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Summary of the survey/half year overview of the First year performance and well being: School of Architecture and Planning

1.0 Introduction

Prof. Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane- Convener of the Undergraduate Planning Program, School of Architecture and Planning carried out a survey /half year overview of the first year performance and well being in order to assist the school in reflecting on their practice and planning forward. He then submitted the students’ response forms to my office for me (Liile Lekena) to summarize in my capacity as an Evaluations Consultant. This summary is in no way an exhaustive analysis of the data, it is just a preliminary presentation of the data as a thorough analysis would require more time than I have. I therefore highly recommend that the convener reads the data more in depth to extract more information for his purposes. I have prepared two separate summaries for Architecture and planning and they are contained in this report in that order as section 1 and section 2 respectively. The ordering does not presuppose any hierarchy; it is just a random arrangement.

 

 Section 1 is the summary the Architecture survey in which a total of 23 questionnaires were submitted for analysis. Generally the responses were positive, the students are content that they chose to study Architecture, they are passing, and they are motivated to continue with their studies. However, they do have issues or concerns with the amount of time they have to do their studies well, and cost of material they use in the course among other things.

 

1. Section 2 is the summary of the Planning survey. For this survey a total of 37 questionnaires were submitted for analysis. The overall picture drawn out of this survey is that they are doing fairly well in their studies although financial problems and   accommodation issues seem to need some attention for them to do even better.  A summary of the responses is provided under each question below and the verbatim students’ responses are attached as appendices.

 

Section 1: Architecture

1.1  Where is your home?

Gauteng = 19

Kwa Zulu- Natal =2

Unknown = 2

 

1.2  Where did you spend most of your time when you were growing up?

Home = 19

Home plus elsewhere = 3

 

1.3  Which school(s) did you attend? Suburban, township, rural, other

All suburban schools

 

1.4  How did you get to know about architecture?

Family members and friends =10

Research (non specific) = 4

Internet, TV and newspaper = 3

Career day and career counseling =2

Work exposure and school work experience =2

Wits brochure/prospectus = 2

Life orientation course high school =2

General knowledge = 1

Visiting firms =1

Interest in the new bridge of Jerusalem = 1

 

1.5  What stimulated your interest in this field?

Design =9

Creativity =6

Exposure to different kinds of buildings and scale = 6

Travel = 2

Good in maths = 2

Love for art = 2

Engineering = 1

Failure in actual science = 1

Love for challenge = 1

Family member = 1

Money = 1

History of architecture = 1

Reading and TV = 1

 

1.6  After the first semester, has your understanding of this field changed?

All agree with the exception of 2.

 

1.7  In what way has it changed?

More understanding of the different components of the course =6

More design oriented = 1

Time, sacrifice and dedication very important = 3

Completely = 2

Technical intricacies of building construction = 2

Less naïve of architecture = 1

Manipulation of space = 1

N/A = 1

 

1.8  If possible would you like to change to a different field? (if yes, which one?)

All negated with the exception of two possibilities (may be) –one would be interested in Geology, and the other in Biotechnology

 

1.9  How are you doing in this course?

All are passing with the exception of 1. The other one passes everything but Maths.  1 incomprehensible-we are watering with techtonics

 

1.10          Are there any challenges in this course? (If yes, state them).

Time constraints and workload = 20

Understanding of basic concepts = 1

Strict marking and performance = 3

Cost of material = 2

Maths = 1

Unclear outcomes = 1

Nothing = 1

 

1.11          Are there any challenges with the finances of your studies? (Elaborate briefly)

No = 9

High cost of material = 8

Not necessarily/really = 2

Yes = 4

Delayed pay from SETA =1

Worried about paying back my bursar in the instance that I fail

 

 

 

1.12          Any disturbances you are experiencing in your family? (Elaborate briefly)

All said no except one who mentioned financial and time constraints

 

 

1.13          What kind of support would you like to get in order to improve your performance in your studies?

Time management support = 5

Tutor availability even after hours (one on one assistance) =5

Financial support = 3

Material subside/provision = 4

Nothing = 2

Accommodation = 1

Free programmes (Photoshop) = 1

Decisive answers from tutors = 1

Visits to firms/sites = 1

More prototypes = 1

Info on the cost of material prior for budgeting = 1

Clearer outcomes (expectation) from lecturers = 1

Maths support = 1

Mentor (from the field) = 1

Heating of the studio = 1

 

1.14          What do you think the school can do to improve your well being as a first year student in general?

More time = 3

Coffee machine in studio/free red bull/free antidepressants = 3

Course overview at the beginning = 2

Computer/ technology training e.g drawing = 2

Add technical drawing as a subject = 1

Better support-financial, tutorials, notes = 1

More practical projects = 1

Renovation of the studios = 1

 

