Student Pulse Survey December 2020
Office of Institutional Research
BB&N students completed their first full term of school during the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020.
Introduction
To understand students’ experiences or “take the pulse” of the student body, the Office of Institutional Research conducted a short online survey. Students in grades 4-12 were invited to participate in the survey from December 15-20, 2020. The findings from the survey are presented in this report and will be used to consider ways to improve the student experience going forward.
The main takeaways from the survey are: ● Most students prefer being on campus to learning remotely. ● Most students feel that it’s easier to be socially connected and to learn effectively when they’re attending school in person. ● Most students feel they have at least one adult at school they can talk to. ● Most students have a hard time getting all their schoolwork done on specific days. ● The Knight Corps is generally perceived as helpful.
Respondents
By Campus Broken down by campus, a higher percentage of Lower School students responded, followed by Middle School, and Upper School.
Overall 845 students received the study. 481 (57%) responded.
57% of students participate in the survey responded
92% of students at the Lower School responded
62% of students at the Middle School responded
46% of students at the Upper School responded
On-Campus vs. Remote
72%
Students were asked “Do you prefer being on campus or being remote?”
“I feel so disconnected as a class …there are many essential memories we are missing out on.” ~ US student
of
respondents said they prefer to be on-campus.
9%
of
respondents were neutral Note: Numbers reflect 333 responses from US and MS
19%
of
respondents said they prefer to be remote
…
...On-Campus
...Remotely
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→
A majority of students responded that they ‘agree’ that they feel socially connected when studying on-campus: 65.1% at the Upper School and 80.2% at the Middle School.
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→
Fewer than a fifth of students at the Middle School (20 of 101 respondents) and fewer than a tenth of students at the Upper School (22 of 232) responded that they feel socially connected when studying remotely.
...On-Campus
...Remotely
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→
A vast majority of students responded that they ‘agree’ they can learn effectively on-campus. A very small percentage of respondents disagree that they can learn effectively on-campus: 5% at both the Upper and MIddle School.
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→
Fewer than half of Upper School respondents believe they are able to learn effectively while remote whereas over half of Middle School respondents believe that they can do so. The percentage of respondents who are neutral about remote learning is significantly higher than those who are neutral about on-campus learning.
The Knight Corps is a group of 20+ young professionals who provide a wide range of support to BB&N faculty and staff during the pandemic, and work with students who are both on campus and learning remotely. Overall, 70% of all survey respondents indicated that they had helpful interactions with one or more members of the Knight Corps. The percentage of students who said “yes” when asked if they have had helpful interactions with the Knight Corps varied by campus. A higher percentage of Lower and Middle School students indicated having a helpful interaction with the Knight Corps compared to Upper School students.
Knight Corps
Technology had a big presence in school during the first term for in-person, hybrid, and remote students. Survey respondents were asked if they had any problems with technology to date. Overall, 39% said they did have technology issues. Fewer students from the Lower School indicated that they had issues with technology compared to responding Middle and Upper School students (32%, 44%, and 42%, respectively).
Technology
“It may not seem like the students agree with the way things are going, but we understand and are grateful for the opportunity to go to school.” ~ Survey respondent
Trusted Adults Campus Lower School
Approximately 92% of Lower School Students said there is at least one adult at school with whom they can talk.
Middle School
Approximately 87% of Middle School Students said there is at least one adult at school with whom they can talk.
Upper School
Approximately 81% of Upper School Students said there is at least one adult at school with whom they can talk.
Trusted Adults by Grade
A breakout of the responses to the question “Is there at least one adult at school you feel you can talk to?” shows some interesting variation. 11% fewer respondents in Grade 7 answered “yes” than those in Grade 8. 22% fewer respondents in Grade 9 answered “yes” than those in Grade 12.
Lower School
Middle School
Upper School
One possible reason for these differences is that Grades 7 and 9 are transition years in which students are in a new environment and need to form relationships with brand new teachers, administrators and staff. The hybrid mode of learning has limited students’ time on campus, thereby impacting new students’ ability to get to know their teachers and other adults at school.
Workload
“Please change the amount of homework teachers can give on nights like Monday or Thursday. [These days are] incredibly stressful and overwhelming to students. It typically takes me hours and completely drains any interest I have in the work or sense of motivation.” ~ US Student
Students were asked “Are there specific days in the week when it is hard to get all your work done?”
48% ...of Lower School Students who responded to the survey said “yes”. Mon, Tues & Thurs
75% ...of Middle School Students who responded to the survey said “yes”.
Tues & Wed
89% ...of Upper School Students who responded to the survey said “yes”.
Mon & Thurs
Student Voices “I find it kind of hard to really connect with my teacher and I think if you could reach out to all the teachers or something else because it is a little hard this year. Thank you.”
“Having teachers maybe know the kids” homework situation for other classes so we don’t get overloaded and stressed.”
“Make more time to interact with classmates because with covid and stuff it is much harder to. Another thing is have a little bit more maybe free time to just calm down, because with covid and every thing it’s all really overwhelming!”
Lower School
“I don't really have any asynchronous classes when I could do work independently, so it might be nice to have one of those during the week.”
“Socially distance better and yet still interact.” “Helping people stay social distanced more.”
Student Voices
“I think they should support kids more mental-health-wise because that’s just as or more important than academically.”
“Maybe assign less homework on the remote days? I'm worn out and done with looking at a screen on the days that I'm not in-person, and it's harder for me to get my work done.”
“I am having a very hard time connecting with my friends on remote days. One way that BB&N could increase social connections on a given remote day is by having peer lunches, or implementing productive breakout rooms in class.”
Middle School “Since each of the six subjects on Wednesday gives homework, the students get overloaded.”
Student Voices
“[Hold] the faculty to the same standards as the students in terms of social distancing. If all of the precautions like keeping 6 feet apart and walking only one way down the halls are truly for our safety, which I believe they are, then all members of community should be responsible for maintaining these precautions. ”
“More asynchronous classes during remote days!!! Please!!! It's painful to have to switch from constant Zoom classes on my computer to just doing homework on my computer too; my eyes hurt from looking at the screen so much. ASYNC classes really help since I can use that time to take a break from schoolwork.”
Upper School
“More private places in the school where students can go to do individual zoom meetings or study alone. There are times where I need to be alone to get something done but there is nowhere to go and we are not allowed to go into study rooms.”
“During school days, remote and in person, I rarely see my friends and get the chance to connect with them. If study halls were more like free blocks and if there was more of an effort to give us the chance to have time with our friends, school would be a much better experience.”
Thanks to all who contributed to and participated in the Student Pulse Survey!
Office of Institutional Research Send comments to Dr. Sue Cook @ scook@bbns.org.