Principle Survey of Feasibility and Acceptability of Web-based Student Assessments and Surveys

Appendix D. Data Collection Instrument for Principals - “Principal Survey of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Web-based Student Assessments and Surveys”

Form Approved

OMB No: 0920-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Principal Survey of the Feasibility and Acceptability of

Web-based Student Assessments and Surveys

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to CDC/ATSDR Reports Clearance Officer; 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D-74, Atlanta, GA 30333, ATTN:PRA (0920-XXXX).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting this survey with a representative sample of high school principals from across the country. The purpose of the survey is to gather information on the extent to which schools have used online technology to conduct student assessments and student surveys, the capacity of schools to use online technology in this manner, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Completing this survey is voluntary and should take less than 20 minutes. Please read each question and indicate your response by filling in the circle that corresponds to your answer or by writing your answer in the blank space beside a question. Unless otherwise indicated, each question should only have one response.

Please return your completed questionnaire in the envelope provided. You may wish to make a photocopy of this survey for your records.

If you prefer to complete this survey online, go to www.websitehere.com. You will be asked to provide the unique Access ID that was given to you in the cover letter.

1. How many school years have you served as principal of this school? __________________

2. How many school years have you served as principal of other schools?

__________________

The next 7 questions ask about your school’s computers and computer lab(s). A computer lab is a group of individual computer stations clustered for student use and available either for required or elective classes or other activities. Computer labs may be in a dedicated space or “portable” or “mobile” and easily moved around your school.

3. How many computer labs does your school have?

__________________ ---- IF ZERO, SKIP TO #7

4. How many computer labs does your school have that are internet-connected?

__________________ ---- IF ZERO, SKIP TO #7

5. On average, how many internet-connected computers are in each of your school’s computer labs?

______________________

6. How are the computer labs at your school used? (Mark all that apply.)

1. For required or elective classes

2. As the location for formally assigned study halls

3. As a walk-in resource center or “open hours” for students to use as needed

4. Other (please specify): ______________________

7. What percent of your classrooms are equipped with an internet-connected computer for every student in the class?

___________%

8. On an average school day, what percent of students bring to school a laptop computer with internet capability?

___________%

9. Does your school have wireless internet access available for students to use?

a. Yes

b. No

The next 2 questions ask about how your school would prefer to conduct student assessments or surveys. Assessments are tests or exams intended to measure students' knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. Surveys refer to a series of questions intended to measure students’ opinions, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs.

10. Assuming all students in a particular grade were completing a mandatory assessment, how would your school prefer to conduct the assessment?

1. Online, using the school’s computer labs

2. Online, using computers in the student’s regular classroom

3. Using traditional paper-and-pencil forms in the student’s regular classroom

4. No preference

5. Some other way (please specify): ____________________________________

11. Assuming you had agreed to conduct a voluntary survey involving four randomly selected math or language arts classes for one class period, how would your school prefer to conduct the survey?

1. Online, using the school’s computer labs

2. Online, using computers in the student’s regular classroom

3. Using traditional paper-and-pencil questionnaires in the student’s regular classroom

4. No preference

5. Some other way (please specify): ____________________________________

For the next 7 questions, indicate the extent to which you disagree or agree with the following statements about online and paper-and-pencil surveys.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree Nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
12. The teachers in my school prefer online surveys to paper-and-pencil surveys.	1	2	3	4	5
13. It is less of a burden on school staff to administer an online survey than a paper-and-pencil survey.	1	2	3	4	5
14. Results are available more quickly with an online survey than a paper-and-pencil survey.	1	2	3	4	5
15. It takes less time for students to complete an online survey than a paper-and-pencil survey.	1	2	3	4	5
16. The teachers in my school prefer paper-and-pencil surveys to online surveys.	1	2	3	4	5
17. It is harder to get an acceptable student response rate with an online survey compared to a paper-and-pencil survey.	1	2	3	4	5
18. It is harder to protect student confidentiality in an online survey than a paper-and-pencil survey.	1	2	3	4	5

The next 3 questions ask about your experience in conducting online assessments and surveys.

19. Has your school ever conducted a student assessment or survey online (i.e. connected to the internet)?

1. Yes

2. No – SKIP TO #22

19. In what setting did students complete the most recent online assessment or survey conducted at your school? [MARK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. On computers in a school computer lab

2. On computers in the student’s regular classroom

3. On computers located at the school, other than in a computer lab or a regular classroom (e.g., in the library or cafeteria)

4. On computers outside of school (e.g., at home or in a library)

19. During the most recent online assessment or survey conducted at your school, to what extent was each of the following factors a problem?

Not at all Very Much a Problem a Problem
Unreliable internet connections	1 2 3 4 5
Slow internet connections	1 2 3 4 5
Inadequate number of computers connected to the internet	1 2 3 4 5
Logistics of providing enough computers for an entire class	1 2 3 4 5
Obtaining a high student response rate	1 2 3 4 5
Student preference for paper-and-pencil assessments or surveys	1 2 3 4 5
Staff preference for paper-and-pencil assessments or surveys	1 2 3 4 5
Variation in students’ ability to use computers	1 2 3 4 5
Tracking student completion of the assessment or survey	1 2 3 4 5
Obtaining parental approval	1 2 3 4 5
Inadequate technical support available to handle problems that occurred during online assessment or survey administration	1 2 3 4 5

19. To what extent do you think each of the following factors would be a problem if you were to conduct an online assessment or survey in your school?

Not at all Very Much a Problem a Problem
Unreliable internet connections	1 2 3 4 5
Slow internet connections	1 2 3 4 5
Inadequate number of computers connected to the internet	1 2 3 4 5
Logistics of providing enough computers for an entire class	1 2 3 4 5
Obtaining a high student response rate	1 2 3 4 5
Student preference for paper-and-pencil assessments or surveys	1 2 3 4 5
Staff preference for paper-and-pencil assessments or surveys	1 2 3 4 5
Variation in students’ ability to use computers	1 2 3 4 5
Tracking student completion of the assessment or survey	1 2 3 4 5
Obtaining parental approval	1 2 3 4 5
Inadequate technical support available to handle problems that occur during online assessment or survey administration	1 2 3 4 5

You have completed the survey.

Thank you for your participation!

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