Computer Lab Manager (What I Really Do)

Media Center
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago


I. Maintains computer labs:

a. General Access Lab: Includes approximately sixteen IIci's, two IIsi's, two 7100's, and two 8100AV's. There are 44/88/200MB Syquests available, as well as 600 dpi color scanners, and 300 and 600 dpi printers (yeah, black and white). Applications include Quark Xpress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, Hypercard, some Word, and Internet Kits (Eudora, Fetch, Telnet, Netscape and helper applications).
b. Continuing Studies Lab: This lab is for the use of the Continuing Studies and Special Programs courses. When it is not scheduled for a class, it is available for general access use by students, staff, and faculty of the School. It includes sixteen 7100AV's with 44/88/200MB Syquest drives, 600 dpi color scanners, and 300 and 600 dpi printers (yeah, black and white). Applications include Quark Xpress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, Hypercard, some Word, and Internet Kits (Eudora, Fetch, Telnet, Netscape and helper applications).
c. Residence Hall Lab: This lab is for the exclusive use of the students residing in the Wolberg Residence Hall. It includes two Quadra 650s and four Quadra 610s, 44MB Syquest drives, a 600 dpi scanner, and a 600 dpi printer. Applications include Quark Xpress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Word, and Internet Kits (Eudora, Fetch, Telnet, Netscape and helper applications).

II. Coordinates Continuing Studies Computer Courses:

a. Works with the Continuing Studies and Special Programs area to schedule computer courses for the Studios Program and the Early College Program in the Continuing Studies Lab
b. Train Continuing Studies and Special Programs instructors on the equipment for instruction (Proxima LCD projector, Cyclops) and the general rules of the lab


III. Supervises:

a. Interveiws, consults on the hiring of, trains, and supervises Coordinator of Computer Purchasing Program
b. Interviews, hires, trains, and supervises approximately thirteen Computer Lab Monitors, three Special Project Coordinators and Workshop Instructors, two Software Technicians, and one Sales Assistant (Student Positions)

IV. Macintosh Workshops:


a. Provide workshops, train workshop coordinators for basic macintosh and word processing skills. Basic Macintosh Skills: one workshop weekly
Introduction to Microsoft Word: one workshop weekly

V. Internet/Email Accounts:

a. Oversees and provides students with their internet/email accounts, including the explanation, database input, and reports to Data Resource Management
b. Train lab monitors and special projects coordinators to provide support for student internet/email account holders.
c. Provide workshops, train workshop coordinators for support of student internet/email accounts. Introduction to Email - Using Eudora: three workshops weekly
Introduction to the World Wide Web - Using Netscape: one workshop weekly
Internet Discussion: one discussion group weekly; Manny Hernandez, Network Administrator and Webmaster, AIC and myself discuss various application use (Fetch, Telnet, CU-SeeMe, IRC, etc.) on the Internet. We also teach HTML, so individuals can begin to make their own pages.

Also:
Remote Access, provided by Todd Berreth, Academic Computing Coordinator and Instructor of Basic Macintosh Skills, Continuing Studies and Special Programs

VI. Webmaster, World Wide Web (with Manny Hernandez):

a. Legal Policies and Procedures: Work with network administrators and administrative and academic computing personnel on procedures and policies of the AIC/SAIC Internet Server, in regards to legal copyright and harrassment, obscenity, and first ammendment issues. Keep informed of the ongoing legal actions of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and protect through well-designed forms and disclaimers, the Institute and the artists on the Server.
b. Coordination of AIC and SAIC: Serve as the liason for the School in coordination with the Museum to develop a current and correct representation of all Art Institute of Chicago programs and services on the AIC/SAIC Internet Server. Work with the Network Services Committee, the AIC Web Group, and others to develop and further enhance communications between the two areas of the Institute.
c. Coordination of SAIC Objectives: 1. Coordinate with Department Chairs of Administrative and Academic Areas the major ÒGatekeepersÓ of information from their specific areas for dissemination of accurate and timely information to the Internet Server.
2. Working with Department Chairs, co-plan, co-direct, and co-manage the information and telecommunication objectives of the academic departments in order to assure an organized operation of the Internet Server. Aid in providing direction that best suits the objectives of the department and institution.
3. Gather, organize, and index all textual, graphic, photographic, video, animation, etc. data for the Internet Server. Maintain records of copyright permission from all sources giving the Institute permission to upload their artwork or writings to the Internet Server.
c. Format, Upload, Test. 1. Reformat all information received from ÒGatekeepersÓ for the Server (i.e., reformating all documents into html pages for the World Wide Web; text pages for Gopher and Fetch applications.
2. Oversee the design, editing, and proofreading of all Server files.
3. Test all formats (i.e, Gopher, Fetch, and World Wide Web (Mosaic, Netscape, MacWeb) through Macintosh, DOS/Windows, and other platforms) to maintain an overall high quality for viewership
d. Supervor
1. Supervise 2-4 student artwork crews to develop special projects for the Server: videotapes, sound tracks, etc. e. Provide direction in areas of strategic technology planning for computer and telecommutinication technology.
1. Research and implement new technologies of design, and project management and evaluation strategies.
2. Plan, direct, and manage the information and telecommunication systems in order to assure development and effective technologies to meet current and future operations: Develop forms on the Internet and database for acceptance of applications for Admission. Develop forms on the Internet and database for viewerÕs inclusion on mailing lists for future curricular, development, and public programs.
3. Represent the School at conferences and meetings for the newest technologies of the Internet.

VII. Technology:

a. Keeps up-to-date with technological developments in the field of computing and the internet, particularly as it has impact on academic and curricular issues, advising students towards the purchase of hardware and software programs. b. Oversees the Computer Purchasing Program, a partnership program with Apple Computer, Inc. wherein students are eligible for discounts on Macintosh hardware and software. This program turns around $400,000 worth of equipment annually, and so financial accounting and reporting is included. Remain up-to-date on the product line and pass along this information to potential clients.

VIII. Some of the Applications Used:

Macintosh:
a. Photoshop, JPEGView, GIFConverter- graphics
b. PixelPaint Pro - graphics c. Ofoto - scanning
d. Monitor, Quicktime, MoviePlayer, Director - moving images, frames e. SimpleText - word processing, HTML f. Quark - desktop publishing
g. Excel -spreadsheet, charts
h. FileMaker Pro - database


IX. Computers:

Macintosh:
Quadra 650, 16 MB of RAM, 250 MB Hard Drive, with a 44/88/200MB syquest drive, and 28.8k Suprafax modem
Personal: Mac IIsi, 18 MB RAM, 500MB Hard Drive
Mac Quadra 660AV, 40 MB RAM, 250MB Hard Drive with 44/88 syquest drive, and 80MB external drive
PowerMac 7500, 32 MB RAM, 1000MB Hard Drive with 44/88/200 syquest drive