Teaching classrooms and public cluster areas
- Introduction
- Classroom Code of Conduct
- Booking classrooms
- The classroom environment
- Software installation
- User data files
- Applications software
- Further help
1. Introduction
The classroom environment is based on Windows 7. Through this environment access is provided to a wide portfolio of software across campus for use by undergraduate and taught postgraduate students.
For a full list of teaching classrooms and public cluster areas, see our web page Where do I find a PC? Some rooms are available 24 hours a day, 7 days week, with out-of-hours access controlled by an entry system based on staff or student ID Cards.
2. Classroom Code of Conduct
The creation of the Classroom Code of Conduct was prompted by complaints, from both students and staff alike, about access to centrally timetabled computer classrooms. In particular, students were frustrated at being denied entry to computer classrooms while classes were taking place, despite the fact that there were often many vacant PCs. Staff, in turn, were annoyed by students who would either not vacate booked classrooms, or who intruded on teaching sessions.
The implementation of the Code addresses all such issues. In brief:
- While full-class teaching is taking place (e.g. a lecture or demonstration), it is permissible for staff to exclude other students from the classroom, and to require that students do not use the classroom printer(s). Staff should indicate that access is not permitted to non class members by posting a notice on the door(s) to the room.
- If full-class teaching is not taking place, then, once staff have ensured that all members of the class have the use of a computer, other students may be permitted to use any spare computers at the lecturer's discretion.
- When a computer classroom is not booked, the computers in the room are available for ad hoc use by registered users of University of Aberdeen computing facilities.
- Displays located around the campus indicate when rooms are booked for teaching and when they are free.
Posters displaying the full Code of Conduct are posted in all computer classrooms.The full code, and a downloadable classroom door notice template, are available on our Codes of Practice and Policy documents page.
3. Booking classrooms
The Registry is responsible for all centrally timetabled rooms on the Old Aberdeen and Medical School campuses.
Course-coded bookings
To make a booking for a course, please complete a booking form and submit electronically or as an attachment to (registry@abdn.ac.uk), Registry, University Office.
One-off bookings
For one-off bookings at all times i.e. all bookings (including evening and vacations) that do not carry course codes, please complete a booking form and submit electronically or as an attachment to (roombookings@abdn.ac.uk), Registry, University Office.
A timetable is placed on the door of each of the bookable rooms at the start of each week giving detail of bookings; you might also wish to check our real-time display of where you can find freeseats in the classrooms.
4. The classroom environment
The classroom environment is based on Windows 7 and a significant number of the Windows files are located on the hard discs of each system. In order to maintain the integrity of these files several Windows facilities have been removed or are disabled.
In general, staff and students cannot install software that attempts to modify the local files on the system. For temporary files, a scratch dive (drive S:\) is available and in some cases software can be installed there. The contents of S: are deleted when you log off or reboot. In addition, access is provided to the user's home file space, drive H:\.
All classroom PCs are powered off automatically at midnight and powered back on at 08:00. This automatic power down can be delayed by the user if the PC is in use. See our news story for more.
Printing facilities are available in most classrooms - click here for locations and further details regarding the their use.
All PCs have DVD-Writers installed. Every PC has USB ports on the front of the system unit. These have been enabled to support memory pen drives (sometimes called flash drives or memory sticks).
5. Software installation
The classroom systems are supported by a number of software servers managed by DIT, who are also responsible for the installation of all classroom software. The software falls roughly into two categories: common applications, which DIT provide, and departmental software which individual departments provide. Generally speaking, software is not installed for individual use, nor at the request of undergraduate or taught postgraduate students.
It is the responsibility of staff submitting software to DIT for installation in the classrooms, to ensure that it is appropriately licensed for its intended use. Within this environment, software should be licensed for concurrent use, either as a site license or as a limited number of (concurrent) licenses. License limits can be enforced, as can the assignment of the software to particular classrooms. If wish to restrict the availability of your software to particular locations or you require assistance when negotiating the licensing of software for classroom use, please contact Derek Findlay - d.findlay@abdn.ac.uk.
6. User data files
A Web-based facility is available to enable staff to upload data files to the classroom environment for use by their students. Details about this facility can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/local/datasets/help.hti.
7. Applications software
To view lists of the software available within the classroom environment - click here.
The local files on all the classroom systems are usually reloaded during the summer vacation to accommodate software upgrades and any new items of software required for the following academic year. This is a major undertaking and staff are asked to ensure that any changes they wish to make to their software portfolios are submitted to DIT before the end of July. Failing that, there can be no guarantee that the software will be available as required. Furthermore, it is essential that staff confirm that their applications running to their satisfaction well in advance of their requirement for them.
For further information regarding the installation of classroom software please contact Stewart Finnie - extn 3349, s.finnie@abdn.ac.uk.
8. Further Help
Should you require further assistance regarding the use of the classroom environment, please contact the Service Desk - extn 3636, servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.
