Connie Schmidt

cschmidt@mtsu.edu

Connie Schmidt

Instructional Technology Support Center

Open computer labs

LRC 101 (server), 101B (RAM), 101S (22” monitors, slide scanner, large format printer)

Replacement of Existing Technology

One server: The three current servers are over five years old, very slow, and crash frequently. They cause constant printer, domain, and Internet access interruptions and disrupt learning. Servers are not included in the TAF automatic replacement cycle for student computers on campus. Specifications for the proposed new server were developed in close consultation with ITD staff. Four 22” computer monitors for graduate multimedia center workstations: The current monitors are over five years old and are beginning to fail. Students need the non-standard, large-screen monitors on the multimedia development stations because they are used for video editing, graphics production, and other multimedia projects. One slide scanner: The current slide scanner is over five years old, broken, and not repairable.

The Instructional Technology Support Center provides students with University-wide access to 92 computers in three labs and a graduate multimedia development center. In 2004, student walk-in visits to the labs totaled 16,681 [18% Basic and Applied, 8% Business, 23% Education/Behavioral Science, 13% Liberal Arts, 14% Mass Communication, and 25% undeclared]. Faculty from four colleges scheduled 109 training sessions, benefiting 2592 students. Twenty-four Education classes were scheduled, enrolling 576 students. Our computer facilities are controlled using three Dell servers (file, print, and DHCP) that are over five years old. They are slow and crash frequently, causing domain and printer failures. We propose purchasing one Dell server to replace these aging servers. Students using LRC 101B are having difficulty multitasking due to insufficient RAM on the 25 lab computers. We propose installing a 1 GB module to upgrade each computer. The graduate multimedia center offered video-editing capability, digital cameras, workshops, and individual consultation during 523 student visits. Students have requested that we (1) replace the center’s broken slide scanner, (2) replace the aging monitors (over five years old) at the four multimedia development stations, and (3) install a large format color printer for printing out media for the presentations.