Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!tank!mimsy!haven!rutgers!njin!limonce From: limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Not MY NeXT Computer Message-ID: Date: 27 Oct 88 03:15:02 GMT Article-I.D.: pilot.Oct.26.23.15.01.1988.7779 References: <5@sierra.stanford.edu> Distribution: comp.sys.next Organization: NJ InterCampus Network, New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 48 In article <5@sierra.stanford.edu> siegman@sierra.Stanford.EDU (Anthony E. Siegman) writes: > 2) More important: I've seen the MIT Project Athena style of using of > computers for education: centrally developed and controlled > educational softwave, runnable only on high-performance > workstations, which are available only in clusters that students have to > go to; and I've seen the more open Stanford approach: near-universal > availability of PCs at low cost through the Bookstore's Microdisc > program, multiple ``let a thousand flowers bloom'' program > development efforts at many places on campus, upward evolution of a > Macintosh standard through consumer choice, low-cost software > distribution through Kinko's and and bboards and user > groups, networked Macs in every other dorm room on campus, floppies > handed out in class. I like the Stanford approach a LOT better. You'd really love a visit to Drew University. They are very small (1800 students in their College of Liberal Arts, 100 students grad, 200 students in the Theological School... about 2200 students total). They were the first liberal arts school to include a PC with every tuition. I'm in their college of liberal arts now. It's pretty nice to have a 1:1 PC:student ratio. Students take their computers with them after graduation. All this at a liberal arts school? Yes. As of a couple months ago they are now all networked together to a really big mail-server (VAX 6220). The picture will be a little more complete when the library automation software comes in this spring and 100% of the students will be able to do research from their dorm rooms. It's nice to have a 19.2Kbps connection that I can use while I'm in bed. All this at a liberal arts school? Yes. The educational impact is great. Chemisty Lab manuals are handed out on disk (WordPerfect format). Spanish Drill&Practice software is handed out on disk. Teachers hand out special info via email. Students and faculty communicate with news-like software. Assignments are handed in via email. Phone bills from the campus-wide phone system are handed out via email (ugh! I don't think I'll be checking my email this week; they're due out very soon :-) All this at a liberal arts school and it works? Yes. (so far!) Tom "not speaking for the school" Limoncelli -- Tom Limoncelli -- Student Network Supervisor Drew University, Box 1060, Madison NJ 07940 -- 201-408-5389 new->> tlimonce@drunivac.Bitnet -- limonce@pilot.njin.net "The opinions expressed are mine... just mine." "Network Theory? Just say node!"