Student-owned Computers at WCU
Directions and Goals
DRAFT
June 30, 2006
Introduction
Much has changed with computers and the way people use them since WCU first
instituted its student computer requirement. The hallmark of WCU’s computer
requirement is, and continues to be, that the requirement has to be driven by the
curriculum. Computer usage has to be an integral part of most, if not all, of the student’s
coursework.
Recently, a Student Computer Requirement Committee reviewed the requirement and
reaffirmed that computer usage has to be effectively integrated into the curriculum. This
is the foundational position. However, to fully realize the outcomes we hope the
requirement to achieve, it is also time to look at the technical requirements for the
computers we expect students to purchase. By not addressing these requirements, we
could be limiting some students’ ability to be successful.
Currently, students are expected to purchase computers that meet minimum hardware and
software technical specifications. Unfortunately, there is no means to enforce these
standards and many computers that students use fail to meet them, either because of cost
considerations or because of ignorance about the significance of the standard. As we rely
more and more on network-accessed resources, be they WebCT, the campus portal, or
delivery of academic software via systems such as Cytrix, students with non-standard
computers will increasingly be disadvantaged.
Also, because computers have now become such a commodity item, we have fostered an
unrealistic expectation of the repair support we can offer for student-owned computers.
We simply cannot provide adequate repair support for every make and model of
computer being sold today. Unfortunately, many students purchasing low-cost, off-brand
or consumer-grade computers do not have the manufacturer’s maintenance contract for
them. At the time of purchase, these students and their parents do not realize the risk they
are taking by purchasing low-end equipment that might have to be sent off for 4 weeks in
the middle of a semester to be repaired.
Laptops vs. Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs offer a significant step forward in student educational technology. The laptop
market is quickly moving towards tablet PCs, because of the increased functionality and
ease of use. Examples of their educational applications include allowing students and
faculty to exchange marked-up copies of papers, presentations, etc. They allow the
students to record, either as an audio or video file, class lectures along with the written
notes they have taken in class. A tablet PC can function as an electronic whiteboard for
faculty and students, with the output readily shared with the whole class, and even saved
on each student’s PC. The cost differential between a laptop and an equivalent tablet is
about $250. IT feels this differential is more than offset by the additional capabilities
provided by the tablet.
Proposal
The IT Division believes that it is time to consider requiring all students to purchase a
standard tablet computer. It is reasonable that some academic programs might need to
specify a different computer, even a desktop, configuration to meet the requirements of
their program. Also, we would still allow students to purchase an equivalent tablet PC
elsewhere. The students purchasing these non-standard computers would be required to
purchase a service contract from the vendor. We offer the following rationale to support
this proposal:
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Laptops now outsell desktop computers, because the overall cost and cost
differential between the two has lessened considerably, laptops are more
convenient and they are less fragile and more robust then they used to be. Also,
the working time of the batteries has increased considerably. Laptops can be
configured to reasonably last the student 4 – 5 years
If we significantly increase the number of tablets PCs sold through the
University’s preferred vendors, we can probably get the price per laptop down to
$800 - $900. This will give the students more computing capability than many
have now for less cost than many are currently paying.
Beginning in the 2006 – 2007 academic year, all students will be covered under
the University’s contract with Microsoft. This means that they will get the
Windows XP Professional operating system and Office Professional application
suite and all updates for free, thus reducing the purchase cost of their computer by
almost $200.
More faculty would like to have students using computers in their courses than
the University is able to provide computers to support.
Students using their own tablet PCs will have their work with them without
having to move files from one computer to another.
Students can record their class lectures as audio or video files along with their
written notes, etc. directly on their tablet PC during class, improving their
efficiency and enhancing their computer skills.
Wireless networking is readily available in most buildings on campus which
makes the portability of the tablet PC much more meaningful to the student.
IT will be investigating ways to disable Internet access during individual classes
to address the concerns that some faculty may have about students surfing the
Internet rather than paying attention to the class.
Many tablet PCs now come with an optional chip which will locate the computer
if it is stolen or lost; this option takes away some of the risk of having a laptop.
By standardizing on one or two laptops, IT will be able to provide much quicker
repair service, including providing a pre-configured loaner laptop in cases of
severe machine failure.
In considering a tablet PC requirement, there are some things to consider:
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Use of laptops in some classes may not be appropriate, such as in some seminar
courses. In those situations similar policies to those many courses have enacted
for cell phones and other electronic devices could be used. This may not apply to
tablet PCs because they can be used by students to write class notes in the same
way they use a spiral notebook.
A laptop requirement generally increases the need for University-provided
computer lab facilities.
The University will have to provide kiosks/areas where students can recharge
their tablet PC.
The IT Division proposes that the purchase of a laptop/tablet be highly recommended for
the 2006 – 2007 academic year. We would then work with the appropriate segments of
the University to try and develop a tablet PC requirement for the following academic
year. A critical part of this initiative will be to provide faculty with tablet PCs this year
along with training on how to integrate this technology into the classroom. One approach
might be to provide a tablet PC to selected faculty as an incentive to develop good ways
to use the technology in their courses.