1. Diamond in the Rough – a Mobile Computing Program
Myra Williams
Mark Miller
Picture: Students walking to a configuration room.
June 2005

2. Facets for Discussion Overview of Mobile Computing Program
Campus involvement and partnerships
Laptop as a recruitment tool
Integration of mobile technology into the curriculum
Picture: The students can do their computing when and where they choose.
The laptop fits the studio model of instruction better than desktops. The sight lines are better, files are immediately available, easier to work in groups both inside and outside of class, and can control use of computers in class.
June 2005

3. Rensselaer Overview
Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically based careers
Private institution founded in 1824
7000 students undergraduate, 2000 graduate
520 faculty, 1430 staff
Schools – Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science
Picture: Map location Troy, New York
June 2005

4. Mobile Computing Overview
Laptop required for undergraduate students
Single standard high end T-xx model including software at an excellent price
Students can purchase, lease to own, or bring own
Laptop used inside and outside of class
Over 6,000 laptops on campus
Picture: Students in a configuration room.
Hardware Software and Extras
IBM ThinkPad T20 ( U) Windows 98
Pentium III 700 MHz processor MS Office Professional 2000
128 MB RAM MS Visual C++
12 GB hard disk Maple V
3.5 in 1.44 MB floppy drive MapInfo
14.1 in 1024x768 display LabView
6X DVD Norton Anti-Virus
Internal 56Kb modem Backpack carrying case
Internal 10/100 network card Security cable
3 year warranty Mobile Rensselaer
Manual
Classes
Instructors can depend on students having access to computing tools.
Laptop used in Math, Computer Science, Physics, Introduction to Engineering Analysis, and Freshmen Studies classes.
June 2005

5. Mobile Computing Program Evolution
Homo sapien
Mobile Computing Program Evolution
1999 Freshmen only, Emphasized lease to encourage refresh, 600E
2000 Freshmen/Sophomores, Administrative database implemented,
Security cable added to package,
Increase insurance deductible from $500 to $1,000,
Student involvement in backpack design begins, T20
2001 Freshmen/Sophomores/Juniors, De-emphasized lease,
Self insured, Refurbished laptop program, T22
Picture: Humorous evolution of man.
June 2005

6. Evolution Continues 2002 All undergraduates, No sales tax collected,
Homo sapien golfus
Evolution Continues
2002 All undergraduates, No sales tax collected,
ThinkPad Protection added, Rapid Restore with hidden partition,
Laptop information in Student Information System, T30
2003 Rest period, T40
2004 Trade Up program, Request for Proposal, Lite image available,
Updated all images to latest software versions, T42
2005 Lease to own, President’s Award, T43
Over 95% of incoming freshmen acquire the Rensselaer model
Picture: A golfer as the epitome of man’s evolution.
June 2005

7. Campus Support for the Program
Division of the Chief Information Officer team coordinates with groups across the campus to implement the Mobile Computing Program
Students and Parents
President
Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Education
Academic Departments/Faculty
Residence Life
Enrollment Management (aka Admissions)
First Year Experience
Financial Aid
Picture: Shirley Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
June 2005

8. Campus Support – Can’t Get Enough
Volunteers – Employees from across the campus plus students
Campus Planning and Design
Environmental and Site Services
Physical Plant
DotCIO – Banner Student Information System Networking Media Operations Campus Computer Store Rensselaer Computer Repair Help Desk
Picture: Laptop distribution station manned by volunteers
June 2005

9. Corporate Partners IBM-Lenovo – ThinkPad MapInfo – MapInfo
1924
IBM-Lenovo – ThinkPad
MapInfo – MapInfo
National Instruments - LabVIEW
Kelty - backpacks
Maplesoft - Maple
Mathworks - Matlab
Microsoft – Windows, Office, Visual Studio
Picture: First IBM logo starting in 1924
In 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation. The ornate, rococo letters that formed the "CTR" logo were replaced by the words "Business Machines" in more contemporary sans-sarif type, and in a form intended to suggest a globe, girdled by the word "International."
June 2005

10. 2004 Request for Proposal
Issued RFP for Mobile Computing Program partner (more than hardware)
Vendor presentations with on-line feedback
Hands-on day for faculty (disappointing attendance)
Hands-on day for students (moderate attendance)
User feedback (strong for IBM and Apple)
Decision matrix and discussions
RFP awarded to IBM
Picture: IBM logo introduced in 1972
June 2005

11. IBM-Lenovo Partnership
Troy Campus Visits Mark Cohen, Distinguished Engineer Tony Corkell, Director ThinkPad and ThinkCentre Development
Raleigh Visits – Products and roadmaps, technology futures
Logistics - Model selection, image management technologies, delivery scheduling
Account team stability
Joint research projects, speaker series, campus activities
IBM is major employer of Rensselaer graduates
Picture: Lenovo logo
June 2005

