Transcript The Future of Computer Labs

Tech Talks Spring 2015
The Future of Computer Labs
Presented by the TWU Students Advisory Committee
for Technology (StudentsACT)
Why computer labs? (or who cares?)
The majority of today’s learners:
● Favor active, participatory, experiential learning
● Highly social, both face-to-face & online
● Digital natives (or at least digitally savvy)
● Time is constrained: commuters, part-to-full-time work, families
● Rely on the internet & peers for information
How computer labs can meet students’ needs
● Specialized hardware and software
● Places to study and socialize
Oblinger (2006)
Brill et al. (2007)
How are our labs used?
Current Use Survey Results
Current Use Survey Results
45% of respondents use the Library &
Megalab as primary labs
Between 8-12% use Houston lab,
Dallas lab, Student Union labs,
Dorm/Dept labs, & ASB 107
85% found lab hours adequate to
meet needs
We’ve seen a big shift toward portable devices.
Students no longer want to be tied to a
computer lab to complete their work.
Rather, they want the ability to work
from anywhere, at any time.
Bob Dively,
Exec. Dir. of Operations & Infrastructure
Columbus State University
Student Portable Devices
Dahlstrom & Bichsel (2014)
Portable Device Spaces
Lounge Spaces
Work Stations
Portable Device, Lounge & Work Spaces
Potential Benefits
● Meet student needs
● Enhance reputation &
visual appeal
● Free-up support staff
● Reduce cost of computer
refreshes
Potential Roadblocks
● Start-up costs
● Lack of space
● Infrastructure
limitations
● Institutional Culture
Virtual Computer Lab
Image from Apache VCL:
https://vcl.apache.org/
Virtual Computer Lab
Potential Benefits
● Expand services to 100%
online students
● Reclaim space
● Provide 24/7 student
access to software
● Free-up support staff
● Reduce cost in computer
refreshes
Potential Roadblocks
● Hardware startup costs
● University culture
● Software licensing
restrictions
● Security
Innovative Learning Spaces
Innovative Learning Spaces
Potential Benefits
● Meet student needs
● Greater student learning
outcomes
● Enhance reputation &
visual appeal
● Free-up support staff
● Reduce cost of computer
refreshes
Potential Roadblocks
● Start-up costs
● Lack of space
● Infrastructure limitations
● Institutional Culture
Other Possibilities
● More Macs
● Color printing
● Air printing
Image from www.treehugger.com
What is the future of computer labs?
You tell us!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/twulabs
References
Brill, Rick, Brian Burchett, John Hendersen, Susan Simkowski. (2007)“Are computer labs becoming passé?”
University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved from:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.educause.edu%2Fir%2Flibrary%2Fpdf%2FMWR07095B.pdf&ei=zs_7VLnUNcKggTqx4DQDQ&usg=AFQjCNHV0BTzezyxDertO2Yv3gDepnaiTg&sig2=s3R9x3mkLFuFgoAqOMZIqw&bvm=bv.
87611401,d.eXY
Dahlstrom, Eden, and Jacqueline Bichsel. ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2014.
Research report. Louisville, CO: ECAR, October 2014. Available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.
EDUCAUSE on campus. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://net.educause.edu/Elements/Attachments/EOC/EoC_Future_of_Computing_Labs.pdf
Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.). (2006). Learning spaces. Retrieved from:
http://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/books/learning-spaces
Most images courtesy of Steelcase: http://www.steelcase.com/resources/space-planning-ideas/
Tech Talks Spring 2015
Up Next:
April 23
Your Health: The Next Wave of Personal Technology
TWU Technology + TWU Fitness & Rec
2:00 p.m. in ACT 301 with videoconference to
Dallas 8720 and Houston 7305