| Fifth Annual "LabMan" |
| Great Lakes Academic Lab Management Conference |
| June 28-29, 2004 - Eastern Illinois University - Charleston, Illinois |
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Schedule (updated 6/9) Registration (updated 6/2) Center for Academic Technology Support Information Technology Services
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A summary of presentations selected thus far is posted below. There will be two tracks of six presentations in each track each day. Attendees will be able to attend all 12 sessions. Also, an "optional" third track featuring vendor presentations will be held each day. This page will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. Presentation Topic: Citrix Solution Presenter: Eric Knuth, Eastern Illinois University The School of Business at EIU's Lumpkin College Business and Applied Sciences is the first lab replacement at Eastern that has employed the concept of an application server using the CITRIX software, a thin client solution. Citrix is an application server and software services package which enhance application and data access over networks and the internet. In application serving, software applications reside and execute on the server. Keystrokes, mouse clicks, and screen updates travel the network between the server and the end-user’s device. This enables high-speed performance of software on any device no matter how old. This centralized application management approach to software distribution allows delivery of productivity and instructional software across any platform to any device on or off campus. This application serving model provides Eastern Illinois University some answers to a range of needs as new education technology trends begin to emerge and budgets continue to shrink. Application serving can help us reduce expenses that arise from capital expenditures, rising software expenditures, support and end-user needs. Since 1998 we have been replacing and recycling ATAC machines on a four year basis and the older equipment has been recycled within the institution. In this scenario maintenance, support and being able to keep pace with advancing software needs become an economic burden. With Citrix because the applications run on the server rather than the desktop we can slow the rate of replacement and more effectively recycle older equipment thus reducing capital expenditures, lowering the cost of support and administration and increase the accessibility of up to date software to the campus community. Eric Knuth is the lab manager for the School of Business within the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences. He and his staff maintain 160 computers, and associated servers and printers, in six computer labs. Presentation Topic: Making a Web Mail Client the Email Client Presenter: Joshua See, Computer Support Services / Computer Lab Management Technician University of Wisconsin at River Falls The University of Wisconsin at River Falls recently transitioned to the use of a web-based email client, SquirrelMail, as the primary client for students and computer lab use. This presentation will cover some of the challenges we encountered along the way, such as quota and trash management, support of mailto URL's, IMAP folders and subscriptions, plug-ins, mail filtering, and presentation of the new client to the user base. Strengths of this system will also be noted, including easier support, greater security, and greater user satisfaction. They presentation will close with notes on some of the future improvements to and direction of the client. Presentation Topic: Imaging vs. Cloning, HDD Sheriff vs. Deep Freeze Presenter: Chad Elliott, LAN Support Specialist Eastern Illinois University ITS Client Services has used HDD Sheriff on lab computers for over four years. The use of HDD Sheriff has saved thousands of manhours per year in upkeep and reinstallation of a completed unit. HDD Sheriff is similar to Deep Freeze and we will discuss implementation and upkeep. Along with HDD Sheriff our lab has used other imaging software extensively to reduce manhours in reloading computers that have failed due to hardware or software issues. Chad Elliott has been a LAN Support Specialist in the EIU Gregg-Triad Computer lab for over four years. He is responsible for maintaining over 100 lab computers, both PC and Macintosh, and assists with tech support for students, faculty and staff. He is an Eastern Illinois University graduate. Presentation Topic: Provision of Assistive and Instructional Technology in Computer Labs at SIU Presenter: Patricia A. Cosgrove and James Sissom, Southern Illinois University Our presentation will cover where we have been, where we are, and where we are headed in the provision of assistive and instructional technologies. Our approach to assistive technology for students with disabilities embodies the philosophy of inclusion. On our campus, the big push for assistive technology-enhanced computing services started in 1989. In the 15 years since, significant strides forward have occurred from modifications to the