[ATTW-L] The Death of Computer Classrooms

Tue Apr 17 18:49:33 UTC 2018

Hi all,

Mark, I had a similar experience when coming to Boise State. My
predecessors had been furnishing three computer labs with 30 desktops each
for about as long as anyone could remember. Every year they'd buy 30 new
desktops for one of the labs and move them around on a rotating basis. The
computers had outdated versions of Adobe Suite (before it moved to
cloud-based) and it was frustrating and expensive to maintain. Furthermore,
we realized very quickly that we couldn't afford the licensing fee for
Adobe's cloud-based software, nor did we feel that Adobe's products were
worth it, so we restarted by rethinking everything and putting pedagogy
well before technology.

Since then, we have switched to classrooms focused instead on active
learning, as well as tools best suited for a diverse English department.
(Our lab classrooms service technical communication courses, as well as
first-year writing, linguistics, English teaching, and literature.)

Our first lab was re-envisioned as the "Collaborative Learning Space
<https://english.boisestate.edu/collaborative-learning-space/>," with
wireless Solstice pods connected to six different large screens. Students
and faculty can stream from any device -- laptop, Chromebook, tablet, or
phone -- and share work with one another. It's been a dream for
collaborative writing, presentations, and other group work. We removed the
desktops and purchased a laptop cart with eight laptops. (After doing some
extensive research, eight laptops seems to be a good target number for our
classes, which cap at 25 -- so that students who don't have devices, have
forgotten them, or simply don't want to bring them, still have access to
the technology.)

We are working on two more remodels this summer. The first will retain 10
desktops -- in five pods of two around the room. This gave us the budgetary
savings to add an 86" touchscreen for the instructors to use, while
retaining a few devices around the room that students could access for
various software, etc. (Our tech comm instructors also like having desktops
available for students to use for gallery-style presentations.) This will
be our more traditional lab in that each computer will be pre-loaded with a
variety of freeware alternatives to the Adobe Suite. In years to come, we
will likely migrate this lab to a laptop cart model as well.

In the second remodel, we are removing all of the desktops, again adding
the 86" touchscreen for instructors, and adding a cart with eight
Chromebooks. This is the space most often used in first-year writing, so
Chromebooks work well for that; although, this could also certainly be an
effective set-up for tech comm, too.

So, to answer your original question, here are some software (freeware)
programs I recommend:

   - Inkscape <https://inkscape.org/en/> - alternative to Illustrator
   - Scribus <https://www.scribus.net/> - alternative to InDesign
   - Foxit Reader 8.0 <https://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/pdf-reader/> -
   alternative to Acrobat
   - DaVinci Resolve
   <https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve> - alternative
   to Premiere

We also refer students to the web-based tool Pixlr as an alternative to
Photoshop. Students and faculty also have university access to tools like
Camtasia and TechSmith Relay, as well as Qualtrics and the Microsoft Office
suite. (We're also a Google campus, so most of our faculty and students use
the Google suite, including Docs.) I know that MadCap
<https://www.madcapsoftware.com/education/> also provides free lab
installations for academic contexts, if you need Flare.

As an aside, one major benefit of moving beyond the traditional "computer
lab" model for tech comm courses is the increased accessibility. Students
can now more freely move about the room, and the space -- and its
technologies -- are more inviting and accessible for all.

Hope this helps.

Carly

*Carly Finseth, Ph.D.
<http://english.boisestate.edu/contact/carly-finseth/>*
Assistant Professor of Technical Communication
Director of Technology and Web Presence
Department of English
Boise State University

Liberal Arts, Room 234
Learn more: Tech Comm at Boise Sta <http://english.boisestate.edu/techcomm/>
te <http://english.boisestate.edu/techcomm/>

On Tue, Apr 17, 2018 at 12:04 PM, Barbara L'eplattenier <bleplatt at ualr.edu>
wrote:

