By Cristina Chillem
Lincoln computer lab 020 is about to be shown a lot of lovin’. The decision was made yesterday, April 13th, at the visual, performing and communication arts department meeting, that they would seize an opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
The college has offered the department a complete update on the present hardware and software in the lab. It could be ultimately transformed into a thriving Mac Lab, featuring Mac equipment and programs. The college simply instructed the professors to “make a list” of all the equipment and programs they need. Eager to enhance the quality of the communications and music programs, professors explored possibilities of 52’ inch screens and digital programs.
The money for the updates would be coming from the school’s grant money. Such an expenditure is far from a hasty or irrational decision. Mac’s have been proving themselves in classrooms across the country.
John Droz Jr., of Emerald Isle has worked in the computer field for more than 30 years. He’s volunteered thousands of hours of computer assistance to students and teachers. He has developed a website that offers Mac vs. PC information. The site studies how Mac computers compare to PCs, and is dedicated to debunking Mac and PC myths.
Numerous studies have shown that students are more creative and more productive when working on Mac computers, than when working with PCs. The website states that teachers too, prefer working with Macs over PCs. And that has been the fact for essentially every independent survey ever recorded. Another reason for choosing Mac computers in the classroom over PCs, is that Apple servers are more secure than Windows servers. This means there are significantly fewer hacks onto MAC servers by students than there are on PC servers. Also, the website states that, “ Countrywide experience in all levels of educational institutions and business has conclusively demonstrated that Macs are easier to maintain than PCs.” Most importantly, when factoring all aspects of ownership, Macs have shown to be $400 less expensive than PCs.
The lab has 18 seats and computers. The new furniture it received last summer, is arranged in a circle for effective computer lab classes. Professor Fred Herr of digital photography explains his teaching technique in a lab class: to have the students gather around the center instructors table for discussion and than wheel over to their computers for activity while he monitors their work. Because the computers are set up strategically facing the inside of the room, rather than in rows, Herr can be confident no one has wondered out of the lesson and into fun, such as Facebook.
The professors have set April 30th as the deadline for their list of software and hardware. When it will be approved, when the transition will take place, when it will be re- opened? The answers to these questions themselves remain widely open. Herr himself is skeptical of the college actually following through with their offer. He said, “I heard things like this in the past. I’ll believe it when I see it.” Hopefully, the college won’t deny its students such a quality update to their campus.