Computer Lab | | Western Michigan University
History Department Computer Lab
The History Department's digital media lab isconveniently located in 4302 Friedmann Hall. Paid for with student technology fees through the
distributed computer plan (DCP), the media center has a number of
new resources for undergraduate majors, graduate students, and
instructors. Among the items included in the center are five
iMac desktop workstations, a mobile laptop cart that houses and
charges twenty iBooks for classroom use,color scanner that can
easily scan photos, slides, and documents, a new laser printer, two
digital cameras, and two digital video cameras. The DCP grant, which
was authored by assistant professor Ed Martini and coordinated by the
department’s IT Committee, also funded two new software items: Final
Cut Pro, for creating and editing high quality video projects, and
the Past Perfect museum management program, purchased with our Public History programs in mind.
Because it is funded by student technology fees, the lab is designed
for use primarily by history majors and graduate students as well as
faculty working on instruction-related activities. The lab is
available for history students to work on media-related projects,
such as film or web design, to work on more traditional assignments,
or simply to check their email in between classes. Several students
and instructors are already using the lab’s resources for their classes.We really want to stress that this is a *student-centered* lab,
designed to help meet the needs of several groups, but particularly
our history majors. We are considering this lab a starting point for
developing computing and digital media resources within the
department, so when you visit the lab, please also let us know what
types of hardware, software, or other devices, would be helpful. We
will start a wish list and begin targeting future funding
opportunities with the goal of building and expanding the lab.
Please swing by soon and check out *your* history media lab! For more information about the lab, contact Professor Martini at
edwin.martini@wmich.edu.