Tablet Issues
Okay so this is my blog and I can be honest. I am getting a little weary of a lot of the misinformation, whining and lack of appreciation for what DSU is doing and has done in the area of technology integration. So to students and others this is my attempt to vent a little of my frustration and also get students better informed
Just a couple of things I want to remind you about. We made a decision to lease tablets because it was the cheapest alternative $275 semester when we started ( please note that this compares with $550 a semester at places like University of Minnesota Crookston and Winona State). What students also seem to misunderstand is that this fee is not just a "lease" fee for the tablet it also gives students the most wireless campus in the region, help desk support, software, and a faculty that are the most technologically engaged and sophisticated you will find anywhere. Also a public and employers that acknowledge that the level of technology experience on this campus is second to none. Now if you have no interest in technology this isn't the place for you to be but if you think that technology might have something to do with your future then you are exactly in the right place. There is a value added to your education here at DSU. You may not realize this until you go out there and try and find a job and you will see the respect currently afforded our graduates. You should also visit with students at such places as SDSU -( the ag school to our north) their student body is entirely frustrated by the lack of technology sophistication on that campus. I am planning on posting this section on my blog because I do think students need to think and understand what you are really getting here!! I invite comments and arguments. Doug
posted by DSU President at 11:41 AM
26 Comments:
Here here. Let's hope the word gets out and we can clarify what the advantages are of having the lease and not having to deal with any problems on your own.
6:44 PM
I can understand your frustration. When you're working hard for people and you get the feeling no one really knows how much work you're really doing or you feel they don't fully appreciate how hard you're working for them, it can be quite an aggravating experience. There really was a lot of misinformation in the beginning of the ordeal, but I think your personal involvement was beneficial to the whole situation. When the President of the university is actually sending out e-mails keeping everyone up to date on the situation and holding informational meetings, it's a lot harder for rumors to spread.
I, for one, appreciate all the hard work you and everyone involved did to fix this sticky situation! Thanks for keeping us all updated with e-mails and even coming onto facebook and posting in "The Tablet Dilemma."
1:43 AM
Dr. Knowlton,
I think DSU students too often take the technology we have for granted. I am currently student teaching, and I am realizing more than ever that our computer integration and expertise are better than many, many others. I am able to figure out what is wrong with a computer in a matter of seconds when it takes my cooperating teacher and even the technology coordinator quite a while to figure these things out.
As for the cost, who doesn't want it lower?! Everyone seems to think that cheaper is better. Personally, I have complained about the price in the past, but being a Resident Assistant meant I heard about and saw, more than some others on campus, just how much DSU does with the money we pay in. I have 24/7 access to anything on campus and off with my tablet. I can take it into the classroom and teach my students and if something goes wrong, I can go in and (hopefully) get it fixed in a matter of minutes.
I guess I am just writing to tell you that while many people do complain, I know I appreciate what DSU has done for me, especially from a technology standpoint. Please do not let the "whiners" get to you. There are many of us out there that love DSU and its technological advances!!
8:07 PM
when i got my tablet they told me that i was paying a tech fee not a lease to buy the tablet and the form i signed said the same thing so i don't understand the problem. if you look at other schools sites it looks liek they are doing the same thing but for a lot more money. i dont think a lot of our students have ever owned thier own computer before so wouldn't know what it is like trying to call gateway or dell and trying to get help to fix their computer. it is a luxury to be able to go to the computer people and just get a new motherboard like i did instead of having to call gateway adn send my computer to them to fix and talking with tech support for an hour before they give in adn let me send it in for service and then waiting for four weeks to get it back. how do you think they pay for all thier servers and stuff and software adn all that if they don't charge a fee? and if i woudl have bought this same tablet from gateway retail with all thise software at retail price it woudlahve cost me almost 3000 dollars. add in the local support people for it and the wireless network that i get to use anywhere and this thing is worth a lot more than 300 dollars a semester to use. knock off the complaining. dr knowlton probably has better stuff to worry about.
KP
3:00 PM
From a faculty perspective, I consider my access to a tablet an employee benefit. The incredible tech support I have received (I have had more than one hard drive transplant) is also a gift.
Part of higher education is learning to learn and interact with people on a higher level. The tablet adds yet another, critical dimension to this learning; as we practice learning to use technology humanely and effectively here at DSU, we prepare ourselves to be better workers and citizens wherever we go or stay.
