Are Computer Labs Still Needed by Western’s Students?

Issue 35, Winter 2006

by Larry Gilbert

Computers and computer networks seem to have become almost ubiquitous. We know that over 90% of our students own their own computers. Along with the increase in student ownership of computers, we also know that many students have purchased portable laptop computers that can easily be brought to campus. A strong majority of students now have access to broadband internet access at home or in their dorm rooms, meaning that many students no longer have to come to campus to enjoy high-speed network access. Drop by the local coffee shop and there’s a student we know surfing the web while they enjoy their breakfast coffee. Pass through the Library and you nearly always see students using laptop computers on Western’s wireless network. Doesn’t all this mean that fixed campus computer labs are going the way of the dinosaur?

You would think that would be the case, but utilization figures for Western’s computer labs show that use of computer labs by students is increasing at a robust rate rather than slacking off.

What Are the Facts About Computer Lab Use?

The facts of computer lab utilization soundly contradict the prediction of the demise of fixed computer labs. A quick look at the longitudinal utilization statistics for the 24 hour general university labs in Haggard Hall and two newly added Communications Building labs tells much of the story (see graph below.) Review of the data shows that the addition of 50 new computer lab seats in the Communications Building had only a marginal effect on weekly use of the labs in Haggard Hall. The new labs quickly rose to near capacity usage, while students continued use of the existing labs at about the same pace as before. The total number of weekly lab seat hours used in just these four computer labs show that utilization increased from 3,758 seat hours in 2004 to 6,663 seat hours this fall – an increase of 77%.

Although the seats in these two new labs did not affect use of two of the most heavily used existing computer labs, it’s possible that they caused a decrease in use of lab seats elsewhere on campus. However, the figures for campus-wide use of computer labs and wireless computing show that overall utilization increased elsewhere on campus too, despite a significant increase in the number of both computer labs seats and wireless computers (see graph).

Note 1: Seat hours available are the number of seats in a lab X 78 hours of average availability weekly. Seat hours used are the number of seat hours available times the average percentage of seats used.

Note 2: The data elements were gathered through a physical inventory of actual student computer lab use during winter, 2004, and fall, 2005. While not an accurate picture statistically of computer lab use throughout the school year, the data are a reliable guide to trends in computer lab utilization.

Campus-wide Use of Computer Labs and Wireless Computing

Student Use of All Labs Increased Significantly

In short, nearly every indicator of utilization of computer labs increased from 2004 to 2005. The number of fixed computer lab seats available increased for both departmental and general university categories, for a total increase of 182 lab seats. The number of lab seat hours available to students increased by 22%. In addition, the number of wireless computers available to students increased over the last year from 66 units to 96 units. Despite this significant increase in availability of both computer lab seats and wireless computers, increases in student demand still outstripped the significant increase in supply.

The chart indicates this large increase in lab utilization in several ways. First, the total number of seat hours used weekly by Western’s students increased from 27,633 to 39,748 – an increase of 22%. The number of seat hours used went up substantially for departmental labs (+33%), general university labs (+49%), and wireless computing (+60%). Student use of computers went up so substantially that the percentage of the increased number of available seats used by students actually rose from 2004 to 2005; that is, 43% of the 1,188 seats available in 2005 were used, versus 36% of the 1,006 seats available in 2004.

What Explains the Increases?

One thing we know for certain is that Western’s students had indicated in 2002-2003 that they thought the campus had too few computer lab seats. A survey conducted by a CBE marketing class asked students what problems students were having with Western’s technology resources. The #1 concern cited by students was “Lack of computer lab seats for student use.” The #2 concern indicated was “Too many classes meeting in student computer labs.” These responses indicate that there was likely a substantial pent-up demand for use of computer lab seats, coupled with a too-limited supply of available labs. It appears that once the supply of lab seats increased, pent-up demand simply found an outlet and immediately filled the new supply of seats.

Other possible explanations for the increase include:

Increase in number of classes in computer labs: As shown in the chart above, the number of classes meeting in computer labs increased in both the departmental and general university categories. Since the classes noted in the chart were only those noted during the physical lab inventory process, there was likely an even greater increase in the number of classes meeting in labs than indicated here. This increase in scheduling of classes has two notable effects: a) Scheduled use of labs for classes makes labs unavailable for drop-in use and pushes student use to nearby labs; and b) An increase in use of computer labs by faculty likely also indicates an increase in the amount of student work required to be completed in computer labs (e.g. by requiring use of specialized software for completion of assignments in labs).

General increase in number of computer-based assignments: Over the last year, increased faculty/student traffic through the Student Technology Center indicates significant increases in the number of computer-based and multimedia assignments faculty members are giving to students. Many of these assignments require use of specialized software typically unavailable on student home computers, but readily available on university lab computers (e.g. Photoshop and SPSS).

Use of different categories of lab computers for differential purposes: Students seem to use different types of campus computers for different purposes. Wireless laptop computers tend to be used for surfing the web and working among groups of students. Departmental computer labs are typically used for access to specialized departmental software or proximity to faculty and staff help. General university labs tend to be utilized more by both lower division students and students needing access to expensive specialized software licensed by ATUS.

More capable computers attract more student use: As labs and lab computers age, student use tends to decline. Conversely, when new computers and/or upgraded facilities are provided, student use goes up.

What Does the Future Hold for Campus Computer Labs?

Needless to say, the previous predictions of the demise of computer labs were unfounded. This tends to make one cautious about making further predictions. However, given the trends noted above, it does seem safe to say that use of Western’s computer labs is likely to stay at least at the same level indicated by current data. At the very least enrollment will grow, meaning that utilization is likely to at least grow in step with that growth. Increased dependence on the web, increases in faculty use of specialized software for class assignments, and general increases in the application of computing to teaching and learning all seem to indicate that use of computer labs by students will continue to grow.

The new Academic Instruction Center includes plans for the addition of seventy new fixed computer lab seats and up to fifty collaborative lab seats for general university use beginning in 2008. ATUS will continue monitoring utilization of existing labs by students between now and then to determine if these new seats are needed to keep pace with student demand – or if older computer lab seats can be retired at the time AIC is made available. Colleges and departments operating computer labs for students should also take a careful look at lab utilization data when planning use or expansion of their labs. Comprehensive computer lab utilization data is available by contacting Larry Gilbert at 650-3361, email Larry.Gilbert@wwu.edu.