PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTH CENTRAL

When students' computers started to get in the way of learning, Purdue University North Central's academic systems manager worked with the faculty to develop a more productive system. His solution uses Microsoft® Works to provide a consistent interface to students in diverse classes.

Understanding computers and how to use them is an important part of the curriculum at Purdue University North Central. Introduction to Computers (Computer Literacy) has been a basic course in the Technology/Engineering Section, with ten divisions taught on campus each semester. Students in these classes use Microsoft Works to learn about word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and charting. One division of Applied Engineering Computational Analysis also uses Microsoft Works.

However, the Letters & Languages Section had been using WordPerfect® 4.2 in English composition courses. There are 11 divisions of English classes on campus that use computers for word processing.

According to Dr. Shihong Chen, the school's academic systems manager, using the two different programs was beginning to create problems at the university. "The English students were using out-of-date software for their daily academic activities and they couldn't transfer files from one system to another," Chen says. "Students had to switch between different software applications if they were taking two courses at the same time." It got to the point where the students were spending more time on learning the old software and dealing with incompatible software systems than on writing their English compositions.

Even more important, says Chen, "Using two different applications is not good for a student's cognitive development in terms of establishing a user model and understanding of how to work with the computer." As a result of problems like these, Chen decided it was time for a change.

In Search of a Solution

Since Works was already well accepted by the Technology/Engineering Section, and because the English department reported that numerous students had problems with the WordPerfect 4.2 user interface, Chen recommended the department switch to Microsoft Works. "While English students don't need all of the capabilities of Works, we felt it was important to have one consistent program across departments," says Chen. English students use Works for journals, note-taking, prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing in English 101, the required freshman composition class. The program will also be used for writing and formatting compositions in English 102.

The school is establishing Microsoft Works as the standard word-processing software across the entire campus, and has installed the program in the campus's three main computer labs.

Chen says Purdue University North Central also plans to develop a course using Microsoft Works as the basic computer application to help students establish the concept of computing. "We would like to take full advantage of the Works interface and its consistency across different applications," says Chen. "That will allow us to establish a solid foundation for developing our computer literacy course." Chen has also recommended that all incoming freshmen be required to take the course.

An Approach That Works

According to Chen, the response by both students and faculty to Works has been overwhelmingly positive. "It takes almost no time to learn how to use Works," he says. "The students are very happy about the change. Now they don't have to prepare different disks, learn different types of software, or deal with the frustration of a confusing interface."

Students who take English and computer literacy courses at the same time are particularly happy about the solution. They can use the skills gained in the computer literacy course to better use the software in their English class.

The faculty is just as enthusiastic. "A professor who has been teaching computer literacy for years is thrilled that we'll all be using the same software," says Chen. "Many English professors now feel they are at the forefront of computer technology, not using an outdated program."

While Chen says Works is very easy for students and faculty to use, he points out the importance of making sure these groups know how to use it most effectively and efficiently. For example, Chen and Karen Donah, the school's end user support manager, conducted Microsoft Works 3.0 training workshops for the English composition faculty. According to Chen, this training makes the faculty more confident when using Works in their classes.

Extending the Standard

The initial implementation of Microsoft Works has been so successful that, based on the recommendation of the Computer Center, Purdue University North Central campus administrative leaders are planning to add the program to every PC on campus as the basic integrated program for MS-DOS®. "We want every faculty member to have a copy of Works so they can be familiar with the program and use it in their work," says Chen. He says the school also hopes to add Microsoft Works for the Macintosh® for use in the Macintosh lab.

Eventually, Chen would like to move to the Windows™ environment, but he says the school doesn't yet have the budget to to buy or upgrade its existing hardware to make such a move.

For now, he and the rest of the school are more than satisfied with their Works-based solution. "The students are happy, the faculty is happy, and the administration is happy," he says. "And that makes me very happy."

Solution Overview

       
        School Purdue University North Central, Westville, Indiana
      Solution Consistent software across multiple courses
  Architecture Integrated software
 Products Used Microsoft Works
       Benefit Provides consistent interface; eliminates the need to
               learn more than one program and to convert files

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