Nursing freshman Michaela Cowin prints an essay for her English class today in the mega lab in Room 502 of Moody. Printing works on a value system, students need to create a GoPrint account first. Once an account is created, students add money using a credit card, ALAMOCash card or cash. Cash payments are processed through pay stations in the lab. Photo By Neven Jones
Stations are available to charge phones or tablets.
By Ansley Lewis
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Students are encouraged to use this college’s Student Mega Lab as a tool for success.
Information systems specialist Melinda Lopez, who manages the Mega Lab, is eager to assist. “I am passionate about the lab,” she said. “Students are very lucky to have these resources available to them.”
Lopez said the lab serves 300-400 students a day Monday-Thursday and a limited number Fridays.
Once students sign in with a Banner ID using the Labtrac system, they have access to three types of computer systems: virtual desktop infrastructures, Dell desktops and Apple iMacs. The virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI, is connected to a virtual desktop hosted on a remote server where the operating system and preferences are stored.
If students need to save files, Lopez recommends using Google Drive or an Outlook account.
The Dell desktops, similar to those in other labs around campus, are available for students who need quick access to a computer and 20 Apple iMacs are available providing access to Adobe’s Creative Cloud.
An Adaptive Technology Zone is available to students with disabilities, including five computers with Kurzwiel, to help students improve reading and writing; JAWS to help the visually-impaired and blind with tasks on the computer; Dragon NaturallySpeaking for typing documents using voice recognition; and ZoomText, magnification software.
Students can use a GoPrint card and the lab offers computer-integrated technology workshops.
Call the Student Mega Lab at 210-486-0160, or Lopez at 210-486-0811. For schedules, visit www.alamo.edu/sac/megacomputerlab/ and click Training Workshops in the sidebar.
