aitlab 1 ewusi-mensah, seal, abraham developing a collaborative learning facility to support...

AITLAB 1 Ewusi-Mensah, Seal, Abraham

Developing a Collaborative Learning Facility to Support Advanced Information Systems Courses: The LMU Experience

Kweku Ewusi-MensahKala C. Seal

Dolphy M. Abraham

College of Business AdministrationLoyola Marymount University

Supported in part by NSF Award Number DUE-9651096


Overview

Need for the Project The Proposal Implementation

Organizational Issues Technical Issues

Impact on Classes Lessons Learned and Conclusion


Project Need

Computer Information Systems program Emphasis within Business Major 3 Advanced Electives

Existing facilities were geared for ALL Business and Liberal Arts courses

As the Program grew, we needed Dedicated facility for the CIS program for

Electives Support Collaborative Learning in CIS courses Provide hands-on experience


Proposal Development Initiation Funding Sources

Corporate (Restrictions, lots of K-12 Support) NSF (Under Computer Science ILI/IP, now CCLI)

Major Ideas Emphasized in the Proposal Use of Electronic support for Groupwork and

Communications Innovative Approach Integrative Components Project as the Key Teaching and open laboratory


Proposal Development Budget Plan

Hardware Needs educational pricing, pre-research is needed

Software Network

Needs technical help for accurate estimate, else components may be left out causing lack of funds later on

Needs matching fund from the University and must have a sign off

Facility Planning Space Commitment Infrastructure

Could not be paid from the grant, needed university commitment


Implementation Organizational Issues

Allocation of Space and Infrastructure In our case caused Delays in implementation

Facility size restricts future growth Barely meets the current demand, marked

increase in interest after the Lab Institutional lack of technical support

Before, During and After implementation Resulted in huge drain on faculty time to solve

small technological issues thus taking time away from learning applications for the class

Grant conditions precluded external consultants


ImplementationTechnical Issues

Vendor Selection and Purchasing: Factors Cost and performance After Sales Service Compatibility with University StandardGet a machine beforehand to do the test drive before

final purchase. Installation

Technical details for network set-up and connection Security issues

Working with Windows NT 4.0: Set-up and Operations Not very straightforward Need to get resources for pre-training


ImplementationOther Issues

Learning curve made harder by lack of in-house technical support

Maintaining the facility Student hours for keeping the LAB open beyond

class hours Technical Support is a must OK for small class, but can get out of hand soon


Impact on Classes

Significant Hands-on Experience and Enhanced Learning

Students use Commercial Software such as Oracle, Systems Architect. Clicknet, etc.

File Sharing using the Windows NT/2K Server Quality of student work significantly improved

Before the Lab, quality was polarized Quality of understanding was dependent on

outside support LAB provides a common base for all thus

improving overall quality


Impact Continued..

New Courses scheduled Electronic Commerce (undergraduate and MBA) Software Development

Platforms: Visual Basic, Java, C++ Object Oriented Analysis and Design using UML

Data Mining Other Courses redesigned

Business Telecommunications course included significant hands-on part including simulations

Database allowed use of Industry level software


20/20 Vision: Lessons Learned Think of an Innovative Component that can impact the

Curriculum Get the support and commitment for the place and

required infrastructure Get your spouse a job in the University IS department or

use all of your charms to make friends there! Get resources for training on network set-up and

maintenance or get a person who knows these to run the lab

GET TENURE FIRST!! Try to do it with colleagues, else Implementation can be a

nightmare While purchasing, negotiate, negotiate, negotiate, and look

for after sales service records Sign-off on good part of two years of your life!

aitlab 1 ewusi-mensah, seal, abraham developing a collaborative learning facility to support...

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