--- Forwarded Message from Carly Born <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 18:26:46 -0600
>From: Carly Born <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #6607 Students downloading programs
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>
>User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/9.0.1.3108

------------------
At my previous institution they used Fortress, but had nothing but problems
with it.  I'm sorry I didn't handle that installation, so I don't have much
to offer down that road.

But our Student Computing Coordinator here has instituted a wonderful system
with a software called PCRDist.  This is a system that, on every logout or
shut down, the system files are checked against a master setup.  Anything
that has been changed is set back to the original setup and anything new is
deleted.  He has it setup so that it runs after every time our students
logout, which they are encouraged to do when they leave the lab.  The
refreshing process take about 2 minutes and then it reboots itself and is
ready for the next person.

We like it because it keeps the machines clean and it's also an easy way to
add new software.  We just add it to the master and then they have it the
next time they reboot.

Of course, this requires a server and some overhead to make sure it all
works nicely.  But once it works, it's great!

_________________________________
Carly J. Born 
[log in to unmask]
Academic Computing Coordinator
Literature & Foreign Languages
Carleton College


> 
> We have about 58 PC's running Word in our labs, all of which are
> accessible to our international students for self-access.  Although we
> stress at new student orientations (and in signs all over the labs and
> on each monitor) that students are not to download programs or fonts in
> their own language, they continue to do so.  We explain that downloading
> programs changes system folders and cause other difficulties, but it
> makes no difference to the students.  We were told about some software
> called "Fortress" that will prevent students from doing this, but we
> can't find this company.  Could anyone help with information about
> Fortress or some other software that we could use?  I should mention
> that on Friday afternoons, we do reimage the computers and change from
> Netscape to Internet Explorer to allow students to write in their own
> language, but the rest of the time we want the labs to be English Only,
> in keeping with our immersion program policy.  We would appreciate any
> suggestions you might have.
> 
> --
> Barbara Siennicki
> Head Teacher, CALL
> English Language Institute
> University of British Columbia
> 2121 West Mall
> Vancouver, B.C.
> Canada  V6T 1Z4
> 
>