Computer Lab and Preview Center FAQs

Some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the Preview Center:

The preview center can be contacted at

Mission:
The mission of this center is to provide preservice and inservice teachers with a local facility that will allow them to gain experience exploring quality hardware and software appropriate for use in K-12 classrooms.

Hours:
It is staffed by Jeff Cooper, however Mark Bailey and Mike Charles can also be available to assist individuals if they make an appointment.

The room is open every day 8:30-5:30, however to access software you should come during Jeff’s office hours which are Monday - Friday: 3-6

If there is specific software that you would like to see or you have specific questions, please make an appointment before coming. If you know you will be coming, it is a good idea to drop us a line in advance at preview@pacificu.edu.

1.-Where is the Center?-
The Center is located in the Pacific University School of Education building - Carnegie Hall, on the Corner of Pacific Avenue and College way in Forest Grove Oregon.

2.-Who Can Use the Center?
The center may be used by any currently practicing public school or private school teacher or by any student registered in classes at the Pacific University School of Education.

3.-How Can I use the Center?
There are two ways to use the center. First, you may come to the center during Jeff's office hours. Second, you may phone or email us and make an appointment to preview software at an alternative time. We prefer that you come when you can take the time to carefully examine the software.

4.-What Hardware do you have at the center?
Currently we have five G3s and 7 Power Macintosh Computers, as well as 7 new Dell Pentium-equipped Windows-based computers. Also in the preview center are two color scanners, and a laser printer. The Center is equipped with a server that allows files to be transfered between any two machines in the center.

5.Do you have suggestions about the best way to preview software?

Begin by making a list of the software you are interested in examining or of the subject matter/grade level you would like to examine. We suggest that you then search our on-line database to familarize youself with our library. A good next step is to search the evaluation sites and read about software that they recommend. Finally allot yourself about 2 hours for your visit and the center manager would be happy to spend some time with you showing you what we have and providing you with time to explore the software. We suggest that you come ready to take notes about the various programs for future reference. We have many flyers, handouts and demo discs that you may take with you.

Software may be checked out for preview for up to two weeks by all registered School of Education students. Currently there is no provision for check out by nonstudents, however we are working to establish such a policy.

All individuals who use the center are expected to do some kind of sign in thing. If you preview software we ask that you fill out a very short evaluation form (less than 1 page and 2 minutes). Results from these evaluations will be stored in an accumulated database, a copy will also be sent (without your name) to the developers to provide them with constructive feedback.

8.What if there is some specific software that I would like to preview that you don't have?

Please contact Jeff and we will try to have a copy of that software for you to preview within two weeks.

Pacific University School of Education Preview Center
Policy Governing Use and Duplication of Computer Software

The Pacific University School of Education forbids, under any circumstances, the unauthorized reproduction of software owned or housed in the Preview Center. Using University equipment to make illegal copies of software is prohibited. University employees, students or preview center users who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action. Individuals who violate U.S. copyright law and software licensing agreements also may be subject to criminal or civil action by the owner of the copyright.

The Pacific University School of Education, along with many other colleges and universities, supports the following statements from the 1987 brochure "Using Software", distributed by EDUCOM:

"Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise." This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner, and terms of publication and distribution.

"Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community."

University employees, students, and preview center users are required to adhere to any specific conditions or restrictions required by the licensing agreements for software programs purchased with University funds or donated to the Preview Center. For commonly used licensing agreements, the following conditions apply:

1. It is illegal to copy a software program, such as HyperStudio, Office, Filemaker, or Windows, and install that single program for simultaneous use on multiple machines.

2. Unauthorized copies of software programs may not be used on University equipment. This applies even though you yourself may not have made the illegal copy.

3. Purchase of the appropriate number of copies of a software program is necessary for maintaining legal status, especially if you are using machines connected to a network.

4. University employees, students, and preview center users are prohibited from assisting in making or using illegal copies of software.

5. University employees, students, and preview center users are permitted to make an archival (back-up) copy of a software program provided it is not used or transferred separately from the original program.
.(adapted from UA Tuscon, 2000, http://www.sitelicense.arizona.edu/copyright.html)

We are here for your convienence and to facilitate the process of selecting high quality software. We will try to meet your needs so let us know what they are and what we can do to help.