Wireless mobile labs are delivered à la carte

By Anne-Marie Curatolo, Communications Coordinator, IITS

When students in Chemistry 271 enter their class on Thursday evenings to study topics like protein structure and enzyme kinetics, they are able to simulate experiments, such as the purification of proteins – all without visiting a lab.

With the addition of wireless mobile labs to each campus, professors can now hold classes just about anywhere in the building, turning every classroom into a potential computer lab.

With lab space at a premium, it didn’t take long for Professor Joanne Turnbull to realize the benefit of turning her classroom into a lab.

“Everyone wants to use the computer labs at Loyola. If we didn’t have these [mobile labs], we couldn’t have run the session because there was no space,” Turnbull said. She teaches the Chemistry 271 course using a program called X-View, which simulates experiments.

Max Di Bitonto, classroom technology coordinator, SGW, Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS), feels that flexibility plays a key role in making these laptop carts so desirable to faculty.

“If the labs are booked during certain hours, the course has to work around the schedule of the lab. With the mobile cart, professors can work on their own schedule,” he said.

The 30-unit laptop storage cart is delivered to the classroom by an IITS technician who can offer pointers on how to use the wireless features, as well as how and where to store work on the laptops. “Students don’t have to displace themselves from their class to go to a lab. The lab comes to them, allowing more time to concentrate on assignments,” Di Bitonto said.

Carts are currently available for deployment in rooms equipped with a wireless access point on both the SGW and Loyola campuses. All users must have a valid student I.D. card and a wireless account (visit iits.concordia.ca for details).

Di Bitonto also noted that the labs make a fantastic resource for departments that regularly hold training workshops for staff and faculty.

The department of Human Resources and Employee Relations makes use of a mobile lab for their Accreditation of College Studies (ACS) classes. The course, which is geared to permanent full-time employees without a post high-school diploma, takes place in their training room.

“The fact that it’s wireless allows us to quickly change the set-up of the room for another meeting,” said Magalie Kanho, senior training and organizational development advisor.

“There is also no risk of accidents, like someone stepping on a cable. The room looks much cleaner with this type of environment.” She noted that typical PCs take up too much room with the screen, CPU and keyboard.

Kanho, who also makes use of the mobile lab for testing job applicants, has an optimistic outlook for the future of the lab within her department. “I’m sure we’ll find lots of other interesting uses for it!” The technology is currently accessible by booking at least three days in advance at sgwbook@alcor.concordia.ca or loybook@alcor.concordia.ca. For questions regarding laptop use, please contact the Helpline at ext. 7613 or send an e-mail to help@concordia.ca. Questions about software availability and installation issues should be directed to ctechelp@alcor.concordia.ca.