CHAPTER TWO
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
Computer laboratory used to be a once-weekly privilege where students were able to share a screen for thirty minute to play the Oregon trail, or to test their typing speed. However, the role of the computer labs has changes over the years, with definition and design that vary by school district. Computer in classrooms now facilitate technology-driven curriculum in areas such as industrial design, animation and programming with student employing robust software packages, this technology-rich computer labs required dedication workstation design to comfortably accommodate students and their CPUs, monitors, scanners, and printers.
Technology has impacted every facet of daily life and educators are responsible for teaching next generation how harness the power of computer across a myriad of fields, such as graphic design, accounting, computer animation, engineering, architecture, math and programming. Students are no longer simply learning basic word processing. They are now using professional grade and industrial-standard software programs, design apps, and preparing for dynamic and computer-rich post-graduation experience. As a result, computer labs themselves have evolved to meet both the specific demands of technological hardware and classroom layout required by the teachers. Different academic disciplines require a different lab layouts-some are more traditional with work station in lectures rows, others need partition to ensure testing privacy, others have students working in small groups, while still others need flexible work areas for project planning.
Computer labs are generally multipurpose; some labs may contain computer with hardware or software optimized for certain task or processes, depending on the needs of the institution operating the lab. These specialized purposes include but may not be limited to videos editing, stock trading 3-D design, and programming. In some cases, these specialized purposes are the main purpose for the existence of traditional desktop-style computer labs, due to a rising trend in the ownership of personal of personal computer. n some settings, traditional desktop computer labs are impractical due to the requirement of a dedicated space. Because of this, some labs laptop carts instead of desktop setups, in order to both save space and give the lab some degree of mobility. In the context of academic institutions, some traditional desktop computer Labs are being phased out in favor of some other solution judged to be more efficient given that most students own personal laptops.
One of these solutions is a virtual lab, which can allow users to install software from the lab server onto their own laptops or log into virtual machine remotely, turning their own laptops in to lab machines,
An Internet café differs from a computer lab in that usage of a computer lab is generally free for those with access, while internet cafes charge for computer use. The term “Internet café†is often used interchangeably with computer lab but may not differ from a computer lab in that user can also connect to the Internet using their own computer or device, and users of a computer lab generally do not need any equipment of their own.
The lab, as originally designed, included a high quality screen projection system for demonstration purposes. Two problems arose with this system in some cases this room was in appropriate for demonstrations, due to large class size, lack of other material, or the co-ordination of redirecting a class to this room. Using this room only for computer presentation, when no hand-on use by students was needed, locked up lab resources unnecessarily. The purpose of the lab is the strongest influence on its layout and furniture. Some school may still prefer perimeter seating or rows, where the teacher can monitor screen content. Other options include back-to-back, u-shaped or curved layouts, or combinations of all the above. Get creative to inspire creativity.
“When the budget allows for computer lab renovation or new construction, we often see the greatest departure from traditional computer lab design or assigned rooms with rows of computers linked side-by-side “pryor reports. He says that modern computer labs more closely resemble a common-type environment with multiple uses for learning, testing, collaborating, and after-school activities.
2.2 SELECTED COMPUTER LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
The described materials and equipment were selected based on the design group belief that these products provide a combination of cost effectiveness, quality and versatility that will serve the students.