Learning to relate to the idea of a tablet (including the ideas of cost, use, and "ownership") is another opportunity DSU affords us--affordably.
3:07 PM
There are avenues for students to have a healthy discussion with their concerns. One being the student senate on Wednesday nights and another being the forums that we have tried to hold in order for students to ask questions.
3:26 PM
There are avenues for students to have a healthy discussion with their concerns. One being the student senate on Wednesday nights and another being the forums that we have tried to hold in order for students to ask questions.
3:27 PM
I think there are basically two problems a lot of people are having with the WMCI.
1. We were all told something different, and most of it was lies. My personal experience was that I was told the fee would be $275 and it would never go up for my class over the next three years when I graduated. That was a lie. I was also told that I would keep it over the summer and the breaks for free, that it would be my tablet until I graduated. That was a lie, after the two years I had to pay money to keep it over the summer, and then when I didn't, I lost my original tablet and was issued a different one with scratches on it, worn out keyboard and touchpad, and I lost the extra memory I had installed in the other one the first year because I thought I'd get the same one back. I think students are having a problem with it because instead of getting the facts straight and telling us the truth we were told all these great things and made promises that couldn't be kept. I understand that the fee had to go up because too many people were taking advantage of the system, and a lot of them are really stupid and don't know how to handle computers with care.
2. We are paying a whole lot of money for these computers, more than what they originally cost. I understand we get support and software, but I had a laptop purchased from Dell going into my freshman year, and this totally wasted that purchase. To date, my tablet has had only one hard drive replacement, and a few keyboard replacements. I've never had any problems with my Dell and thus haven't had to get tech support. I think that if we could have had the option to purchase our own instead of being forced to lease this model of tablet, a lot of people would have ended up happier.
Let me say the software is a really good value for what we pay. We get legal software and it helps us in our daily classes. I also want to mention that I'm not that dissatisfied with the tablet system. I heartily agree with Dr. Knowlten that we get great value out of the WMCI. I've brought my tablet to numerous trips on the weekends as a very mobile pc that I can quickly surf the internet. I used OneNote very extensively as a notebook in classes and it's very useful. I almost never carried a pen around in my pocket because we don't need them. All I need is my tablet, I can quickly tabulate notes, and keep them organized.
I do think that having the tablet has been a good thing for most students. A lot of students that aren't technology majors and that just use computers for things like facebook and msn messenger are the ones who don't recognize value in the WMCI. I think it does represent to employers DSU's commitment to technology and it helps increase our image within the IT world as a great school to get graduates from.
I applaud the efforts that DSU took to get legislature to allow us to purchase our tablets at the end of the term at a reasonable price. Since we have paid well over what they cost initially, we deserve to be able to purchase them at a reasonable price of $25.00. I feel bad for the students that graduated last semester that don't have a computer now because they can't afford to buy a new one, and they thought they'd be getting this one when they left DSU.
I like that you speak candidly on this forum, Dr. Knowlton. I don't think many of the problems DSU has had with the WMCI were that clear cut. I just wish I hadn't been told so many great things in the original presentation trying to sell me on the idea, only to have those things turn out to be untrue later.
3:32 PM
perhaps this information (where the $300 something/semester is going) should be laid out in layman's terms for students. as a student myself, i only understood that this money paid for the computer itself, and have never been told by anyone that this also pays for support, staff, and many other things. Of course students are going to have a problem if they are paying this money every semester without any explanation, and receive nothing in return when they graduate. I would also like to add that i wasnt too pleased that i HAD to lease a tablet this semester (i transfered here 4 years ago, have several computers of my own, and never had to lease a tablet until this semester) AND that i got a crappy M275 instead of a newer computer, which they had plenty of in hand. i understand that these newer computers are an "incentive" for incoming freshman, but how about giving the people that have been AT DSU FOR YEARS a little credit?? whats the retention rate of those incoming freshman anyway? less than 35-40%?? i do feel that technologically i am VERY knowledgeable because of the education that i have received while attending DSU, but the bureaucracy involved is crap.
