Recently we upgraded our instruction classroom with computers (both PC's and Mac's) for all the students, a ceiling projection system, instructor's computers (1 PC and 1 Mac), and a variety of software programs.  I was so excited the first time I was able to teach the use of databases in this new environment.  As the class progressed, I was pleased to see that many of the students seemed to be following along with my demonstration.  Imagine my dismay as I strolled down the aisle and saw that, in reality, most of the students were reading e-mail, playing Solitaire, or surfing the Internet.  I am so disillusioned--I no longer even want to use the room.  What can be done? 

As more libraries have fully equipped electronic classrooms at their disposal, instructors are discovering some of the pitfalls associated with this form of instructional technology:  the room is darkened; the students drift off; they play games; they read e-mail; they surf the Web; they find a variety of ways to amuse themselves, as opposed to being involved in the instruction.  From the instructor's point of view, when the student is using the computer as is intended, there are additional problems:  the instructor races from one student's computer to another in order to help them with a variety of problems; the instructor finds that s/he is addressing the same problem repeatedly with different students; the instructor might want to show, as a positive example, a particular student's work.   All in all, an exciting, new instructional experience becomes very disheartening. 

Given the expense associated with creating and maintaining an electronic classroom and given the amount of information now available in libraries electronically, it does not seem viable to "pull the plug" on such a classroom.  One solution that has been used by a wide variety of companies, government agencies, organizations, and schools is the use of interactive presentation systems that put the instructor in complete control of the computer training room.  Six such products are:  CLASSNET, ComWeb, InSight, LANSchool, LINK Systems, and Tech Commander. 

Some of these products are hardware solutions to the problem.  A "control unit" is attached between each student monitor and computer, with a connection to the instructor's computer.  The end result is that the instructor can have complete control of the students' computers whenever necessary.  LANSchool is a software solution that produces the same results.   A big advantage of the hardware solution is that it is platform and network independent, meaning that if you have a classroom that uses both Macintosh computers and PC's, you can use the same control system for both kinds of machines. 

There are several advantages to these systems: 
 

• Students are unable to use the computers, unless the instructor wants them to use the computers;
• Instructors can broadcast the information they want the students to see directly to the students' computers;
• Instructors can refrain from using large-screen projection units in darkened  rooms, if they want to;
• Instructors can provide assistance without leaving their computers, either to one student or several students with the same problem;
• Instructors can randomly access students' computers to see who is having problems, who is not "on task," or where repetitive problems are occurring;
• Instructors can "broadcast" examples of the students' work as examples.

• Broadcasting capabilities  -- instructor to any participant; instructor to any group; participant to participant; participant to    instructor; instructor to large-screen projection system 
• Remote control of any keyboard or mouse;
• Ability to scan computers to monitor progress;
• Ability to create participant groups;
• Ability to blank screens and disable keyboards and mice;
• Ability to disable computers with passwords to prevent unauthorized use;
• Availability of "call button" that is used by the student to ask for assistance;
• Maximum number of student computers the system supports.

For more information: 

"The Computer Classroom".   Training  (October 1993):96. 

Garbera, Don.  "User Friendly Training Techniques".   AVC Presentation Development and Delivery  (February 1993): 16-17. 

Kress, Michael, et. al.  "ComWeb: An Electronic Classroom for Teaching Computer Literacy".   Computers & Education  (December 1997): 181-187. 

McDermott, Irene E. "Solitaire Confinement: The Impact of the Physical Environment on Computer Training".  Computers in Libraries  (January 1998): 22-26. 

"System Allows Firm to Achieve Better Control in the Classroom".   T. H. E. Journal  (June 1995): 50. 

"Video Network Controls Students' Screens".  T. H. E. Journal  (June 1990): 40. 
  

Vendors: 
    Applied Computer Systems, Inc. --  LINK Systems 
      800/237-5465 
      <URL: http://acs-linksystems.com> 

    ComWeb* 
      800/950-8793 
      <URL:http://www.comweb.com> 

    Intel -- LANSchool 
      800/628-8686 (Intel Customer Service) 
      <URL: http://www.lanschool.com> 

    Minicom USA -- CLASSNET* 
      800/922-8020 
      <URL: http://www.macatawa.org/~minicom/> 

    Tech Electronics -- InSight* & Tech Commander* 
      800/572-4935 
      <URL: http://www.techelec.com/products/> 

    *platform independent