facility; appropriate hardware and software add-ons to computers at a single location; all the way to assisting in the development of undergraduate curriculum in assistive technology and becoming statewide leaders in the provision of assistive technologies post secondary settings. Our discussion will include hints on finding collaborative partners (on campus or otherwise), cost-sharing examples, management philosophy, staff training, related hardware and software, assessment, and working with faculty. Patricia A. Cosgrove is an Assistant Director of Information Technology at Southern Illinois University. Her educational background is a Bachelor of Sociology and a Master of Public Administration from SIU. She has been involved with adaptive computing since 1988 when she wrote the first proposal for SIU entitled “Report on Computer Access for Students with Disabilities”. Ms. Cosgrove manages four Computer Learning Centers and the campus Computer Support Center. In addition to these responsibilities, she serves as an integral member of the SIU ADA Task Force (since 1991), Co-Director and Fiscal Officer of the IBHE/HECA grant: Adapted Technology and Web site Design, Fiscal Officer of the IBHE/HECA grant: SIUC Transition and Inclusion Camp for Students with Disabilities. She also holds the offices of Vice-Chair of the SIU Administrative/Professional Staff Council and Vice-Chair of the SIU MPA Advisory Board. Recently, she served as Chair of the RFP committee for computer purchases representing SIUC, SIUE, SIU School of Medicine, John A. Logan Community College and other IPEC consortium members of Illinois. She is also a key member of the SIUC Classroom Initiative Project focusing on the standardization, procurement and installation of SMART technology in classrooms and conference rooms. She is also a member of the College of Business Computer Utilization Committee. She has been instrumental in developing and maintaining extensive multi-faceted partnership arrangements with the College of Mass Communications & Media Arts, the College of Business, the College of Applied Sciences & Arts and Disability Support Services. She consults with departments and colleges on computer labs, adaptive technology, computer hardware specifications, and SMART classrooms. James Sissom is an Assistant Professor in the department of Information Management Systems at SIU Carbondale. Jim serves as co-principle investigator for a long term IBHE HECA grant entitled, Adapted Technology and Accessible Web site Design where he is developing an undergraduate course in AT and Web accessibility as well as assisting in the development of a Web-based application for conducting student assessments in the field. Jim
Presentation Topic: Administrative Costs / Lab Funding Presenter: John Henderson, Director Client Services, Center for Academic Technology Support Eastern Illinois University Funding for Labs is critical in today’s tight money supply particularly in higher education. Each dollar must be maximized to support our educational activities. We have researched, performed surveys and kept statistics to help determine how to use each dollar efficiently and effectively in our student funded labs. We will discuss ideas on lowering costs and being more accountable to the students and the curriculums we support. Over the past two years we have researched and experimented with an application server model which provides Eastern Illinois University some answers to a range of needs. Application serving helps us reduce expenses that arise from capital expenditures, rising software expenditures, support and end-user needs. Eastern is installing a KeyServer this summer in all our student funded labs. KeyServer is a software license management tool that allows us to log, meter, and control usage of application programs. This approach provides a way of making sure licensed copies of an application are made available to users when needed. Another benefit to this planned approach is the potential to reduce funds being spent unnecessarily on software purchases for every workstation. We have also installed Uniprint which is a client-server application that controls and monitors printing resources over the network. Uniprint creates a controlled print environment. For payment students use the chip embedded on the Panther Card (EIU Debitek card) and deduct from a prepaid amount on the card. The integrated accounting system enables cost recovery on a user pay basis. These and other ideas for accountability and Lab funding will be discussed. John Henderson is the Director Client Services, Center for Academic Technology Support at Eastern Illinois University. Presentation Topic: Upside-Down Recruitment: Implementing SamXP Testing Software Presenter: Donald Stein, Student Access Manager University at Buffalo This presentation topic is a follow-up of my presentation from the last LabMan conference. The Public Computing Sites at UB employs over 150 students at 10 different computing sites. Our hiring process has evolved over the years from an informal, decentralized interview process to a multi-step centralized