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ASU readies Downtown for laptops

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Economics major Jade Clark works on his laptop in the Memorial Union Wednesday afternoon. When asked his opinion of the new Downtown Campus requiring laptops, Clark said that they will "create barriers for students who can't afford laptops, especially with the rising cost of tuition."

ASU is moving along with a plan that will eventually require all students at the Downtown Campus to have a laptop by installing extra electric outlets and help desks.

Students will be strongly encouraged to bring laptops to school in fall 2006 under the 1:1 initiative, but it will not be required, said Sam DiGangi, assistant vice provost for ASU's University Technology Office.

Getting the Downtown Campus ready for the 1:1 program would take several stages, DiGangi said.

"Power has a dramatic impact on how we work with architects and designers," he said.

The concept of power includes where to place electric plugs -- which affects where furniture would be placed and what kind of furniture would be used, DiGangi said.

ASU would pursue deals with computer vendors so students could purchase laptops at a discount price. The University would also provide financial aid for computer purchases.

There will be some shareable computers on campus next semester, said Ed Greenberg, director of data management and information technology for the College of Nursing.

Classrooms on the campus must also be made so instructors could post lessons online, he said.

"Classrooms should be audio- and podcast-ready," he said. "They should be capable to capture audio and slides."

Eventually, all the ASU campuses would be renovated to handle more student-owned computers, he added.

Angel Jannasch-Pennell, director of technology-enhanced learning and research at UTO, said the 1:1 team surveyed students to find out what it would take to ready them for the 1:1 initiative.

The team surveyed students in the colleges of Public Programs and Nursing who had already registered at the downtown campus.

The survey was phase one in a plan "to get a snapshot of those colleges moving downtown," she said.

DiGangi said the survey showed the majority of students already own a computer, and many own both a laptop and desktop computer.

"What's interesting is many students tend to not carry their laptops," he said.

This could be because laptops are heavy or students are afraid they could be stolen, Jannasch-Pennel said.

The 1:1 program would change that because there would be a greater need for computers in the classroom, she said.

DiGangi said survey results also showed students want faculty members to integrate technology more in the classroom.

"This shows a strong interest and value placed on the way instruction is designed and delivered," he said.

Jannasch-Pennel said the 1:1 team would survey University faculty next.

"We expect them to be similar in outcomes and goals," she said. "We also want to open doors to what is possible. They don't know what they don't know."

DiGangi said the project would be ongoing.

"There is no point where we say it's done," he said. "We'll build it so we can make modifications constantly."

Greenberg said he does not know if everything will be in place for 1:1 by fall.

"We will have some sites where there are shareable computers," Greenberg said. "It's hard to predict what the environment will be like when we get started [downtown]."

But the College of Nursing plans to work with UTO to explore the 1:1 program, he said.

"We're very enthused about what we see," he added. "We're already seeing some opportunities for collaboration that would make our life easier."

Reach the reporter at tara.brite@asu.edu.


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