandemic which phrase best describes your program or department’s experience with distance or blended learning?
Samples
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Sources / Contributors
- Butler Community College
- College of Engineering
- Dunwoody College of Technology
- Harding University College of Science
- Harford Community College
- Illinois Central College
- Ivy Tech Community College - South Bend/Elkhart Campus
- New York Institute of Technology - Old Westbury
- Ohlone College
- Saint Louis University
- St. Mary's University
- The University of Texas at Tyler
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Tufts University
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Hawaii
- University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering
- University of South Alabama
- Washington State University
Methodology
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