Diamond in the Rough a Mobile Computing Program

1
Diamond in the Rough a Mobile Computing
Program

• Myra Williams
• Mark Miller
• http//www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/thinktank/thinktank200
  5.ppt

2
Facets for Discussion

• Overview of Mobile Computing Program
• Campus involvement and partnerships
• Laptop as a recruitment tool
• Integration of mobile technology into the
  curriculum

3
Rensselaer Overview

• Educates the leaders of tomorrow for
  technologically based careers
• Private institution founded in 1824
• 7000 students - 5000 undergraduate, 2000 graduate
  
• 520 faculty, 1430 staff
• Schools Architecture, Engineering, Humanities
  and Social Sciences, Management and Technology,
  Science

4
Mobile Computing Overview

• Laptop required for undergraduate students
• Single standard high end T-xx model including
  software at an excellent price
• Students can purchase, lease to own, or bring own
• Laptop used inside and outside of class
• Over 6,000 laptops on campus
• http//www.rpi.edu/laptops/

5
Mobile Computing Program Evolution
Homo sapien

• 1999 Freshmen only, Emphasized lease to encourage
  refresh, 600E
• 2000 Freshmen/Sophomores, Administrative database
  implemented,
• Security cable added to package,
• Increase insurance deductible from 500 to
  1,000,
• Student involvement in backpack design begins,
  T20
• 2001 Freshmen/Sophomores/Juniors, De-emphasized
  lease,
• Self insured, Refurbished laptop program, T22

6
Evolution Continues
Homo sapien golfus

• 2002 All undergraduates, No sales tax collected,
• ThinkPad Protection added, Rapid Restore with
  hidden partition,
• Laptop information in Student Information System,
  T30
• 2003 Rest period, T40
• 2004 Trade Up program, Request for Proposal, Lite
  image available,
• Updated all images to latest software versions,
  T42
• 2005 Lease to own, Presidents Award, T43
• Over 95 of incoming freshmen acquire the
  Rensselaer model

7
Campus Support for the Program

• Division of the Chief Information Officer team
  coordinates with groups across the campus to
  implement the Mobile Computing Program

• Students and Parents
• President
• Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Education
• Academic Departments/Faculty
• Residence Life
• Enrollment Management (aka Admissions)
• First Year Experience
• Financial Aid

8
Campus Support Cant Get Enough

• Volunteers Employees from across the campus
  plus students
• Campus Planning and Design
• Environmental and Site Services
• Physical Plant
• DotCIO Banner Student Information
  System Networking Media Operations Campus
  Computer Store Rensselaer Computer Repair Help
  Desk

9
Corporate Partners
1924

• IBM-Lenovo ThinkPad
• MapInfo MapInfo
• National Instruments - LabVIEW
• Kelty - backpacks
• Maplesoft - Maple
• Mathworks - Matlab
• Microsoft Windows, Office, Visual Studio

10
2004 Request for Proposal

• Issued RFP for Mobile Computing Program
  partner(more than hardware)
• Vendor presentations with on-line feedback
• Hands-on day for faculty (disappointing
  attendance)
• Hands-on day for students (moderate attendance)
• User feedback (strong for IBM and Apple)
• Decision matrix and discussions
• RFP awarded to IBM

11
IBM-Lenovo Partnership

• Troy Campus Visits Mark Cohen, Distinguished
  Engineer Tony Corkell, Director ThinkPad and
  ThinkCentre Development
• Raleigh Visits Products and roadmaps,
  technology futures
• Logistics - Model selection, image management
  technologies, delivery scheduling
• Account team stability
• Joint research projects, speaker series, campus
  activities
• IBM is major employer of Rensselaer graduates

12
Recruitment

• Source NERCOMP 2005 talk The Young and the
  Wireless, Young Peoples Immersion In Technology
  by Dan Drath, VP Teenage Research Unlimited, 8
  March 2005

13
College Bound Teens (16-18)

• Source NERCOMP 2005 talk The Young and the
  Wireless, Young Peoples Immersion In Technology
  by Dan Drath, VP Teenage Research Unlimited, 8
  March 2005

14
Recruitment Experiences

• Students expect to use a laptop
• Program with standard models reduces parents
  anxiety
• 2004 Laptop incentive to reduce summer
  meltConfused parents/students, failed to reduce
  melt
• 2005 Laptop incentive to increase
  enrollmentIndicators promising but more analysis
  needed

15
Academic Integration

• Laptops are useful for nearly all classes
• Anytime/anywhere computing and network access
• Used in the classroom for some courses (depends
  on the instructor and material)
• Students like the portability of the laptop
• No information on learning impact

16
Laptop Integrated Courses

• Calculus
• Physics
• Introduction to Engineering Analysis
• Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design
• Freshmen Studies
• Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML)
• Next Generation Studio Biology
• Laboratory Introduction To Embedded Control
  (LITEC)

17
Fall 2005 Course Software

• Maple Mathematics, Engineering
• SolidWorks Engineering
• Matlab Engineering
• MS Visual Studio Computer Science
• Microstation Architecture
• LabVIEW Engineering, Computer Science
• Cygwin Computer Science, Engineering

18
Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design

• WebCT calendar, assignments, quizzes, grades,
  video lectures for first three weeks
• DVD contains lecture videos and example files
• Students work on drawings inside and outside of
  class using SolidWorks
• Pre-configuring SolidWorks saves one day of class

19
Advanced Manufacturing Lab

• Teach, by experience, how to plan and execute
  cost-effective manufacturing operations
• Laptops used for designing parts (SolidWorks),
  for manufacturing (MasterCam), communicating with
  team members, writing reports, preparing
  presentations, creating posters
• No room for desktops in machining area
• Floppy drive required to load machines

20
Next Generation Studio Biology

• Evolution, Genetics, Cell Molecular Biology,
  Ecology
• Uses WebCT and the Internet extensively
• Laptops are required for each session
• On-line, pre-class session prepares student for
  in-class session and on-line, post-class session
  explores concepts and materials presented in the
  pre- and in-class sessions
• Genetics Construction Toolkit

21
Genetics Construction Toolkit
22
Why Such A Large Image?

• Faculty can plan computer assignments and
  exercises knowing students have the software
  installed and properly configured
• Do not waste class time installing/configuring
  software in class
• A problem fix applies to a large segment of any
  class
• Easier for student to remove SW than to
  install/configure
• Does not solve problems caused by students
  installing adware, spyware, and trojans

23
Whats Missing?

• Adobe and Macromedia software due to licensing
  costs and issues
• Serial port and floppy drive for external
  instruments
• Automatic technology refresh
• Consistent Faculty Mobile Computing Program
• Macs for the Arts folks
• Include in cost of attendance
• Ship to home
• Add-on devices to complement laptop

24
Spring 2003 Student Survey

• Laptops essential to course work -83 of
  students agreed
• Laptops significantly enhanced learning 81 of
  students agreed
• I have loved the laptop
• The laptop is the devil.

25
Summary

• Program is a success and largely taken for
  granted
• Computing power and portability are a win for the
  students
• Technology issues can be solved
• Tough issues are not technology related policy,
  budget, or third party