Software Usage

Users have typically used the computer classrooms for network access, Internet research, and word processing. The graph below shows the most used application types and the total use of special class modules. Web browsers include Mozilla and Internet Explorer for both Mac and PC platforms. Word Processors are exclusively Microsoft Word. Internet Apps include utilities for telnet and ftp. Data Analysis tools include Excel, SAS for windows, and Microsoft Access. Mutimedia applications include Adobe Photoshop, Pagemaker, and Illustrator as well as Quark Express, Vectorworks and Flash. Multimedia applications also include FrontPage and Dreamweaver, two applications typically used to create web pages.

Web browsers accounted for over 63 percent of the usage. Web browsers are used by students to access materials on class web pages and perform online research. With the growth of web based email, we are also seeing a greater use of the web as an email tool. The use of data analysis tools exceeded the use of multimedia applications for only the second time in five years. This may indicate a trend for students using more tools such as Excel or SAS for school work.