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RIP the Campus Computer Lab, 1960-2009

theodp writes "When every student has a laptop, why run computer labs? That's a question schools have been asking themselves as computer ownership rates among incoming freshmen routinely top 90%. After only four freshmen showed up at the University of Virginia in 2007 without a computer of their own, the school decided that it's no longer worth the expense of running campus computer labs. Student computer labs have been a staple of campus life since the '60s. So what are the benefits that will be missed as other schools follow UVa's lead?" The university's report notes understanding that "that students need collaborative space where they can bring their laptops and mobile devices to conduct group work, especially as the curriculum becomes increasingly team- and project-based." One of the spaces formerly occupied by computer labs "has been transformed into a technology-rich collaboration area."

8 of 571 comments (clear)

  1. The Real Purpose Of Computer Labs by Nutria · · Score: 4, Funny

    [Troll]
    A place where Business Major girls can go to find CompSci geeks to do their Programming for Non-majors assignments for them...
    [/Troll]

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    1. Re:The Real Purpose Of Computer Labs by MooseMuffin · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's weird, I always thought of them as a place to pick up girls.

    2. Re:The Real Purpose Of Computer Labs by DarkOx · · Score: 4, Funny

      Spoken like someone who has never had sex.

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      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  2. Re:Printing by troll8901 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Those Printers from Buffalo, which are intimidated by other Printers from Buffalo, also intimidate other Printers from Buffalo ...

    I love your University for having good Linux computers.

  3. Re:Printing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, very easy to turn off your roommates/suitemates!

    Given the appearance of the average /.er, yes, yes it is.

  4. Re:Printing by Thinboy00 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Library's" ?? Tsk tsk.

    "??" ? Tsk tsk.

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    $ make available
  5. Re:Printing by speculatrix · · Score: 4, Funny

    you kids are spoiled. when I went to university we had to submit reports on stone tablets. boy, they sure were heavy, and if you dropped one they'd splinter and you'd have to do that one all over again. it did encourage brevity though!

  6. Re:Printing by mpeskett · · Score: 5, Funny

    That sounds like a complicated solution for a simple problem... all he needed was earplugs or a quiet room; a dramatic restructuring of our educational culture is overengineering the issue.