12. Recruitment Device 63% 32% 20% 55% 23% 28% 70% 45% 5% 53% 14% 13% 42%
Think it’s cool
Plan to purchase
Passing fad
iPod/MP3
63%
32%
20%
Camera phone
55%
23%
28%
Laptop
70%
45% 5%
WiFi
53%
14%
13%
Palm/PDA
42% 9%
30%
Picture: Uncle Sam recruitment poster modified for Rensselaer
Most Americans think of "Uncle Sam" as a nickname for the U.S. government. Uncle Sam was an actual person -- namely, Samuel Wilson, who worked as a meat-packer in Troy, New York during the War of Wilson's nickname, "Uncle Sam," was the original inspiration for the character that now symbolizes the United States.
Students have always had personal computers (75%)—laptop instead of desktop. Students use public facilities when convenient but prefer private systems.
Source: NERCOMP 2005 talk “The Young and the Wireless”, Young People’s Immersion In Technology by Dan Drath, VP Teenage Research Unlimited, 8 March 2005
June 2005

13. College Bound Teens (16-18)
Device
Extremely / Very Likely to have
Cell Phone, parents’ area code
61%
Laptop
59%
Digital Camera
39%
MP3 Player
25%
Landline Phone
34%
Cell Phone, college’s area code
24%
Picture: Student arrives in a robe to pick up his laptop
Source: NERCOMP 2005 talk “The Young and the Wireless”, Young People’s Immersion In Technology by Dan Drath, VP Teenage Research Unlimited, 8 March 2005
June 2005

14. Recruitment Experiences
Students expect to use a laptop
Program with standard models reduces parents’ anxiety
2004 – Laptop incentive to reduce summer melt Confused parents/students, failed to reduce melt
2005 – Laptop incentive to increase enrollment Indicators promising but more analysis needed
Picture: Students white water rafting as part of their First Year Experience
June 2005

15. Academic Integration Laptops are useful for nearly all classes
Anytime/anywhere computing and network access
Used in the classroom for some courses (depends on the instructor and material)
Students like the portability of the laptop
No information on learning impact
Picture: Voorhees Computing Center
Many courses already had a computer component which simply moved from a desktop to a laptop.
June 2005

16. Laptop Integrated Courses
Calculus
Physics
Introduction to Engineering Analysis
Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design
Freshmen Studies
Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML)
Next Generation Studio Biology
Laboratory Introduction To Embedded Control (LITEC)
Picture: Laptop screenshot
Many courses already had a computer component which simply moved from a desktop to a laptop.
June 2005

17. Fall 2005 Course Software Maple – Mathematics, Engineering
SolidWorks – Engineering
Matlab – Engineering
MS Visual Studio – Computer Science
Microstation – Architecture
LabVIEW – Engineering, Computer Science
Cygwin – Computer Science, Engineering
Picture: Flashlight designed and manufactured in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab
June 2005

18. Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design
WebCT – calendar, assignments, quizzes, grades, video lectures for first three weeks
DVD – contains lecture videos and example files
Students work on drawings inside and outside of class using SolidWorks
Pre-configuring SolidWorks saves one day of class
Picture: Base part designed using SolidWorks
June 2005

19. Advanced Manufacturing Lab
Teach, by experience, how to plan and execute cost-effective manufacturing operations
Laptops used for designing parts (SolidWorks), for manufacturing (MasterCam), communicating with team members, writing reports, preparing presentations, creating posters
No room for desktops in machining area
Floppy drive required to load machines
Picture: Laundry product holder designed and manufactured in Advanced Manufacturing Lab
June 2005

20. Next Generation Studio Biology
Evolution, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Ecology
Uses WebCT and the Internet extensively
Laptops are required for each session
On-line, pre-class session prepares student for in-class session and on-line, post-class session explores concepts and materials presented in the pre- and in-class sessions
Genetics Construction Toolkit
Picture: Hawaiian Honeycreepers evolved a variety of beaks
Uses a variety of software: Quicktime, EvoBeaker, EcoBeaker, Real Player, Authorware Player, Shockwave Player,
Flash Player, Growth, Executor and Genetics Construction Toolkit
June 2005

21. Genetics Construction Toolkit
Picture: Mac emulation using Executor on a PC
June 2005

22. Why Such A Large Image?
Faculty can plan computer assignments and exercises knowing students have the software installed and properly configured
Do not waste class time installing/configuring software in class
A problem fix applies to a large segment of any class
Easier for student to remove SW than to install/configure
Does not solve problems caused by students installing adware, spyware, and trojans
Picture: Image from Kathleen Ruiz’s exhibit at the Interactive Multimedia Culture Expo
June 2005

23. What’s Missing?
Adobe and Macromedia software due to licensing costs and issues
Serial port and floppy drive for external instruments
Automatic technology refresh
Consistent Faculty Mobile Computing Program
Macs for the Arts folks
Include in cost of attendance
Ship to home
Add-on devices to complement laptop
Picture: Inside of a semi-trailer used for hauling laptops
June 2005

24. Spring 2003 Student Survey
Laptops essential to course work - 83% of students agreed
Laptops significantly enhanced learning – 81% of students agreed
“I have loved the laptop…”
“The laptop is the devil.”
Picture: Students pose with their laptops before leaving for the configuration room
June 2005

25. Summary Program is a success and largely taken for granted
Computing power and portability are a win for the students
Technology issues can be solved
Tough issues are not technology related – policy, budget, or third party
Picture: Students working with their laptops in the Student Union
Students take advantage of the computing power and portability of their laptop without giving it a second thought.
Included in cost of attendance – policy
Automatic refresh – policy and budget
Licensing – third party
Picture is from Kathleen Ruiz and students’ piece in the 2ND ANNUAL INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA CULTURE (IMC) EXPO.
June 2005