> We are talking at length about computer classrooms at our institution.
> It's been helpful to us to have a set number of licenses (specifically for
> creative cloud) and then people can use them on their computers.  (This is
> just in our major though--we haven't figured out the service courses
> although we have kicked around Chromebooks linked to classrooms or laptops.
> )
>
> I'm piloting a laptop loaner program for people in our technology heavy
> classes  (upper-levels in our major) --many of our students have computer
> unable to run programs such as creative cloud etc and loaning them a laptop
> for the semester is taking care of that problem.  Frankly, it's been a game
> changer.  We had to leave our classroom because of it was being painted.
> If we were in a traditional computer classroom with the software on the
> desktops, I would have had to cancel class for a week and a half.  As is,
> we just moved over to the library conference room and kept on working.
>
> On Tue, Apr 17, 2018 at 12:10 PM, Popham, Susan <pophams at ius.edu> wrote:
>
>> Following up on what everyone else is saying . . .  I’ve never been a big
>> fan of Bring-Your-Own-Devices campus policies, thinking that BYOD policies
>> allow most academic institutions to elide their responsibilities towards
>> providing technological resources to their students.  But, over the years,
>> most of my students, including some who are very poor, seem to have found a
>> way to bring their own devices, and most of my students now bring a couple
>> of devices to class.  Thus, I struggled with finding a pedagogical way to
>> make those devices meaningful for the classroom.
>>
>>
>>
>> One of the technology tools I’ve been (trying) to use this semester is a
>> thing called Mersive Solstice.  I’m not even techy enough to explain how it
>> works, but once installed in a classroom, it allows students to project
>> from their devices—smart phones, iPads, laptops, tablets—through the single
>> computer projector station.  This tool allows students to bring their own
>> devices, and teachers to project their students’ in-class work, without
>> having loads of campus-owned equipment or teacher training.  Nor do
>> students need loads of training on devices they will never own or use
>> outside of the classroom and outside of their own devices.  It’s really a
>> pretty cool piece of technology, although it costs about $1500 per room.
>> And, no I’m not getting any kind of commission from the Mersive company in
>> promoting this tool.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark, if your institution is trying to reduce its technology costs by
>> reducing computer classrooms, I would make the case that some kinds of
>> technologies still need to be provided by the institution—software
>> licensing, updates on the instructional broadcasting/projection tools, many
>> more electric outlets/ recharging stations installed, and possible
>> collaborative technology stations (where groups of four students can work
>> at a single computer that projects to their own table).
>>
>>
>>
>> PS.  I see a very productive CCCC or C&W or ATTW panel proposal coming
>> out of this discussion. Anybody up for collaborating on a proposal?
>>
>>
>>
>> Susan L. Popham, Ph.D.
>>
>> Dept. of English; composition and professional writing
>>
>> Indiana University, Southeast
>>
>>
>>
>> Writing Faculty Advisor, *The Voice*, the journal of the *School of Arts
>> and Letters, IUS*
>>
>> Editor, *Programmatic Perspectives*, journal of *the Council for
>> Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication*
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org> *On Behalf Of *Alisha Karabinus
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 17, 2018 9:03 AM
>> *To:* attw-l at attw.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [ATTW-L] The Death of Computer Classrooms
>>
>>
>>
>> Just to pick up with what Rick was saying, since I'm in the same labs -
>> not only are those spaces rigid and often difficult to work with for
>> activities (not to mention for teachers accessing students who need help),
>> no matter how often the machines get updated or replaced, they are slow and
>> unreliable. Our students have access to loads of software on computers that
>> aren't dependable unless they find certain labs on campus, which doesn't
>> help in our computer classrooms. One example: if our students want access
>> to sound in one building's computer classrooms, they have to bring
>> non-bluetooth headphones, plug them in *before* logging in, and hope
>> that works. If it doesn't, they have to restart the computer. Logging in,
>> testing, and restarting a single time can take up to ten minutes. That's a
>> significant chunk of class time wasted for nothing more than tech issues
>> that students won't experience (usually) with their own tech.
>>
>>
>>
>> We do have laptops we lend for class activities, and the other program I
>> teach in makes Chromebooks available during class as well and everything is
>> much smoother. I wish universities would simply allow students to check out
>> laptops if they don't have their own instead of maintaining computer
>> classrooms, so long as lab spaces are available on campus for more robust
>> work.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Alisha Karabinus
>>
>> Assistant Mentor, Introductory Composition
>>
>> Graduate Instructor, ENGL 106E
>>
>> Doctoral Candidate, Rhetoric and Composition
>>
>> Purdue University
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 9:58 PM, Johnson, Richard D <rjohnso at purdue.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hey Mark,
>>
>>
>>
>> I'll share my experiences as a long-time computer classroom teacher, and
>> we'll see what others have to say. I finally grew tired of teaching in
>> computer labs. They're static, stale, and institutional. Plus, my students
>> were bringing their laptops into the computer classroom anyway, preferring
>> to work on their own machines rather than the desktop computers. And, I was
>> tired of my students being forced to sit in rigid lines or rows of
>> workstations, much like telemarketers. That arrangement was undermining my
