Sun Ray Project Goals and Objectives and Assessment Plan

Submitted by: Ron Ray

Contact persons: Jim Falcone, Ron Ray

Title of project: Residence Halls Pilot

October 30, 2000 (revised Nov.1, 2000)

  1. Abstract of project (150 words or less)

    2. This proposal places Sun Ray appliances in up to four residence halls, one per room, this academic year. Students in these halls will help the university assess whether Sun Rays provide academic and economic advantages over the current situation. The current situation is one where the university provides network access in the residence halls and computers in labs; students provide their own computers and software for their rooms. Under this current arrangement students in residence halls lack a common computing environment (shared server space or computer platform).

    Placing Sun Ray appliances in residence halls this year allows us to explore a different model for addressing academic, economic, and support issues related to student computing resources.

  2. Statement of project goals

The project explores these questions:

Academic:
  • Can Sun Ray appliances stand in place of Windows and Macintosh computers in residence halls and provide the functionality students need?
  • Will students with Sun Rays have more convenient access to academic software used in their courses?
  • Does access to software not compatible with Solaris need to be provided in order for the Sun Rays to meet student academic needs (through a Windows Terminal or Citrix Server)?
  • Will students with Sun Rays find it easier to submit and exchange their work with their professors; as well facilitate collaborative work between students enrolled in a course?

Economic:
  • Will a leasing model based on MTU’s (see attachments) cover costs of Sun Ray appliances, peripherals, and software?
  • Will leasing appliances reduce student (parents’) expenditures on hardware/software?
  • Will appliances in residence halls reduce the number of workstations and upgrades needed in campus computer labs?
  • Will appliances reduce the campus investment in software licenses?
  • Will appliances reduce technical support costs (RTAs and network engineers), particularly at the onset of Fall semester?
  1. Expected outcomes of the project, described in terms of faculty development, teaching effectiveness, student learning, and technology innovation (critical!)

    2. Outcomes looked for are 1) increased student access to a common computing and academic software environment and 2) lower costs for students and the university to support computers in residence halls.

    Moreover, we expect the project to help us determine whether leasing Sun Ray appliances in residence halls is a viable, or more advantageous, alternative for students and the university than current practices.

  2. Describe steps for project implementation and assessment, including a proposed time-line (what will you do over the next one – two years, etc.).

    3. Fall 2000. Install Sun Rays in one residence hall (John Ballantyne or Casa Jackson) as an early pilot effort.

    January 2001. Install Sun Rays in up to three additional residence halls.

    February 2001. Provide training to students; in particular, reach students in courses using software on the Sun Ray server.

    February-March 2001. Develop potential leasing models and procedures with appropriate campus departments.

    April 2001. Survey students with Sun Rays to gather data for answering questions in item 2 above.

    Analyze technical support calls for Sun Rays in residence halls.

    Based on surveys and analysis, propose options and plans for Sun Ray appliances in residences halls 2001/2002.

    April – August 2001. If approved, implement Sun Ray leasing plan and technical infrastructure for residence halls.

  3. How will project success and outcomes (teaching effectiveness, student learning, faculty development, technology innovation, etc.) be measured?
  • What data will be gathered as evidence?

We will gather data about 1) student perceptions of Sun Ray environment, e.g., ease of use, access to academic software, use of system for collaborative purposes; and 2) technical support logs for Sun Rays and other computers in residence halls.
  • What assessment methodology is to be used?

Survey of students who have Sun Rays in their rooms.

Review of RTA technical support logs for residence hall Sun Rays in comparison to student-owned PCs.
  1. Project participants
  • Include names of project managers:

Student Life and Housing (Assistant Dean, Jim Falcone) and Educational Technology Services (Coordinator, Ron Ray) staffs.
  • List or describe key faculty, staff, and student participants (how many?)

Potentially 728 students living in the residence halls designated (in item 7 below). Most of the Sun Rays placed under this proposal will be in double rooms, providing access to two students per appliance.

Residence Technology Assistants will provide first-tier technical support and training.
  1. State the number of Sun Ray machines requested and location of each

Cowell Health Center, 2nd floor: 17

Casa Jackson: 36

John Ballantyne: 59

Southwest: 154

Grace Covell 180

Total 446 *

* Presently, these numbers include some common areas and lounges in the halls.
  • What issues are involved in placing machines in this location? Consider how the location is currently used, how it may need to be modified, who will be affected, and whose approval is required, as applicable.

Commitment to the project by residential student associations in the designated halls is essential so that students participate fully in the project.
  1. Describe or list software applications, peripheral equipment, or functions that must be supported in order to support the way faculty, staff, or students will use the technology. A list of software applications to be available on the Sun Ray is available at http://library.uop.edu/sunray/software.html

    2. Networked printers in designated halls and a system for funding and maintaining supplies.

  2. Describe technical issues related to implementation (This question is optional – as you are able, please provide information that will help OISR analyze technical requirements for your proposal.)
  • What environmental issues exist? Adequate ventilation? Adequate security?
  • Is there adequate power, network wiring and NAMS, closet space?
  1. Describe levels and types of assistance needed to implement the project
  • What kinds of technical assistance? Training?

We anticipate that the RTA program will provide most of the on-site support and training. OISR system administrators will be impacted creating and administering individual and group accounts, for printers, software licenses, etc.
  1. What resources are needed to complete the project?
  • Consider such items as furniture, workstations, printers, peripheral equipment or software, etc.

Printer administration in the Sun Ray environment needs to be developed. Quotes need to be obtained from vendors for on-site printing services.
  • What new human resources, if any, are necessary to maintain the project?

For the scope of the project this current academic year, no additional human resources beyond those currently planned are required. Assessment of the project outcomes will indicate whether additional staff resources are needed to sustain Sun Rays in halls under a leasing model.
  1. Describe plans or prospects for and potential needs related to project continuation or expansion.

    2. If the project provides generally positive answers to the questions to be studied (item 2 above), a long term operational program needs to be developed.

    The Sun Ray environment as currently implemented is limited to software that is compatible with the Solaris operating system. In order to provide the level of functionality students have with their PCs and to insure access to academic software licenses, the Sun Ray system will probably have to be augmented with a Citrix Metaframe or Windows Terminal sever.

  2. Other issues, comments, concerns.