Department Interviews - 1996

Interview:  Ken Thygesen, Ben Furst, Azad Islam, Andrew McDermott - Physics
     Date:  4/10/96

Interviewer:  Bob Jewett


1. Do you have plans for special initiatives and/or projects for the 96-97 
   school year that involve technology?  -- for your students, your 
   faculty, your department?

   a. Faculty computers need to be upgraded.  Ken Thygesen is using a 286
      level computer and Ben Furst is using a Zenith 159!  Azad needs
      additional storage capacity (1 Gb).

      Andy would like to obtain older, discarded computer equipment so that
      he can use them for instructional purposes.  He intends to teach
      students how to piece together equipment to make functional equipment
      and how to work with any type of equipment that they may be likely
      to find in labs and work environments.

      The department will make their faculty needs known to the Dean.

   b. General Physics labs.  The department has had to reduce the overall
      lab time their students have to complete their due to a reduction in
      the number of faculty.  As a result, there is a critical need to
      make existing lab time as efficient and effective as possible.  Using
      computers interaced with laboratory equipment will help make that
      possible.  The are currently using Apple II equipment, but this
      equipment is inadequate for meeting their needs.  The Apple IIs are
      also beginning to experience frequent failures.

      The department wants to put 7 computer workstations in their General
      Physics labs.  Their proposal is to purchase PASCO's comprehensive 
      lab package for each of these stations (approx. $2000 each).  A
      shared laser printer would also be needed.

      It will be important that network access be available in the General
      Physics labs so that these computer stations could be moved between
      the labs and have access to shared printing and other network 
      resources.

   c. Network access is needed in Timerman B8.  The department would like
      to use this facility for computer-based presentations and need access
      to the network.  A request to install network access was made some
      time ago, but nothing has happened to date. 

   d. The department would like to use Maple mathematical processing 
      software in their courses.  Maple is used at Clarkson for students 
      enrolled in the 3-2 program.  Students had been able to take a 1 
      credit course on Maple from Charles Marshall (CIS).  There is concern
      over how they will be able to provide this to their students in the
      future if this course is not available from CIS.



2. Student Computing Access Program (SCAP) proposals:

   a. Upgrading the General Physics laboratory facility (see 1b above).
      
   b. Providing Maple instruction and access to the software on campus.

   c. Projection capability for Timerman B8.



3. What are your most important concerns and priorities for the 96-97 
   school year?  -- for your students, your faculty, your department?

   a. Faculty computer upgrades.

   b. Upgrading the General Physics laboratory facility (see 1b above).

   c. Network access in Timerman B8 and in the General Physics labs. 

   d. Providing Maple instruction and access to the software on campus.

   e. Projection capability for Timerman B8.



4. How can we improve our services and support to meet your needs? 

   a. No particular concerns over moving the Levitt Center or the Kellas
      Computer Classroom.

   b. Faculty need training on software that is provided to them.