1 / 19

Rensselaer's Mobile Computing Program Survey Findings

Explore the impact of technology on education at Rensselaer with insights from student surveys on laptop usage. Discover student perspectives, usage patterns, and recommendations for enhancing the Mobile Computing Program.

yachi
Télécharger la présentation

Rensselaer's Mobile Computing Program Survey Findings

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. MobileComputing Program at RensselaerLaptop Survey – Spring 2003 Mark Miller Myra Williams http://www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/thinktank/thinktank2003.ppt

  2. Rensselaer Overview • Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically based careers • 5,100 Undergraduate / 1,700 Graduate • Programs – Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science, Information Technology

  3. Mobile Computing Overview • Laptop required for all undergraduate students • Rensselaer offers a standard model including software at an excellent price (new model each year) • Students can purchase, lease, or bring their own • Laptops used inside and outside of class • http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/

  4. Laptop Requirement History • 1995-1997 3-year voluntary pilot program • 1998 highly recommended - IBM ThinkPad 600 • 1999 required of all freshmen – IBM ThinkPad 600E • 2000 second year of requirement – IBM ThinkPad T20 • 2001 first refresh with return of 1999 leased systems – IBM ThinkPad T22 • 2002 full deployment – IBM ThinkPad T30

  5. Mobile Computing Program (MCP) Today • Fourth year of Mobile Computer Program – ramp up completed • All undergraduate students required to have a laptop • About 5,500 laptops on campus

  6. Classroom Utilization

  7. Laptop Models

  8. Issues • Are laptops used for upper level classes? • Is a technology refresh necessary? • What is the student perspective after 4 years? • How is the Mobile Computing Program doing? • How should we change the MCP in the future?

  9. Student Survey - Process • Committee developed questions • WebCT on-line survey given in freshmen calculus classes • Paper surveys given in selected senior level classes • Paper data manually entered using Excel • On-line and paper data combined • 858 responses returned • Analyze data

  10. Student Profile 27% Female 73% Male

  11. Laptop Profile 93% purchase or lease from Mobile Computing Program. Over 40% of 1999 students upgraded.

  12. Courses and Laptops

  13. Q18 - Laptop Performance

  14. Q17 – Desktop at RPI

  15. Q37 – Comments Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys ** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey

  16. Q37 – Comments (cont) Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys ** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey

  17. Student Comments Take Away • Want laptop models tailored for their department, both hardware and software • Want more choices – IBM models, Macs, options • Laptops are a distraction in class • Want more wireless network coverage • Electronic Arts and Architecture students feel they need a desktop (memory, video, hard disk)

  18. Conclusions • Laptop technology enhances learning, collaboration, and workplace skills • Students satisfied with the Mobile Computing Program but want options • Laptops need to be used more in upper level classes • Students from some departments question value of laptop mobility versus desktop power and cost

  19. Changes to Consider • Multiple vendors, multiple models • Expand and tailor software offerings • Standard software preinstalled, students install department specific software as they need it • Make laptop refresh automatic • Increase wireless network coverage • Increase laptop usage in upper level classes

More Related