process. Our primary goals are to have a streamlined, objective and predictable hiring process. The latest iteration of our hiring process now uses SamXP interactive testing software. This software allows us to test applicants’ knowledge of the actual programs and to better gauge their problem-solving skills. My presentation focuses on how the inclusion of this interactive test has improved our hiring process and how effective the actual SamXP software is. Donald Stein received a BS from the University at Buffalo in 2001. While a student he started working for the UB Public Computing sites in 1996 and became a full-time Site Manager in 2001. The Public Computing Sites at UB employs around 150 students and manages 11 computing sites with over 600 workstations. Presentation Topic: A Linux-Centered Computer Laboratory Presenter: Peter Andrews (Dept. Chairman), Nancy Van Cleave, William Slough, Professors of Mathematics Eastern Illinois University The Department of Mathematics at Eastern Illinois University has operated a Linux / Windows dual boot PC lab for the past six years. We will describe our experience using Linux in a computer laboratory that supports three programs: computer science, mathematics, and mathematics education. In addition to meeting specific program needs, this laboratory serves as a general purpose computing lab for all university students. For us, moving away from Windows and focusing more on Linux has been a very liberating experience. Some of our original motivation to use Linux stems from budgetary concerns - the cost of licensing software and the frustrations from finding many commercial applications outstripping the processor resources available. To our delight, we have found that there are many more advantages other than monetary, such as the ability to teach a Unix-based computer science curriculum, the ability of high-quality open source software, and a system generally much more resistant to the various viruses we now find ourselves subjected to. This lab uses one central server and 23 client workstations. An NFS file system allows students to have a personal home directory that follows them from computer to computer. Remote access to this lab is made possible with VNC and ssh so the lab meshes well with other Windows-based and Macintosh labs on campus. We will describe the overall configuration of the lab, discuss the role of Linux in our curriculum, and summarize the various software applications in use Presentation Topic: Freeware for Classroom Computer Management Presenter: Yi-Yao (Paul) Liao, Lab Assistant, and Gerard A. Akindes, Technology Coordinator College of Health and Human Services, Ohio University We have about 100 computers locked in computer cabinets that distributed in a 3-floor building. For the sake of security and energy saving, we used to have computer lab crew to unlock the computer cabinet and turn on the computer in each classroom in the morning. We also have lab crew to shut these computers down and lock all the computer cabinets in the night. Because of the frequent operation of the computer cabinet locks, many locks were damaged a year later. In order to improve the tenure of the cabinet locks and reduce the labor task in routinely turning on and shutting down the computers but not in the cost of increasing budgets, we constructed a free way to remotely control the computers. We turn on the Wake-On-LAN feature of network card in each computer and use freeware to wake up computers in group in the building in the morning. We use another freeware to automatically shut down the computer in each classroom. We use IP scanning tools to verify whether the computer is on or off. We can also use these free tools to manually and remotely turn on and off computers. Thus, we reduce the wastage of computer cabinets and automate the turning on and off the computers with no charge. Yi-Yao (Paul) Liao is a PhD student in the Instructional Technology Program at Ohio University. From 1994-1997 he was an electronic engineer in Taiwan. He then worked as an elementary school teacher and computer lab manager and instructional technology coordinator in Taiwan from 1997-2001. He enrolled at Ohio University in 2002. Presentation Topic: Agile System Administration Presenter: James Biala, System Administrator, West Engineering Computer Network Michigan Technical University Agile software development is a philosophy that has been gaining in popularity amongst programmers. The Agile Manifesto (http://agilemanifesto.org) values individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. I've found that many of the ideals set forth by this manifesto are easily applicable to system administration. Individually, none of the concepts are truly earth shattering, but when the whole philosophy is understood and applied, it provides a refreshing new outlook on ones job. Agile system administration is a better way to get things done. I've found myself accomplishing more and maintaining a better relationship with my users. I plan to cover the Agile Manifesto and how it applies to system administration. I'll use