1.15          Are there any comments you would like to make?

More tutors and more time

Ensuring that there are no overlappings of major projects by lecturers

Studios must be heated

Weighting of Maths to be adjusted such that tutorials weigh more

Course should be advertised more

Section 2: Planning

2.1  Where is your home?

Gauteng = 17

Limpopo = 9

KwaZulu-Natal = 4

Eastern Cape = 3

Mpumalanga = 1

North West = 1

Swaziland =1

Lesotho = 1

2.2  Where did you spent most of your time when you grow up?

 

 

 

2.3  Which school(s) did you attend? Suburban, township, rural, other (please be specific).

Suburban = 23

Rural = 10

Township = 7

 

2.4  How did you get to know about planning/ architecture?

Family members and friends = 13

Wits brochure/prospectus/webpage = 10

School/ career guidance/exhibition = 8

Research/media/internet = 8

Passion/interest in construction (drawing and planning) careers = 3

Prior study (diploma) = 1

 

2.5  What stimulated your interest in this field?

Creativity, design, development, cities = 14

Relating it with a subject I loved = 4

Random choice = 3

Family and friends = 3

Money = 2

Travel = 2

Avoiding to study science = 2

Status = 1

Challenge = 1

Male the stereotype of male dominated field = 1

Fascinated by spatial issues = 1

Diversity of the profession = 1

2.6  After the first semester, has your understanding of the field changed?

Yes = 22

So so = 4

No = 2

Not really =1

2.7  In what way has it changed?

Deeper, broader and clearer understanding = 20

Much better than first semester = 5

Relationship with other subjects = 3

Application of theories and concepts = 2

More complex than I thought = 2

Badly – I don’t know what I am doing = 1

Not exactly what I wanted to do = 1

Realization that I no longer see myself as an urban planner = 1

2.8  If possible, would you like to change to a different field? (If yes, which one?)

No = 12

Yes = 11 (Architecture, interior design, B Ed, geology, archeology, property studies, construction management, quantity surveying, bio-technology)

Not sure/ maybe = 3 (B.A)

Yes, but later = 2 (Architecture)

? –Bad-I am trying my best = 1

2.9  How are you doing in this course so far?

Fairly well = 11

Bad = 8

Very bad = 5

Average = 4

Well in all but one = 4

Very well = 1

Making copies of readings expensive = 1

? No …

2.10                      Are there any challenges with the course? –(If yes, state them)

Time = 9

High workload = 5

Unclear expectations of projects and assignments = 4

Drawing = 3

Academic writing = 2

Analyzing = 2

Too much reading = 2

ARPL1009 = 2

No = 2

Geography = 1

Course too broad = 1

Copying of readings = 1

Style of teaching of some lecturers = 1

Unapproachable lecturers = 1

 

2.11                      Are there any challenges with the finance for your studies? (Elaborate briefly)

No = 15

Yes –struggling to pay tuition fees = 6

Cannot afford accommodation = 3

Overlays expensive = 2

Not really = 2

Loan = 1

I have to work part time = 1 

 

2.12                      Any disturbances you are experiencing in your family? (Elaborate briefly)

No = 11

Situation not conducive for studying = 3

Fights in the family = 3

Death in the family = 2

Orphaned (sister to support financially) = 1

Single parent (finance) = 2

Travel too long a distance = 1

Writing problems = 1

Squatting with relatives hence misuse of funds for basic things = 1

 

2.13                      What kind of support would you like to get in order to improve your performance in your studies?

Mentors/tutors = 5

Extended consultation time and free periods for study = 4

Financial assistance = 3

More past exam paper on the net = 1

Academic writing and English support = 1

More consulting time with lecturers not tutors = 1

 

2.14                      What do you think the School can do to improve your well being as a first year student in general?

Reduce the workload = 4

Give a thorough course overview at the beginning = 4

Check on the wellbeing of the students regularly = 2

Field trips = 2

More tutors = 1

Excuse late comers for first lesson (travel long distances) = 2

More activities including recreational = 2

Help students get accommodation on campus = 1

Marks’ ratio of projects and exam should be 50 - 50.

2.15                      Are they any comments you would like to make?

 

 

Conclusion:

 The overall picture drawn out of the both surveys is that the students’ performance and wellbeing is positive with a few things needing attention.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Liile Lerato Lekena (Ms)
Evaluations Consultant
Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development
University of Witwatersrand
Private bag 3
Wits 2050

Tel: 011 717 1483
Fax to e-mail: 086 506 4587
E-mail: liile.lekena@wits.ac.za

Small Group (E3) part A