3:53 PM
I couldn’t live without having the help desk people that can help me with my labtop problems. It sucks having to call Gateway for my mom’s computer at home. I don’t understand why it is in the library. People want to study and get books in the liberary not go for computer help. You should put the help desk and all the computer service people in the science center where their server farm is. Some of their office could be where the speech people are and you could convert a bunch of those classe rooms into offices and put the help desk in the secretaries office or that corner classroom by the door. That way they would be closer to the middle of campus and could have their servers right there to work on and their offices right there to do whatever cool office things people do and their help desk right there. It would feel like you are going somewhere for help instead of just to a cublicle in the middle of the library. The science and math faculty could keep some of htier offices in the middle of the science building but the rest and the speech faculty that get moved out of the corner by the server farm room could move to the computer service building. Losing a couple classrooms would hurt anyone and the offices in the computer service building have windows so they would probably like them better. When I have math in the science center there is no class in the rooms on both sides of us or across the hall and it never seems like the classes I have in beadle hall are busy either. I always wondered why don’t they have computer services in the TC? That would be so awesome if the help desk was in the basement of the TC. You could make like ten nice offices and a cute help desk out of all that space where they have conference rooms and a stage or whatever that is. Eat and buy your books and get your computer fixed! Go up and play pool while you wait!
Rock on.
Laura
4:01 PM
There seems to be a lack of communication. Its like the deans dont understand what is going on with the VIPs and the VIPs dont know what is going on with the tablets and then the students get different information from everyone and the computer people look confused and burned out. Cant you just consolidate all the pertinent info and get it to your staff and teachers so they know the rock hard facts and cant use the excuse that they didnt know or that thats not they way they heard it? That might take pressure off you and your staff so that you can concentrate on keeping the school running instead of fixing bridges that some misinformed people burned up.
9:39 PM
Here are some per-semester laptop fees (most are not Tablet PCs) from a quick google search. Some fees are only required by certain colleges within the university.
University of North Dakota $400
South Dakota School of Mines $350
Valley City State U $499
U of Minnesota Crookston $500
and from further away . . .
University of Connecticut $550
10:13 PM
I wish the tablet was used more in the classes that I have to take. For example, this semester I am taking five classes and only one of the classes is using the tablet. The reason is because the software needed to do the assignments is only on the school's lab computers. I wish that more software could be loaded onto the tablets so that I as a student could use it more in my classes. I feel that I am wasting money on leasing the tablet that students are required to have.
Another area of improvement would be the help desk. I have had to have my computer fixed a couple of times and the workstudy students know little to nothing about the tablet. The help desk's hours are also very strange (9:00am to 3:00pm).
10:27 PM
Applause for Dr. Knowlton!
I am currently a freshman at DSU, and prior to DSU, I have owned my own computer. I have to say in defense of all those students he is speaking of that take this privilege of laptops, maximum technology, and tech support, it is very frustrating when you have an assignment due in 20 min and your internet isn’t working. However, I side with the Doctor! It is very hard to get help at home with something on my computer goes wrong and I rack my brain for hours trying to fix it. With the tech support at this school, it makes my life so much easier and I applaud all students and staff that work at the help desk! Thank you very much for this privilege.
10:28 PM
You already know my opinion so I don't need to restate it. :-) Thanks for letting us comment!
Your vocal friend,
JDB
8:41 AM
i understand that some other colleges charge more. i wouldnt mind paying more per semester if i knew exactly where this money was going. if everything was laid all out-plain and simple-i really dont think there would be this much confusion.
10:09 AM
I’m currently a senior here at DSU and I was here before we the tablet imitative and when then first put it in place. I was also one of the students who didn't like the whole idea and was very skeptical about what was said to us and what would actually happen.
Let me first say, thank you to the staff here at DSU for putting forth great effort in trying to fix the problems that we have had with the tablets.
When Dr. Knowlton came to our class he told us several things that I thought was "too good to be true". The first thing was that we would be able to buy the tablets after a three year lease for $5 if we were graduating. The second thing was that if we were still in school after 3 years we would be upgraded with the new tablets that would be released. Third, he told us that the tablet lease would never increase in price. Now I already had a laptop computer which had 3 times the memory and hard drive space. I was not able to use this computer in place of the tablets, this made me very unhappy because I spent a lot of money on this computer and it was now useless to me.
Now the staff here at DSU did fix the problem with buying the tablets out and even though it is more then what we were told I am still very pleased, $25 is a lot better then not being able to purchase them at. I am still a little lost with the idea of giving the new tablets to incoming freshmen. Someone had said my point previously about how a certain amount of freshman will leave DSU, but yes they are the new students and I am sure that they don’t what to get the old and abused tablets, which is understandable. Lastly, knowing now that it is not actually a computer lease but a technology fee, I understand about in increase in price. So as of today I don’t really have any problems with the tablet initiative, and I do appreciate what DSU is doing for their students.
