OSAKO has conducted a study life survey for OUAS students in this year’s October and November. Our aim was to know, how the students are doing after the semester began in September. Our survey focused on the quality of teaching, the support services of students, and hybrid teaching. We also touched on the study spaces on campus. The survey was made on the Webropol-survey site, and it was completely anonymous.
161 students answered our survey. 76 % of them said that they are currently studying with the hybrid model of both distance and contact studying.
The responders rated the teaching at OUAS on a scale of 0 to 10. The average for the quality of teaching turned out o be 5,6, and the median was 6,0. The students rate the teaching to be average or slightly above average. The students were given an answer box for open feedback, and the facelessness of distance studying was one of the main points. Some online lessons can also be dull and monotone: students are craving more dialogue and interactive learning, even in online studying. In addition, group projects seem to be taking a lot of students’ free time, and this is not good. However, hybrid learning allows students to plan their lives more flexibly, and this was mentioned as a positive note several times.
Our survey also asked responders to rate their teacher’s professionalism on the same scale with 10 being the highest possible rating. The average for this question was 6,9, and the median 7,0. The teachers at OUAS are seen as very professional and good at their job. Also, the study materials were rated to be current and updated: on a scale of 0–10 the study materials were rated 6,6 on average and the median was 7,0.
The quality of online teaching was also similarly rated, and the average for the quality of online teaching is 5,4, and the median was 6,0. According to our responders, the quality of online teaching is worse than in contact teaching. Over a half of responders – 54 % – however, state that they received the help they asked in terms of online learning. The responders also gave thanks to easily approachable teachers and the practicality of OUAS studies.
63 % of the students on our survey told that they know how to reach their student counselor if needed. Out of our 161 responders, a whopping 60 don’t know, who their student counselor is or how to reach them.
The lecture spaces on campuses were also one topic on our survey, and as in the questions above, they were also rated on a scale of one to ten. They were awarded an average score of 6,3 and a median on 7,0. However, 37 % of responders said that they are not enough spaces on campuses, and the other 39 % said that they are indeed enough spaces. However, the silent/private study spaces on campuses are seemingly hard to find: 48 % of responders say that we need more study spaces on campuses. In the open box, many of the students tell that the smaller reservable spaces are hardly ever available. Also notable is the fact that some of the spaces on campus are only reservable for Oulu university students. We simply need more space to study – especially in the times of hybrid and online learning.
Also, in the open box open for any feedback a lot of students mention the late publishing of the schedules. If the schedules come very late, it is almost impossible to plan your life, work, or internships to fit your studies. OUAS students need to know their schedules much faster. Also, if a lot of students have both online and are in contact studying during the same day, the logistics get kind of tricky. Again, the spaces on campuses don’t allow much space for private studying or online lessons. this is a problem we have to solve especially if and when hybrid studying becomes permanent.
Thank you to all who responded to our survey! The results will be sent to the OUAS administration, and they will be discussed in the next OUAS and OSAKO meetings.
