MANAGING A COMPUTER TEACHING LABORATORY

This paper seeks to synthesize key issues that arise in the course of both the short- and long-term operations of a computer teaching labora tory. As background to the facility's management, the first section de als with initial setup issues as they impact future operations. Such c onsiderations include decisions on establishing a single- or multipurp ose facility, designing for an open laboratory layout versus a teachin g configuration, hidden costs, and utilizing resources to get the most value for your money. The body of the paper examines everyday operati onal problems. These include setting policies on laboratory access, st rategies for dealing with a high student-per-machine ratio, and provis ions for maintenance, staffing, hardware, software, and data security. The final section addresses more long-term management considerations such as avenues for obtaining hardware and software upgrades, networki ng demands, and generally working around increasing demand with static or limited resources. Potential policies for avoiding problems at eac h stage are outlined.