How do I get the Mobile Laptop Lab?

General Information

Two Mobile Laptop Labs are available for check out by faculty and staff for situations in which

No other lab is available
Available labs are not of sufficient size for the planned activity

Each lab is contained in a lockable recharging cart and contains a wireless access point for connecting to the network, 25 wireless laptops, AC power adapters, and mice.

Both labs if available can be reserved at the same time to accommodate groups up to 50 in approved spaces.

Laptops offer standard Microsoft Office applications and Internet browsers.

Individual laptops will not be separated from the Mobile Lab for checkout. The Lab is considered a single unit.

A fully charged laptop should operate approximately four hours. It is recommended to plan no more than 3 hours of use.

Fully discharged batteries will take 2 hours to recharge.

Students will login with their network username and password, and will have access to their U: drives through the wireless network. Visitors can log in using the generic login.

The laptop labs can be used in locations sufficient for student comfort and laptop security. Classrooms with flat desktops are acceptable.

We advise you reserve the equipment and a location (provided your regular classroom doesn't have the appropriate space or desks) at the start of a semester. The longer you wait, the greater the risk that your needs will not be met.

Reservations for a mobile lab will not be accepted with less that one week notice

Employee responsibilities

· Reserve the equipment well in advance.

· Reserve an approved space.

· Alert ITS in advance of any reschedule requests or cancellations.

· Be present 10 minutes prior to reservation time.

· Track the assignment of laptops to individuals.

· Verify all laptops have been returned to the cart and are plugged in.

· Log any problems encountered, indicating the laptop number.

· Lock the cart.

· Call 555 for cart pickup.

Student responsibilities

· Get laptop from cart.

· Power on and log into computer.

· Verify battery life.

· Shut down laptop.

· Report any problem with laptop to instructor.

· Return to cart.

· Plug into AC adapter.

Advanced Preparations

Confirm through CRC or R25 (http://webviewer.core.ivcc.edu/) that regular lab is unavailable.
Reserve approved space through Business Office, ext 415 or directly through R25 (http://webviewer.core.ivcc.edu/). Be certain to indicate you need to reserve the Mobile Laptop Lab under the resources needed for the room. You will need to reserve both sets of Mobile Laptop labs if you have more than 25 students.
If you do not need to reserve a room because you are using the laptops in your assigned classroom, please call the Learning Technologies Department at X451. Please specify the number of students in your class.
If you have never used a laptop, consider checking one out from ITS to familiarize yourself with their operation.
Prepare your students for their experience. Many will have had no prior experience with laptops, which may elevate anxiety levels. Remind them that wireless laptops are available for use in the library.
Plan for set-up and pack-up time. This may take 5-10 minutes from your usual activities.

On the day

Arrive at designated space 10 minutes prior to reservation.
An ITS employee will deliver and unlock the cart, and will plug in wireless access point to network.
You will need to track the assignment of laptops to individuals. Have the student sign their name next to the laptop number on the provided log sheet.
Remind students of their responsibilities.
Verify all laptops have been returned to cart in their proper location and that they are all plugged in.
Unplug wireless access point from network and unplug from power, wind cords and cables.
Lock cabinet.
Call 555 for pickup.