paper -
78 Distributed Computer Lab Support and Services via the Web
Kristi
Davis, Rochester Institute of Technology
Shawn Whiteside, Rochester Institute of Technology
At Rochester Institute of Technology, the department
of Information and Technology Services Distributed Support Services is
dedicated to providing both distributed computer lab and desktop support to the
campus. In providing the quality
computer lab support and services, DSS found it necessary to start building
web-based tools and databases to manage the services and nearly 200 students
who work in our labs all over campus.
Some time ago, we had created similar tools that were
developed using SQL and VAX/VMS applications.
These legacy systems, now being phased out, had to be replaced by newer
technology. Along with the replacement,
we found it the perfect opportunity to retune and expand our tools to better
suit our needs.
The paper will discuss how we chose to develop the
tools we use (both web based and web-based with an Oracle back end) and then
the benefits, challenges, drawbacks, progress, future development, and things we
learned about said tools. This
paper/presentation may be of interest to anyone who manages a number of
students and are looking for ways to make it easy to access the data and use
web-based tools.
A sample of the new web tools include:
- An on-line
student employment application form where both the prospective lab assistants
applies on-line and we search and view the applications on-line. It includes a
searching capability where you can search only for applications where they are
available for certain shift(s) and whether they have levels of skills (e.g.
customer service, Macintosh, or NT).
- A computer
lab reservation request and management system.
- A quick and
dirty problem reporting database.
- Lab supplies ordering on-line.