Ongoing Course Assessment (OCA)

Frequently Asked Questions
Instructor FAQs

Surveys (templates that have been assigned) and results

Is there a list of questionnaires that I can choose from to assign to my class(es)?
In the left Navigation Menu is a link to the Template Library. Click any template title to see a summary of the questions on the template. There is also an option to Preview the template as it will be presented to the students.
How do I view the surveys assigned to a class?
Clicking on the class name (unique number) in the body of the OCA home page or in the left Navigation Menu will open a page for that class. Any surveys you have assigned will be listed with information about when the survey is available and the status of the survey.
How do I assign a survey to a class?
You can assign a survey from the Survey Assignment page. Some methods of going to the Survey Assignment page are:
  • Click on the Assign a Survey link in the left Navigation Menu or in the top navigation bar of the class page.
  • From the Template Library, Personal Library, or the Template Builder links in the Navigation Bar, click on the assign link associated with the survey.
  • While viewing a template summary or a template preview click on the Assign this survey to a class link.

On the Survey Assignment page, select the survey to use, determine the dates of availability for students, enter your email address, and select the course(s) to which you would like the survey to be assigned.

The Assigning a survey tutorial has step-by-step instructions with sample images.

How do my students access the surveys that I have assigned?
Students go to https://web.austin.utexas.edu/diia/oca/ and log in with their UT EID. A page of classes for that student will be listed with any surveys associated with those classes.

This link is included both in the automatic email that is sent to students on the survey open date, and in any email reminders that you send.
Can I find out which student submitted a particular response or comment?
No. Student responses and comments are completely anonymous and are saved without any identifying information. In addition, to protect anonymity, it is impossible to determine which students have and have not completed a survey.
Can I view surveys for a different semester?
No. You may view surveys from the current semester only. Surveys will be deleted after each semester is over.
How soon will survey results be available?
Results are available the day after the survey closes on the close date.
Where are the survey results?
On a class page, the number of submissions that have currently been received for that survey will be displayed in parentheses. Once the survey has closed, you may click on the link that will take you to a page that displays the results. This link will only be available if the response rate has been at least 5 responses or 20 percent of the class, whichever is lower. Note: In a class of 5 students, at least 2 responses are required in order to be displayed.
Why can't I view my survey results? It says that there are some results but I can't click anything.
In the interest of protecting the anonymity of survey respondents, survey results are displayed ONLY IF there were at least five (5) respondents, OR there was a survey response rate of at least 20 percent of the students enrolled in the class. Note: In a class of 5 students, at least 2 responses are required in order to be displayed.
Can I download or get a copy of the survey results?
Yes. The results page contains two links for downloading your survey results. The Spreadsheet (MS Excel) link downloads your survey results into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The Document (MS Word) link downloads your survey results into a Microsoft Word document.

The Downloading survey results tutorial has step-by-step instructions with sample images.
I have deleted a survey assignment and its results. Why do I still see them in the Template and Personal Libraries?
When a survey and its results are deleted, the template that created the survey remains available in the Template Library and Personal Library so that it can be reassigned at a later date. The template may be removed from the Personal Library after the survey results are deleted by selecting the checkbox beside the template title and clicking the Remove button.
How can I extend the period of time that a survey is available for students to take?
Before a survey closes you may extend the time period by clicking on the Dates/Email link on the class page next to the open survey. This link will take you to a page that allows you to change the open date, close date, and email associated with this survey. Once a survey has closed, these may not be changed.
Is the survey open on the Open and Close dates?
Yes, the survey will open early on the Open date and stay open throughout the Close date to close that evening at 11:59:59 PM.
How can I increase student participation and the number of responses to my survey?
Here are some ideas:
  1. Introduce the survey in class so that students are aware that they will be receiving an email and don't delete it by mistake when they get it.
  2. Send a reminder through the OCA website.
  3. Send a customized reminder through the Blackboard web site.
  4. Discuss or display the results in class. Students will be more likely to respond to your next survey when they see that you took class time to address their input.

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