real examples throughout showing how I've managed to improve my workplace using the Agile Manifesto. I thoroughly believe in this philosophy, I hope to be both informative and at least somewhat inspirational. James Biala received his BS from Michigan Technological University in 2000. He has been working on computers at MTU in various capacities since 1997. He's currently a System Administrator for the West Engineering Computing Network, handling Solaris machines, Mac OS X machines, and various engineering software for the Mechanical, Biomedical, and Chemical Engineering Departments. He is currently working without a director above him and has had to find creative ways to stay motivated, get things done, and keep his users happy. Presentation Topic: Future of Computer Labs Panel Discussion John Henderson (Moderator), Director Client Services, Center for Academic Technology Support, Eastern Illinois University Presentation Topic: Accountability and Community Users Presenter: M. Louise Krippenstapel, Program Assistant / Lab Supervisor for Alternative Learning Heartland Community College At the end of January, 2003, the Open Computer Lab at Heartland Community College began to register persons from the community who came in to use our machines. Previously, anyone could enter the lab and use any machine with no accountability. The presentation will discuss:
M. Louise Krippenstapel holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and an MA from Michigan State University. In 1991 she was awarded an MLS from the Presentation Topic: Universal Windows Imaging and Symantec Ghost 8.0 Presenter: Adam Murphy, Big Bang Training The most common question we have received in three years of Symantec Ghost training and consulting is, “How do I create a Windows image that works on multiple hardware platforms?” Unfortunately, the answer has always involved a massive amount of work to select hardware drivers, Plug-and-Play ID, etc. That has all changed. Big Bang now has a simple software solution – our Universal Imaging Utility. In less than five minutes you can setup a Windows 2000 or Windows XP image that will work on all your hardware platforms, desktops and laptops alike. Combine a Universal Image with the full capabilities of Symantec Ghost 8.0, and the potential for time savings and consistency is tremendous. Join us to see how the UIU works, and get involved in an interactive demonstration of Ghost’s ability to deploy images, reset network configuration settings, and deploy software applications. We regularly work with educational organizations and understand the challenges they face with regards to hardware, software, and network configurations, so this demonstration will be tailored specifically to lab environments. Adam Murphy is the owner of Big Bang Training, a small training and consulting company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A long time independent consultant and trainer, Adam has specialized in Symantec Ghost since 2001 and converted his consulting business to Big Bang Training in 2002. Over the past three years he has taught over 70 open enrollment and on-site Symantec Ghost training courses, and provided consulting for several organizations with regard to their Symantec Ghost implementations. He created the Ghost course materials for Big Bang Training and its training partners, and has published the only third party user guidebook for Symantec Ghost – “The Driver’s Guide to Symantec Ghost.” Most recently, as Big Bang Training has expanded into software development, Adam has been involved in the design and creation of the Universal Imaging Utility.
Presentation Topic: Inexpensive, Secure and Easy Mac Labs Presenter: Doug Lawhead, Macintosh Support, Department of Journalism and Department of Art Eastern Illinois University This session will discuss the building of the "perfect Mac" through use of various freeware, Applescripts and the Terminal Application to control scheduled tasks; and then how to utilize Mike Bombich's tools Carbon Copy Cloner and NetRestore to make and distribute an image of this Mac. Apple Remote Desktop is then used to manage lab maintenance. Doug Lawhead is the Macintosh support specialist for the Department of Journalism and Department of Art at Eastern Illinois University. He is also frequently called upon to assist other departments on campus with their Macintosh labs. In addition, he teaches photojournalism and visual communications classes in the Department of Journalism and he is the Apple Ambassador of the EIU Apple Users Group (APLUG). Prior to joining the staff at EIU he was the head photographer for over ten years at Mid-Illinois Newspapers, publishers of the Charleston Times Courier and the Mattoon Journal Gazette, where he learned about the Macintosh OS through experience. He was previously a reporter and photographer at the Robinson Daily News for 12 years. He received a Master of Science in Technology degree from the EIU School of Technology in 2002 and he is a 1997 graduate of the EIU Board of Governors Bachelor of Arts Degree program. |
This page last updated June 30, 2004