The last thing that I have to say will be straight to the point. Dr. Knowlton you were the one who misinformed us; you were the one that told us all these nice things that were going happen and you are the reason why people are complaining because of what you told us. So, the “whining and lack of appreciation” should be expected on your part until you have all the problems fixed, which you and the staff are doing an excellent job at doing.
Thank you for listening,
JD
2:08 PM
I’m currently a senior here at DSU and I was here before we the tablet imitative and when then first put it in place. I was also one of the students who didn't like the whole idea and was very skeptical about what was said to us and what would actually happen.
Let me first say, thank you to the staff here at DSU for putting forth great effort in trying to fix the problems that we have had with the tablets.
When Dr. Knowlton came to our class he told us several things that I thought was "too good to be true". The first thing was that we would be able to buy the tablets after a three year lease for $5 if we were graduating. The second thing was that if we were still in school after 3 years we would be upgraded with the new tablets that would be released. Third, he told us that the tablet lease would never increase in price. Now I already had a laptop computer which had 3 times the memory and hard drive space. I was not able to use this computer in place of the tablets, this made me very unhappy because I spent a lot of money on this computer and it was now useless to me.
Now the staff here at DSU did fix the problem with buying the tablets out and even though it is more then what we were told I am still very pleased, $25 is a lot better then not being able to purchase them at. I am still a little lost with the idea of giving the new tablets to incoming freshmen. Someone had said my point previously about how a certain amount of freshman will leave DSU, but yes they are the new students and I am sure that they don’t what to get the old and abused tablets, which is understandable. Lastly, knowing now that it is not actually a computer lease but a technology fee, I understand about in increase in price. So as of today I don’t really have any problems with the tablet initiative, and I do appreciate what DSU is doing for their students.
The last thing that I have to say will be straight to the point. Dr. Knowlton you were the one who misinformed us; you were the one that told us all these nice things that were going happen and you are the reason why people are complaining because of what you told us. So, the “whining and lack of appreciation” should be expected on your part until you have all the problems fixed, which you and the staff are doing an excellent job at doing.
Thank you for listening,
JD
2:08 PM
I have been a student at DSU for a number of years, including those before the tablet program. The incorporation of the tablets into college life has been fairly positive, but there have been a lot of negatives.
1. As said before, there have been a lot of misinformation propagated to new students and old. For instance, I was told when I received the tablet that I would be able to buy it for $1 when I graduated. Not a bad deal.
When signing my lease contract I looked for a set price. I wasn't surprised to find that the prices rose.
2. We had no other alternative. Originally as an art student, we would not be using Gateway or PC's when we graduate. So the use of them would actually hinder us without the incorporation of an apple laptop option. Since then I have heard that the computers are similar enough now that it doesn't matter which you use.
3. Problems learning. Since the initiative began I have noticed not only in myself, but in others the tendency to wander the net rather than pay attention. I can accurately say that I would have learned better without the use of the tablet / computers in front of me.
On the positive side it is useful to have WebCT available directly in front of me, but we also had computer labs too.
I have never used the OneNote or any of the pre-installed tablet specific programs. This isn't counting the licensed programs like VS 2005, Microsoft Office, etc.
4. Computer problems. I was fairly gentle with my tablet and it gave me so many problems. Since the beginning I have had three new screens, one new keyboard, and four new hard drives.
Thankfully I have recently opted out of the tablet pc program and have found that my Dell 1505 has had no problems yet.
I do appreciate what Mr. Knowlton has done for DSU in bringing computers to everyone. It has helped a lot of CSC and CIS majors, as well as teachers. We just need alternatives.
2:16 PM
I am a 2nd year at dsu. I like the way dsu leases out tablets because it keeps all students at an equal level. The only thing that bugs me is taking great care of a tablet one year, and thinking that you will get the same tablet the next year. WRONG. I have yet to damage any of the tablets, but know next year I will probably get someones misused and abused tablet and have nothing but issues. Isn't it possible to match serial numbers to students and make sure everyone gets their same tablet? That would rock!
