Time to Refresh those Pesky Rules!

April 28, 2000 - Every so-often, an episode pops up here in the labs that is uncomfortable for all involved. Most of the time, the episode is scanner related, or machine availability related, and is usually the result of all parties being overly stressed, or just misunderstanding the rules.

I myself am not immune to the occasional misunderstanding. It is usually due the fact that it is really hard to hear in this room most of the time, or that the parties involved (on both sides) usually fail to mention the one key thing that would clarify the situation, and swing the balance in their favor.

I could go on and elaborate this incident, which would probably not make anyone happy, or I can come straight to the point and help you understand some of our more basic rules, and how you can help make things work smoothly. In the interests of space and being clear about all of this, I will come to the point.

Rule 1: The teaching lab is usually reserved for classes during the day.

Misunderstanding 1: The teaching lab (434) used to be the open lab, and the open lab (446) used to be the teaching lab. This creates no end of confusion to students who do not use the lab frequently, or who haven't since last spring. In addition, several classes wander over to the open lab to use the faster computers. It makes it really hard for people to understand where the teaching lab ends and the open lab starts.

I am thinking that big signs may help this, but they haven't helped keep food out of the labs, so I'll save a tree for now.

The point is, unless there is obviously a class in the teaching lab, students will come in and work, without realizing that the lab is reserved for a class. This becomes even more difficult when a class spills over into the open lab. How do you tell students that they cannot work in the teaching lab because it is reserved, when the open lab is full, and the teaching lab is not?

This is especially difficult towards the end of the semester. So many problems would be solved if people just explained that they are in the scheduled class. Speak up. It always pays to be direct. If you are in the class, say so. Be polite, but say so.

Rule 2: When you are finished using the scanner, please move to a non-scanner machine.

Misunderstanding 2: Does this still apply during peak lab usage times (like midterms or the end of the semester)? This causes more problems and bad feelings than any other lab issue, because it usually involves two people with very little sleep who are close to deadline.

We have tried to solve this problem countless times, but it all boils down to resources. We only have a certain number of scanners, hooked up to a certain number of machines. No more: no less. The current rule states "If you need to use the scanner, please remember to move to another machine when you are finished. This will keep the scanners open. If it is very busy, a waiting list is provided (if a name is called three times, the scanner is given to the next person on the list)."

Scanner machines are set up so students can scan quickly, and move to another machine. Unfortunately, when the labs are really busy, moving to another machine is seen as being too difficult, or a student, seeing no other alternative but to wait, will sit at the scanner machine anyway.

There is no easy solution for this problem.

We have a wait list for all machines in the labs. Students can sign up for the type of machine they need: Mac, Windows (PC), or Scanner. If a student needs a scanner, they have to first sign up for a scanner, then, when finished, sign up for another machine. They are waiting twice to get a machine. When labs are busy, this could mean waiting for close to two hours. This is very frustrating for everyone involved. It is very easy to see how someone could get pretty angry if they need to scan, and have watched someone sit at a scanner machine for an hour without using the scanner.

The best thing to do in these situations is to take a deep breath and work things out calmly. Everyone needs to think of how the other person must be feeling in these situations. Yeah, it's bad that you may have to move, but it is also bad to be on the other side of the waiting list.

I do have some tips to make things work a little better.

1. First, the obvious: Do not wait until the last minute to finish, start, or print your document. Chances are that the other 17 people in your section or the other 100 in the class may have the same idea. Tempers rise at deadline, and equipment does fail from time to time. Give yourself plenty of time to finish. If you do need to print at the last minute, I suggest getting here a bit after 8:00 a.m., right after the labs open. It will lower your stress level!

2. Take a break. Not just a 15-30 minute snack break, but a real break. Get outside and sit in the grass, or take a nap. Take your stuff, logout of the machine, and get out of the building for awhile. You would be amazed by how much a little fresh air can give you the perspective you need to get inspired. This also gives someone else the chance to use the machines for awhile. So, you feel better, and you have made someone else happy!

3. Make use of your reserved class time in the teaching lab. If your class has time reserved, use it! What a great opportunity to work with your classmates, and see what they are doing! If someone is encroaching on that class time, please be sure to identify yourself as being part of the class, and kindly direct the other person to the open lab. The big point here is identifying yourself and the class you are in, and being considerate of others. This gives you a valid and understandable claim without creating any bad feelings between students. If there are many open machines, it is usually fine with the instructor if others use those machines (as long as class is not actually in the process of being taught).

4. Use the waiting lists. If you have to wait for a computer, put your name on the list. This helps us identify problem times, and how much the computers are being used. It also helps clear up any misunderstandings about who was waiting first. If there is a major problem every time you visit the labs at a certain time of day, change your patterns. The labs are open at 8:00 am, and are usually not very busy until about 9:30 or 10:00 a.m.

5. Avoid getting drawn into a personal attack. Listen to what the other person has to say, and try to work things out. You are all adults. Consider this time as training for your job after college.

These are by no means the only ways to solve these problems, but it will give you somewhere to start, and a good idea of our most basic rules.

Oh, and by the way, no eating or drinking in the labs:) it's really gross to clean up someone else's coffee or gum (yes, I stepped in gum the other day - yuck!)

–J

Jennifer Nieland is the lab coordinator for the College of the Design student computer labs.