--- Forwarded Message from Phade Orion Vader <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 21:23:19 -0600
>From: Phade Orion Vader <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5308 Email Prevention and Cure?
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
At 03:12 PM 11/8/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>--- Forwarded Message from "Sue Breeyear" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
>>From: "Sue Breeyear" <[log in to unmask]>
>>Organization: UVM, College of Arts & Sciences
>>To: LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 08:56:02 -0400EDT
>>Subject: Email Prevention and Cure?
>>Priority: normal
>>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>I'm finding that my language-only computer lab is being overrun
>with both language and non-language students sneaking in to look
>at their email throughout the day, not to mention my staff's
>penchant for sitting for hours in front of the computers writing to
>friends.  Since I don't have time to sit at the door and police
>everybody when they come in, I wondered what solution you all
>may be using to prevent the overuse of email in your labs.  I don't
>want to entirely do away with students' ability to use email, as
>some of the instructors want our language students to write to
>students at universities from the target language countries--
>however, it's driving me crazy to wander into the computer lab and
>see eight or ten people chatting on my expensive computers!  Any
>suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Sue
>
>Susan Breeyear, Language Resource Center Coordinator
>200 Southwick Building
>University of Vermont
>Burlington, Vermont 05405
>
>VOICE:802-656-7856
>FAX:  802-656-0212
>email: [log in to unmask]
>http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmlrc/index.html
>
We have had similar problems here at Texas Tech.  Our Computer Lab is
inside the main Language Lab facility, with glass windows facing into the
main area, so we have that one mercy to help us with this problem.

We experienced E-mailers and Web surfers alike, and since Tech has a number
of public, general-purpose computer labs spread around campus, we tried not
to feel guilty in starting to combat this.  Like you, there were days when
my staff would come tell me that a student was trying to complete an
assignment but the Computer Lab was "full".

I put "full" in quotes because everyone who enters the Language Lab is
supposed to check-in, and all stations--audio, viewing or computer--are
assigned.  We would have 8 people checked into the Computer Lab officially,
along with 10 others who had somehow appeared {I like your term "sneaking"
} and started using the equipment.  The day I saw the Tupperware Web site
on one student's screen was when I knew we needed to do something {no
offense to Tupperware... great stuff in the kitchen, but not as E-commerce
in my language computer lab!}

We use the security program Fortress {by Fortress-Grand Corp.}, and it was
easy to put the E-mail and Web browser icons in a locked folder on the
desktop.  We then provided the pass code to our own graduate students only
{who have free access and often do use these machines for their E-mail}.
For general undergrads, though, we setup special folders, on a temporary
basis, to meet the demand of class assignments, and each instructor is
given a unique pass code for their class.  This whole process seems to
emphasize in the students' minds that legitimate use is expected.  Even
though we don't currently use monitoring software, we don't advertise to
the contrary.  Sure, the codes quickly get spread around, but the
assignments are usually short-lived and the folder is then removed so
there's no real gain.

Plus, like I saw another respondent mention, we have put up notices about
using the Computer Lab for language studies.  Peer pressure can also help,
and we've also instructed our HelpDesk staff to not be shy about
investigating any overly long or reported suspect non-language use of a
computer.

Hope this helps--good luck with everything.

Phade    :)


Phade Orion Vader, Director
Language Learning Laboratory
Texas Tech University
Phone 806 742 3151
    FAX 806 742 3306