Thanks,
JS
11:15 PM
Software fees? You would think that for $300 worth of software fees, I would actually get some software, instead of having to buy the software with my book, (ex. minitab), use the software over a SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW internet port (ex. Citrix), or have to use the school's own lab computers to complete assignments (ex. Quickbooks)...but thank you anyway for giving us Windows XP and Internet Explorer, because we all know none of them come with any other computer that we could of over paid for, yet get to keep, and not keep getting our rates jacked up for "software fees"
12:23 PM
i like the opportunity to have a labtop for once in my life. i do not mind the fee each semester as well. though point of my concern is that if i only am a half time student through DSU, and not on campus, what do i benefit from spending the money on the tablet. and what if i do not want the tablet because of financial issues, what then?
12:35 PM
It has been said many times, but people keep complaining about getting a new hdd. The simple fact is it takes MANY HOURS to fix some of the problems people come in with and may still not 100% fix the problem so you get a new hard drive and swap the files. This is DRASTICALLY easier and far quicker to do since there are a large amount of people coming in with problems. This covers a large amount of the problems but a lot of the other stuff isnt as common. People have to realize there is a good THOUSAND computers being used at DSU and strange problems come up, its the nature of computers. Bill Gates made Microsoft's software and still managed to come up with a blue screen of death, should it be any more surprising that the help desk workers get problems?
I personally have a large amount of computer experience and two years working at the help desk but still see new things come in every day I work. I find it unfair for people to claim the help desk has little or no knowledge of the computer when the problem is usually a new virus or some setting the user set themselves. New viruses cannot be dealt with before they come out, no one knows every small computer setting hidden in your computer, and computers wear/break down after usage every single day for many hours a day, thats life.
The fact remains, you are getting a rather good computer for what you are paying. I tried buying a $600+ laptop from walmart brand new and it did not have half the computing power or speed that the tablet does, and ended up taking it back. You might be able to get a better computer on eBay, but it also wont have the warranty the school one does.
Lastly, check your facts before placing blame. I have heard all year complaints about the internet being down, or some network based problem and how "DSU tech support doesnt know what they are doing, I could do better blah blah blah" -- Almost every time the network has actually been down this year has been the suppliers down the line that the school has nothing to do with. Between their stuff going down and our equipment failing after years of usage, your going to have problems.
*endrant*
10:27 AM
I agree with the person above me. When I went to school at DSU it seemed to me that many students took very poor care of their tablets and utilized it unintelligently. Examples of misuse range from accepting an unknown file from someone on MSN to owners accidentally driving over their own tablet (which to this day boggles my mind). A majority of tablet (or any computer problems for that matter) issues come from that negligence. The students shouldn't put so much of the weight of this predicament on Computing Services and the Help Desk.
Point that finger of blame right back at yourself and ask yourself "Would I treat my own property this way?" If you can't treat what has been given to you (at a VERY good price per semester) with care, then , by all means, buy your own tablet so when your unintelligent usage comes back to bite you in the rear in six months you can use your warranty to fix your machine so you can destroy it again.
12:05 PM
Dr. Knowlton,
Why would you call your students whiners? Is it NOT our right to express ANY frustrations with the tablet dilema. I know that you may to have your own frustrations about the ordeal but that still does not justify the comment. And I know that there are people out there who just like to complain... but still you were generalizing your audeince. Also, there are many people who very much appreciate everything that has been done with WMCI.
There is also just one thing that I would like to remind you of.... if you did not want to have this dilema in the first place you should have had EVERYTHING - from the buyout fee to what your lease money was paying for - IN ORDER and in an document for the students before even starting the program. It has been said before by other commentors that they had ALOT of misinformation and if everything wa in order you would have avoided this dilema period.
And I know that you never can avoid things from happening but from a student prospective it would have made more sense and you would not have as many students "whine" as you say.
As for the newer tablets and the freshmen. Yes, I can see the value of placing the new tablets with them but you also have to look at the returning students and see how they feel they are getting passed over with the new tablets - or even the transfer students. I know that not everyone can be happy all at the same time but if you want to continue to see retention increase - you have to keep the student you have here HAPPY!! - if they are not happy they will tell a propsective student what they really think of the campus. and in my case it would not be anything pretty! Another thing with retention, you can not blame the retention percentages on one person it has to be evaluated as a campus whole - including faculty interactions, interactions with Computing Services, the Marketplace. Any place or person that can leave a not so good impression of the campus because if a student feels as though they are being taken for granted who is to say that they will return. This also goes for transfer students, if they feel as though they are not being treated fairly who is to keep them from transferring yet again.
Lastly, I want to say is that I do appreciate what the many faculty and staff have done for me over the years - they are the people that bring me back - year after year.
3:35 PM
This is great info to know.
10:11 PM
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