I was asked over the weekend by a student whether or not it was okay to use your own laptops for ADM 316. Here is the response I gave:
If you’re running XP and Office 2003, then yes, you may use your own. If you’re running Vista, it probably won’t be that big of a deal, but if you have Office 2007, that is definitely out. When we do the in-class lab time, it will be too difficult for those who are not as computer literate to differentiate between the two.
As far as the laptops go, everyone in class will probably still get one unless arrangements are made first with the university, and they will still be responsible for their care, regardless of whether they bring them to class or use them in class or not. In Indy, they are generally delivered on-site, but they are couriered to the online students, so I don’t know how you will receive yours. This is the first time I’ve taught this course off-site.
I have Office 2007 on my personal laptop, so when it comes to in-class lab time, I’m thinking about having one of the students running the overhead as a demonstration. When I teach this on-site, I generally check a laptop out of inventory.
