Summer 2003 1

Mobile Computing Program at RensselaerLaptop Survey – Spring 2003

Mark Miller

Myra Williams

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/thinktank/thinktank2003.ppt

Summer 2003 2

Rensselaer Overview

• Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically based careers

• 5,100 Undergraduate / 1,700 Graduate• Programs – Architecture, Engineering,

Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science, Information Technology

Summer 2003 3

Mobile Computing Overview• Laptop required for all undergraduate students• Rensselaer offers a standard model including

software at an excellent price (new model each year)

• Students can purchase, lease, or bring their own• Laptops used inside and outside of class• http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/

Summer 2003 4

Laptop Requirement History• 1995-1997 3-year voluntary pilot program

• 1998 highly recommended - IBM ThinkPad 600

• 1999 required of all freshmen – IBM ThinkPad 600E

• 2000 second year of requirement – IBM ThinkPad T20

• 2001 first refresh with return of 1999 leased systems – IBM ThinkPad T22

• 2002 full deployment – IBM ThinkPad T30

Summer 2003 5

Mobile Computing Program (MCP) Today

• Fourth year of Mobile Computer Program – ramp up completed

• All undergraduate students required to have a laptop

• About 5,500 laptops on campus

Summer 2003 6

Classroom Utilization

Classroom Type

Count Total Class Hours per Week

Average Class Hours per Week

Laptop 23 842 37

PC/Laptop 6 198 33

PC 2 63 31

Unix 2 16 8

Summer 2003 7

Laptop ModelsYear IBM

ThinkPadCPU / Speed Memory

(MB)Hard Disk (GB)

Resolution

1999 600E 366 MHz Pentium III

128 6.4 1024x768

2000 T20 700 MHz Pentium III

128 12 1024x768

2001 T22 900 MHz Pentium III

256 32 1400x1050

2002 T30 1.8 GHz Pentium 4M

256 40 1024x768

Summer 2003 8

Issues

• Are laptops used for upper level classes?• Is a technology refresh necessary?• What is the student perspective after 4 years?• How is the Mobile Computing Program doing?• How should we change the MCP in the future?

Summer 2003 9

Student Survey - Process• Committee developed questions• WebCT on-line survey given in freshmen calculus

classes• Paper surveys given in selected senior level classes • Paper data manually entered using Excel• On-line and paper data combined• 858 responses returned• Analyze data

Summer 2003 10

Student ProfileStudent Profile

0 100 200 300 400 500

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year

En

tere

d R

PI

Count

Female

Male

27% Female 73% Male

Summer 2003 11

Laptop ProfileLaptop Model Distribution

0 100 200 300 400 500

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Ye

ar

En

tere

d R

PI

Count

ThinkPad 600E

ThinkPad T20

ThinkPad T22

ThinkPad T30

Non-RPI

93% purchase or lease from Mobile Computing Program.Over 40% of 1999 students upgraded.

Summer 2003 12

Courses and LaptopsYear Entered RPI

Average Number of

Courses Requiring

Laptop Use

Average Number of Courses Using Laptops in Class

Percentage of Students With No Courses That Use Laptop in Class

1999 3.4 1.4 40%

2000 4.5 1.7 19%

2001 4.5 2.5 14%

2002 5.8 3.6 2%

Summer 2003 13

Q18 - Laptop PerformanceLaptop Model Poor / Unacceptable

PerformancePoor / Unacceptable

Reliability

ThinkPad 600E 34% 34%

ThinkPad T20 13% 17%

ThinkPad T22 12% 20%

ThinkPad T30 6% 10%

Non-RPI 8% 8%

Summer 2003 14

Q17 – Desktop at RPILaptop Model Have a Desktop

ThinkPad 600E 44%

ThinkPad T20 41%

ThinkPad T22 33%

ThinkPad T30 21%

Non-RPI 50%

Summer 2003 15

Q37 – Comments

Subject Negative Mixed Positive

Education (distraction)** 58 9 5

Options (vendors, models) 43 1 0

IBM / ThinkPad 13 0 13

Mobility (desktops) 51 7 48

Network (wireless) 43 4 4

Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys

** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey

Summer 2003 16

Q37 – Comments (cont)

Subject Negative Mixed Positive

Software (OS, packages) 37 0 0

Other (social, complaints) 55 3 6

Quality (HW problems)** 42 0 1

Performance (video, speed)** 43 0 2

Value (cost)** 32 1 3

Number of unsolicited comments out of 858 surveys

** - comments similar to those from Spring 2000 survey

Summer 2003 17

Student Comments Take Away

• Want laptop models tailored for their department, both hardware and software

• Want more choices – IBM models, Macs, options• Laptops are a distraction in class• Want more wireless network coverage• Electronic Arts and Architecture students feel

they need a desktop (memory, video, hard disk)

Summer 2003 18

Conclusions

• Laptop technology enhances learning, collaboration, and workplace skills

• Students satisfied with the Mobile Computing Program but want options

• Laptops need to be used more in upper level classes

• Students from some departments question value of laptop mobility versus desktop power and cost

Summer 2003 19

Changes to Consider

• Multiple vendors, multiple models• Expand and tailor software offerings• Standard software preinstalled, students install

department specific software as they need it• Make laptop refresh automatic• Increase wireless network coverage• Increase laptop usage in upper level classes