Computer Classroom Report - Spring 1997

By Tim Leamy, Lab Management (tcleamy@ucdavis.edu)

Mission

To provide and manage quality computer environments to support the campus community in its instructional needs.

Goals


Lab Management's goals for 96-97 include:

 
Overhaul management model/practice.
Develop a training program to improve the quality of service provided by student assistants in computer classrooms.
Support faculty advocacy for increased microcomputer access for campus community by creating new, high-quality computer classroom space.
Test pilot project to provide network access ports across campus.

Support for Effective Teaching

In order to provide a higher quality instructional environment, Lab Management began a systematic review of its practices and services.


Status and Usage


Cost Effective Computer Access

Lab Management provided access to 302 computers over the 1995-96 school year. The average cost of maintaining each station was $3,642. As comparison, Gartner Group (an IT consulting firm) reports "A typical PC/LAN environment can cost more than $10,000 per user per year to operate." The average cost per user per quarter (with roughly 11,000 users per quarter) was $33.00. In 1995-96, the average cost per hour of open use in a computer classroom was roughly $1.71. As comparison, local copy shops charge as much as $12.00 per hour for computer access.


Terms used in this document:

Computer Classroom
Computer lab which is used primarly for academic instruction.
Computer Lab
Any room managed by Lab Management, including Computer Classrooms, the New Media Lab, the Media Distribution Lab, and Terminal Labs.
Class Use
Time scheduled for classes.
Open Use
Time not scheduled for classes which is available for open, drop-in use. This time is used mainly by students for completing class assignments and general computer/Internet access.

Related Information:


Comments: tcleamy@ucdavis.edu
URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/labrep/spring97/
Last updated: May 29, 1997