>> active learning approach and our team projects.
>>
>>
>>
>> So, a few years ago, I asked my students if they owned their own laptops.
>> Every one said they owned their own machine and starting pulling them out
>> of their backpacks. The price of a Chromebook and similar low-cost laptops
>> is somewhere between $150 and $400, so owning a laptop is not prohibitively
>> expensive for the majority of students. (That said, I'm aware that some
>> underprivileged students cannot afford even a Chromebook. I work around
>> that problem by bringing laptops for them, borrowed from our department.
>> And, I'm aware some colleges and universities do not have enough funds to
>> lend laptops. I get it.)
>>
>>
>>
>> Bottom line: Every classroom is a computer classroom If students bring
>> their own laptops and have reliable wi-fi. (Again, exceptions apply here.
>> Some campuses don't have reliable wi-fi.)
>>
>>
>>
>> Here are some benefits to the laptop classroom approach:
>>
>>    - The classroom is highly flexible as an active learning space. No
>>    more rows of computer banks locking students into rigid lines.
>>    - Students are familiar with their own machines, so no more
>>    complaining about Mac or PC machines.
>>    - Students can use any software they want for the basics, including
>>    "free" internet based software like Google Docs. Lots of other software is
>>    available for free, like Audacity.
>>    - Students can share files through cloud-based file sharing sites and
>>    have access to their files at all times.
>>
>>
>>
>> And here's my favorite benefit. When I want their attention for my brief
>> 10-15 minute lecture, or a discussion of a reading, or a critique of a
>> document's design, I ask them to put the lids down on their laptops. That
>> way, I know I have their attention for that time period. Meanwhile, I don't
>> need to police people on Instagram, playing Fortnight, watching Netflix,
>> etc. When the lecture/discussion/critique is finished, the lids go up and
>> we get to work.
>>
>>
>>
>> You asked about advanced software like the Adobe Suites, and that's one
>> challenge. Many universities have Software Remote options that allow
>> software to be used for free, including on campus. Others allow students to
>> buy cheap site licenses.
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, Adobe Creative Cloud is reasonably priced for students and faculty
>> ($19.99 a month, which works out to $60 a semester with the free trial).
>> Again, I'm aware not everyone can afford that. For classes that need Adobe
>> software, I keep that cost in mind and try to save student's money by
>> choosing less costly textbooks. And, I'm aware that statement is ironic
>> coming from me. That said, with a laptop, another benefit is that they have
>> classroom access to less expensive e-versions of popular textbooks in our
>> field.
>>
>>
>>
>> Listen, I know there are are a bunch of exceptions to what I've said
>> above. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. I do know that traditional
>> computer classrooms are very expensive to set up or replace (at least
>> $100,000 per classroom, not to mention IT support and maintenance). And, my
>> students and I were never happy with the computers or the learning
>> environment. So, I think we should stop wasting millions on dinosaur
>> computer classrooms, because that's coming out of our students' pockets in
>> a hidden way.
>>
>>
>>
>> I"m also aware that people think laptops are a dying breed. I don't
>> agree. It's hard to write and design documents on phones and tablets.
>> Laptops and desktop computers are here to stay.
>>
>>
>>
>> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>>
>> Professor Richard Johnson-Sheehan
>>
>> Department of English
>>
>> Purdue University
>>
>> 500 Oval Dr.
>>
>> 428 Heavilon Hall
>>
>> W. Lafayette, IN 47907
>>
>> rjohnso at purdue.edu
>>
>> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org> on behalf of Mark Crane <
>> craniac at gmail.com>
>> *Date: *Monday, April 16, 2018 at 5:27 PM
>> *To: *"attw-l at attw.org" <attw-l at attw.org>
>> *Subject: *[ATTW-L] The Death of Computer Classrooms
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>>
>>
>> I currently manage two computer classrooms with 20 machines apiece.  I've
>> been in charge of them since 2002, with a break of about four or five years
>> in the middle of that period.
>>
>>
>>
>> The classrooms are funded, with the exception of Adobe Creative Suite
>> licenses, by student fees. This includes a couple of color laser printers.
>>
>>
>>
>> One thing I've noticed over the past few years is that with the
>> proliferation of phones, tablets, Chromebooks and laptops that students are
>> not logging into the lab machines as frequently, often preferring to work
>> on their own devices, even if that means thumb typing on a phone.
>>
>>
>>
>> I recently put in a order for new machines, and was told that the order
>> was on hold because the campus is moving towards a policy of no longer
>> supporting computer classrooms (as opposed to standalone lab not attached
>> to a course).
>>
>>
>>
>> So I'm just fishing here, wondering what your experiences have been with
>> computer classrooms. Also, can you tell me:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1) What software packages do you use with your undergraduate technical
>> communications courses
>>
>>
>>
>> and
>>
>>
>>
>> 2) Who pays for those licenses?
>>
>>
>>
>> Note: Microsoft Office, in some form, is free for the students and
>> faculty.  (I hate teaching Intro Tech Comm with Word, for what it's worth)
>>
>>
>>
>> We are hoping to retain control of the rooms and hopefully will be able
>> to use at least one of them for the teaching of technical communications
>> for our Writing Studies emphasis.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark Crane
>>
>> Utah Valley University
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Dr. Barbara L'Eplattenier
>
> Department of Rhetoric and Writing
> University of Arkansas Little Rock
> 501-436-9103 | bleplatt at ualr.edu |
>
>
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