Comments on: Evolving needs and goals for “computer labs” http://blogs.nercomp.org/blogs/nac2008/2008/03/12/evolving-needs-and-goals-for-computer-labs/ Tracking the Northeast Regional Computing Progam Annual Conference Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:33:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Kimberly Hall http://blogs.nercomp.org/blogs/nac2008/2008/03/12/evolving-needs-and-goals-for-computer-labs/#comment-71 Kimberly Hall Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:56:18 +0000 http://blogs.nercomp.org/blogs/nac2008/2008/03/12/evolving-needs-and-goals-for-computer-labs/#comment-71 Along with the closing of the digital divide, there were many good points made in yesterday’s session… such as a greater need to distinguish general lab use from the specialized hardware and software that are course, or department, specific. What also stood out were the long lists created by participants of possible computer lab locations, such as student dorms and the library. The lists basically represented the ubiquitous concept. This, along with the portable, smaller devices that students use on their own leads me to think of schools who are implementing virtual labs, where students log in through their personal device and access the school’s general lab image, making frequently used applications readily available. These include programs like MS Office, the Adobe Suite, and basic video editing and desktop publishing software. That would provide ubiquity and convenience while preserving the physical space for a wider range of purposes. As long as network access is available, students could use the virtual lab software from anywhere. Along with the closing of the digital divide, there were many good points made in yesterday’s session… such as a greater need to distinguish general lab use from the specialized hardware and software that are course, or department, specific.

What also stood out were the long lists created by participants of possible computer lab locations, such as student dorms and the library. The lists basically represented the ubiquitous concept. This, along with the portable, smaller devices that students use on their own leads me to think of schools who are implementing virtual labs, where students log in through their personal device and access the school’s general lab image, making frequently used applications readily available. These include programs like MS Office, the Adobe Suite, and basic video editing and desktop publishing software. That would provide ubiquity and convenience while preserving the physical space for a wider range of purposes. As long as network access is available, students could use the virtual lab software from anywhere.

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