PVCC: Computer Commons

The Computer Commons at Paradise Valley Community College is a centralized computer lab housed in Building E, the Learning Resources Complex (LRC).

In 1987 when the college was built, the LRC was chosen to house the centralized instructional support services for the whole college. Originally it housed the Library, Counseling, the Learning Assistance Center (now LSC), the Microcomputer Lab (Mac Lab), employee computer lab, and the Information Processing Center. The original plan was for PVCC to be a Mac/Apple only campus. The original Mac Lab was the centralized student computer lab with four classrooms surrounding an open lab that could house about 40 computers. It was designed so that the walls between the classrooms could be opened to enlarge the classroom labs and open them to the open lab.

Even before moving onsite, the business computer classes used eight IBM/PCs at one of our temporary sites (the Temple). Two rooms in K Building were designed with folding walls to allow computers in two classrooms to be shared. Four rooms were wired for computers with electrical and networking conduit installed for future expansion. When PVCC opened onsite, some business classes were taught in the Microcomputer Lab on Apples or Macs but the majority of business computer classes at Paradise Valley community college were taught in K Building using terminals (1 room) connected on-line to the campus' main-frame computer or freestanding IBM or compatible computers (3 rooms). It was some years before the IBM desktop computers were all placed on-line.

Initially the Open Lab in the Mac Lab housed a few IBMs. Very quickly it was determined that the Open Lab to support IBMs needed to be in K Building, thus unscheduled computer classrooms in K Building were used as an Open Lab. Finally one of the four computer classrooms in K building was established as the Open Lab (K108). With the advent of the Open Entry/Open Exit (OE/OE) classes, expansion in the BUS/CIS/OAS classes, the addition of Mathematics classes using a computerized learning package, Academic Systems, and an expanding Continuing Education program, K building was operating at full capacity Monday through Saturday. Note: The OE/OE program offered in K Building’s Open Lab was the beginning of what is now our Center for Distance Learning in E Building which includes OE/OE (open entry/open exit) classes, Flex Express classes, GIL (guided independent learning) classes, Instructional TV classes, and Online classes.

In 1995-96 as the college was preparing to propose an expansion of its facilities, it was decided to begin planning for a combined student computer lab which would house both the Mac Lab and the PC/Windows machines from the business building. This new computer lab’s original specifications were for 26 computer class labs surrounding an open lab. Also in the ideal world, recommendations were made to include a teaching/learning center and to move PVCC’s IT Dept. (IRTS) into E-building.

Due to funding constraints, several changes were made: 1) IRTS stayed in A building (though much effort and continued planning efforts provide common goals and a stronger bond of service between the new Computer Commons and IRTS). 2) The new centralized Computer Commons in E building was cut to 11 classroom labs surrounding an open lab with some testing stations. 3) To meet the additional anticipated classroom demand, the Macintosh Laptop project was born and funded (which required no additional facilities and instead would incorporate portable laptops to be moved from classroom to classroom on carts to support classroom computer needs in some of our new classrooms in Building M).

During the construction in the summer and fall of 1998 the Mac Lab moved into K. Building classrooms not used by the business computer labs. In January 1999, the move was made from nine computer classrooms in K building into the remodeled space in the E Building lab now called the Computer Commons. The organizational structure, staffing, goals, equipment, computer instruction, and instructional support for students’ computer classes merged into one larger area designed for the merger. The Computer Commons in E building is still the centralized computer lab for instructional support for student access at Paradise Valley Community College. Currently it has more than 500 computers in 11 computer classrooms (9 PC/Windows and 2 Mac) and an Open Lab (about 120 computers, Mac & PC/Windows) plus a remote PC/Windows classroom in K-building.

In addition to the computer classrooms and the Open Lab in the Computer Commons in E, and the Laptops used in M Building, the need for access to technology has grown and is provided in other areas of the campus as well. Currently, the Library and the Learning Support Center (former LAC) have computer workstations available for students. In addition several departments have small satellite computer labs to support instruction including chemistry, biology, physics (also used for engineering and astronomy) and HAZ MAT. PVCC also has computers available in B Building (Student Services) for students to register and check out financial aid information. There is also an Information Commons area where students can do online registration, advisement, career exploration, and search the internet (12 PC/Windows computers). Even in the cafeteria, a few computers comprise a Cybercafe (5 eMacs).