Opening of A New Computer Lab at BMC!
A computer lab is more than a room of computers; it is a space to enable equitable access, instruct students, promote collaboration, supplement classroom learning, and more (University of The Philippines, n.d.; ViewSonic Library, 2019), as depicted in Figure 1 below. The thoughtful design and layout of any computer lab
is paramount. Essentially, form follows function for an effective lab design.
Figure 1
Computer Lab for Instruction (The Gleaner, 2019)
Bethlehem Moravian College (BMC) is a small multidisciplinary higher education institution located in rural Jamaica with a student population of a little over 700
students. Most of the students do not own a personal computing device. Hence, the urgent need for our newly established computer lab to accommodate these students; providing equitable access to vital educational resources in and out of class.
Our new computer lab has a blend of PCs and Macs to cater to the preferences and needs of various users. A total of 20 computers were purchased, with 10 PCs and 10 Macs. This blend will ensure compatibility with different software and appeal to a broader audience. Both Windows and MacOS are installed to match the PCs and Macs. Additionally, Microsoft Office 365 (or Microsoft 365) and iWork (for macOS) were installed to cater to the various productivity needs. For web browsing, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge were installed to ensure compatibility with different web applications.
The lab is organized with two rows of workstations, with PCs and Macs alternately arranged. The instructor's desk is at the front, facing the computers, allowing for easy interaction and support during sessions. The laptops are kept on a separate cart, accessible for group activities or presentations, as depicted in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2
Computer Lab Layout
References
The Gleaner. (2019, July 16, 2019). Garvey macoe high gets new computer
lab. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20190716/garvey-maceo-high-gets-new-computer-lab
University of The Philippines. (n.d.). The four best computer laboratory layouts for school.
ViewSonic Library.
(2019, August 22). 5 reasons why computer labs still matter.
https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/school-computer-labs-matter
Great post Karen. . I am wondering how the shared tools would integrate into a learning management system? Would one be able to embed or would you have to link out to the tools?
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