A few proposals... To wrap up my portion of this presentation I would like to make a few proposals as solutions to some of the problems that I've mentioned. Classes CS 102: Making it (or a variation on it) a semi-required course--perhaps as a Quantitative Skills Area GenEd-- would help with the balanced playing field problem. A class such as this would make sure that all students are familiar with at least the basics of both Windows and Macintosh machines and a variety of applications for both. The class focuses on concepts and practical applications. It's broad, focusing on how applications work and what they do, so the students can later adapt to different applications when they need to. It's in-depth enough that the students get a basic understanding of how computers work, which helps students trouble shoot and also helps assuage students' fears of computers. Students who don't need the course could "comp out" of it. Create optional "seminar courses": These courses could be on topics related to IT such as: How to effectively use the WWW for research rather than using a blunderbuss approach. How to verify information gained from the internet so students don't get caught up into using a gag site as a reference. How to create effective presentations. Perhaps guidelines to instruct students on these topics could be written up and posted on the school's web site Standards Raise the standards (or more thoroughly enforce current standards) for papers and related presentations. Word processors and spell checkers have so simplified the process of proofreading and editing that they allow students to throw together papers at the last minute with minimal proofing and still have the papers look decent. If the school wants to truly live up to its goal of making sure that all students are able to write effectively by the time that they graduate, then it shouldn't allow technology to become a crutch to students. New Uses of Technology POP Servers: There are days when lag on the network is absolutely unbelievable. A good portion of this could probably be relieved by using a POP server to modify how students and faculty access email. A POP server would allow those who are accessing email to login, grab their email, logout and read it off line, and then login again briefly to send the messages: all simply and quickly, and automatically. This would take a good deal of the load off of the Unix machines that run the network and instead have the machines that the students and faculty are using do the work, freeing up network resources. Utilize the old Macintosh Machines as Res. Hall Workstations: I don't know what the school plans to do with the old Macs once they replace them, but here's a suggestion... Take them, strip them down so that they have only: basic system software a word processor email perhaps the ability for students to access their network disk space Then put them into the residence halls as workstations for the students to be able to use. Students who just want to check email would very likely use these if they were available, rather than tying up machines in the already crowded labs. If a POP server were installed, this would also help take some of the load off of network resources. The computers could be stored on carts in secure areas (such as the Hall Offices), wheeled out into the lobbies in the morning by the desk staff so that students can use them during the day, and then put away again by the RAs on duty on one of the last of their nightly rounds.

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