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Information Commons at USC
7 July 2007
Australia-wide Broadband coverage is a topical issue as part of the current federal election campaign. The Sunshine Coast is falling behind the national average when it comes to Broadband bandwidth access and this isn’t good for the economy, the community or an educational provider such as the University of the Sunshine Coast.
While we are hampered by a lack of regional wireless broadband, it has not prevented us from providing wireless capability on campus.
In response to feedback from students, the University trialed a wireless facility on campus during Semester One. Two areas of the Library were enabled to allow students to connect their laptops to the wireless network. Student feedback on the trial was overwhelmingly positive, and provided an interesting insight into student expectations. They wanted internet access to be available easily and quickly to them, whenever and wherever they wanted it. Students felt that the wireless service gave them greater mobility, convenience and comfort by being able to use their own laptops, and saved them having to wait for free computers to use in the Library or other computer labs on campus. Many students expressed the desire for the wireless network to be extended to the whole campus.
Computer access is a top priority for students, and although data we collect on a semester by semester basis clearly indicate ample access in the various labs across the campus, student perceptions of the situation are often different. A place where it is often difficult to find a spare PC is the Information Commons.
The Library established an Information Commons in 2004. Commons have been introduced at many universities in recent years to provide convenient spaces where students can study, research, write assignments and get help when needed from Library, IT and learning support staff. The USC Commons provides an inviting learning environment for students on the first floor of the Library with appropriate technology and staff support available. The Commons is equipped with 92 flat-screen computers with DVD, CD-ROM, floppy disk and USB facilities that provide access to the Library’s catalogue and electronic resources, the internet, student intranet, email, software applications and printing. The design of the Commons encourages both individual and group study with workstation tables grouped in different-sized clusters. During semester times, the Commons starts to fill up as soon as the Library opens and most PCs are occupied all day.
So the Library and surrounds are logical places for us to provide wireless access and support student preferences regarding where and how they work with computers. But it’s a bit more complicated than this. A recent US study revealed that while most students owned laptops, they tended to stay on the study desk at home. Because of limited battery capacity, students wouldn’t bother carrying their laptops around unless they knew they’d have access to a plug in site. At USC we’re looking to address this matter as well by creating new areas where students can plug-in and access the wireless local area network.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.