Reimagining Computer Labs for Today’s College Students

In the labs, Penn State focused on offering access to the technology students told them they needed most.

“Our guidance for updating the computer labs for students was ‘nothing about them without them,’” Bergey says. “It was important to bring them into the planning process, so we cut down the number of computers but gave them other things they requested, such as access to external monitors. All of the labs offer desktop computers, external monitors, large displays and printer kiosks. And there are lots of options for plugging in their own devices.”

Meeting the needs of all students is a major consideration in the lab renovations at Penn State. “It is important for us to not just meet but exceed accessibility standards,” Bergey says. “In our labs, we offer a variety of assistive technologies including oversized display screens, large-print backlit keyboards and adjustable-height desks.”

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Morehouse College’s Google Partnership Leads to a New Lab

Morehouse College, a historically Black college located in Atlanta, took a different approach to updating its computer lab: working directly with a major technology provider to develop and outfit it. While the Google Annex classroom will welcome its first students in fall 2024, student input played a role in the design and development of this dual-use computer lab and classroom.

“Google has been a corporate partner with Morehouse College for over five years,” says Alfred Watkins, computer science department chair and senior assistant professor at Morehouse. “Through Google internships, many of the computer science and software engineering students have experience with Google’s creative office spaces. Partnering with Google, we created the same approach at Morehouse.”

The lab sits between the computer science and chemistry departments. As the space is shared, the two departments collaborated to meet the needs of both. The lab’s selection of technology, including 10 Dell Alienware desktop workstations, loaner laptops, digital cameras, a printer, digital whiteboards and HD projectors, reflects the dual use of the space.

“We’ve made it comfortable with a couch. We have workstations and individual desks on wheels,” Watkins says. “All of these updates make collaboration easier, and we are hosting two new courses here this fall that will take advantage of the updated space: a game development course and an AI in fintech course.”

In addition to being supportive of collaboration and classroom discussion, the lab also showcases a mural depicting famous Morehouse alumni.

“Our vision was a space for students to come for classes and labs, but also to collaborate on projects, for coursework or their own research projects,” Watkins says. “And as they identify needs for additional technology, we want to be able to meet those needs and give them access to whatever they need to be successful.”