Mobile Computing Program at Rensselaer
Laptop Survey – Spring 2003
Mark Miller
Myra Williams
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/thinktank/thinktank2003.ppt
Summer 2003
1
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
Summer 2003
2
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/
Summer 2003
3
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
Summer 2003
4
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
Summer 2003
5
Classroom Utilization
Classroom Count Total Class
Average Class
Type
Hours per Week Hours per Week
Laptop
PC/Laptop
PC
Unix
Summer 2003
23
6
2
2
842
198
63
16
37
33
31
8
6
Laptop Models
Year
IBM
ThinkPad
CPU / Speed
Memory
(MB)
Hard Disk
(GB)
Resolution
1999
600E
366 MHz
Pentium III
128
6.4
1024x768
2000
T20
700 MHz
Pentium III
128
12
1024x768
2001
T22
900 MHz
Pentium III
256
32
1400x1050
2002
T30
1.8 GHz
Pentium 4M
256
40
1024x768
Summer 2003
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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?
Summer 2003
8
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
Summer 2003
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Student Profile
Student Profile
Year Entered RPI
2003
2002
Female
2001
Male
2000
1999
0
100
200
300
400
500
Count
27% Female 73% Male
Summer 2003
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Laptop Profile
Laptop Model Distribution
Year Entered RPI
2003
ThinkPad 600E
2002
ThinkPad T20
2001
ThinkPad T22
ThinkPad T30
2000
Non-RPI
1999
0
100
200
300
400
500
Count
93% purchase or lease from Mobile Computing Program.
Over 40% of 1999 students upgraded.
Summer 2003
11
Courses and Laptops
Average
Number of
Courses
Requiring
Laptop Use
Average Number of
Courses Using
Laptops in Class
Percentage of
Students With No
Courses That Use
Laptop in Class
1999
3.4
1.4
40%
2000
4.5
1.7
19%
2001
4.5
2.5
14%
2002
5.8
3.6
2%
Year
Entered
RPI
Summer 2003
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Q18 - Laptop Performance
Laptop Model
Poor / Unacceptable Poor / Unacceptable
Performance
Reliability
ThinkPad 600E
34%
34%
ThinkPad T20
13%
17%
ThinkPad T22
12%
20%
ThinkPad T30
6%
10%
Non-RPI
8%
8%
Summer 2003
13
Q17 – Desktop at RPI
Laptop Model
Summer 2003
Have a Desktop
ThinkPad 600E
44%
ThinkPad T20
41%
ThinkPad T22
33%
ThinkPad T30
21%
Non-RPI
50%
14
Q37 – Comments
Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys
Subject
Negative
Mixed
Positive
Education (distraction)**
58
9
5
Options (vendors, models)
43
1
0
IBM / ThinkPad
13
0
13
Mobility (desktops)
51
7
48
Network (wireless)
43
4
4
** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey
Summer 2003
15
Q37 – Comments (cont)
Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys
Subject
Negative
Mixed
Positive
Software (OS, packages)
37
0
0
Other (social, complaints)
55
3
6
Quality (HW problems)**
42
0
1
Performance (video, speed)**
43
0
2
Value (cost)**
32
1
3
** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey
Summer 2003
16
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)
Summer 2003
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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
Summer 2003
18
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
Summer 2003
19