--- Forwarded Message from "Dente, Edmund N." <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Subject: RE: #8257.2 (!) printer control software?
>Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 14:43:58 -0400
>Thread-Topic: #8257.2 (!) printer control software?
>Thread-Index: AcaGckwGDatTatr8QhiK1gmjktRC1wAAJgaA
>From: "Dente, Edmund N." <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum"
<[log in to unmask]>
We have a great Pay-for-Print system in all our labs and in our library.
It puts the burden for overly long print jobs exactly where it belongs:
on the student.
This networked, software and hardware system uses re-fillable print
cards on which the students can maintain a balance (10 cents per B&W
page, 50 cents color)and print release stations between the computers
and the printers. What's nice about it, beside the obvious student
self-controlled (if that's not an oxymoron) constraints on abuse of the
printing system, is that the company we contract with for the software
replaces cartridges, ink and paper in all the printers at no cost to us
whenever they are needed. This whole system is at no cost to us at all,
but is supported fully by student purchase and re-charge of the cards.
So it's gone down a couple of times briefly. Doesn't everything? It has
taken most of the issues you are struggling with off our minds, and it
reinforces student self-restraint by way of a most important tool:
economic self-interest.
Cheers,
Ed
===========================================
Edmund N. Dente
Director, Language Media Center
Ass't Director, Media Services
Tufts University Medford, MA 02155
[log in to unmask] 617.627.3036
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor
> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 2:16 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: #8257.2 (!) printer control software?
>
> --- Forwarded Message from Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
> >Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:16:36 -0600
> >From: Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
> <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: #8257 printer control software?
> >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >References: <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I'd love to hear some discussion on how to approach this printing
problem
> conceptually. We haven't been able to think of a solution
sufficiently
> flexible and intelligent to handle our usage patterns.
>
> During classes, most printing happens at the end of class, when
everyone
> is
> in a hurry to print and turn in the assignment (or take it away with
> them).
> Anything that would slow down the process would be a problem. In
this
> type of class, every print job is likely to be valid. The teacher
> certainly can't put their focus on approving print queue requests, and
> would be very unhappy with the busy work of approving 100% of the
> requests.
>
>
> During classes that include web browsing and student printing of
> interesting materials, the biggest problem is that students hit
"Print"
> intending to get the one page that they are looking at, and end up
> printing
> many subsequent pages of extraneous material. Again, the teacher will
not
> want to focus on maintaining the printer queue, and will not have any
easy
> way to judge whether a 5 page print job request is valid, or
represents 4
> wasted pages.
>
> Our biggest problem with paper wasting is during non-class use. How
can
> we
> monitor the drop-in students' print jobs? We don't know the content
or
> the
> appropriate size of the jobs. We could have a lab attendant approve
> anything under a certain page count, but there would be time pressure
> problems. Most printing requests are shortly before the next class
will
> start. Students will leave, if they can't get their printout quickly.
> This leads to valid print jobs being thrown into the recycling bin,
and
> places too big a burden on the staff during the rush periods.
>
> I've wondered if we could find a way to automatically truncate every
print
> job at one, or possibly two, pages. Students who wanted to print more
> would be able to print additional print jobs, but the hassle would
> dissuade
> some of the abuse. We would probably have to turn that limit off,
during
> some classes.
>
> I think we may have to give each student a printing account, with a
> certain
> page count per semester. That has overhead and usability problems,
too.
> What if the student is in class, and required to print and hand in an
> assignment, and has used up their page allotment?
>
> Has anyone else come up with a system that works well for these kinds
of
> printing scenarios? We use Macs, but for me, the conceptual problem
> precedes the software implementation problem.
>
> Derek
>
> > I write to ask if anyone knows
> > of some kind of software out there in the world that could be
installed
> > on each student station and the teacher control station (all running
XP)
> > that would allow the teacher control station to act as a queue into
> which
> > student print requests would line up and from which permission to
print
> > would be granted, thereby saving reams and reams of wasted paper.
>
> Derek Roff
> Language Learning Center
> Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
> University of New Mexico
> Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
> 505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
> Internet: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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