Computer Laboratory Management Software System.

"Computer lab management software" refers to programs used by a teacher in the course of a lesson to maintain student attention and enhance instructional delivery. Screen sharing is a typical feature of lab management software, allowing the teacher's computer screen or another student's screen to be shared with every other computer in the lab. Effective use of computer lab management software can make a tremendous, positive difference when teachers use a computer lab for instruction.

Software Features

Using lab management software to present a technology-infused lesson can completely change the way a teacher presents content and teaches skills. Instead of straining their eyes to see small details on the screen at the front of the room, students can look at their own monitor in front of them and comfortably see the teacher's demonstration. When it is time to get everyone's attention, the teacher can "blank" student screens (make them all black), thereby preventing them from continuing their work. While some lab management software programs offer more advanced features, the following are the basic features that all should include.

1. Screen Sharing:
   Making all computer screens in the room show the same image, usually the instructor's screen. Many management programs allow sharing of other screens as well, so if a student has created something the instructor wants to show everyone, this can be accomplished quickly. When screen sharing is disabled, all student computers return to their previous screens.
2. Blank Student Screens:
   This is invaluable for getting student attention and providing class instructions. The blank screens command causes all computers in the room except the instructor's to turn black (or another color) and sometimes display a message. Some programs offer the option of displaying a custom image. While screens are blanked, students cannot see anything on their own screen or continue to work.
3. Remote Control:
   Depending on the instructional setting, this feature may have more "gee whiz" value than practical use, but many programs allow instructors to take remote control of a student's computer to demonstrate a task. This feature may be more helpful to technical support staff who need to make configuration changes or even installations on remote computers than to classroom teachers.
4. Unique Room Codes:
   Lab management programs, when initially setup on "client" (student) and instructor computers, permit a unique name or number to be assigned for the classroom where the computers are located. This way, instructors can choose to control only the computers physically located in the same classroom. Multiple computer labs or classrooms in the same building can use the same lab management software for computer control with different room codes and not interfere with each other.
   
   Access to these lab management features is extremely helpful, whether the students using the computer are young or old. In fact, as many staff development presenters know, it can be even more difficult to teach technology skills to adults (especially teachers) than to young people. When an instructor wants to limit off task behavior (like surfing websites unrelated to the presented lesson), encourage time on task, or present oral instructions to students, these software tools are wonderful additions to a technology-infused learning environment. Windows XP Professional and some other Windows-based operating systems include an optional feature, Remote Desktop Services, which allows for remote control of desktop computers. These remote control features can have instructional applications, but do not permit the same class-wide screen sharing and other capabilities of the lab management software options discussed in this article.

Advanced Features

Some management programs offer additional features with wonderful instructional benefits for classroom teachers and students.

1. Shut down or restart computers:
   It can be time consuming at the end of the day to shut down all the computers in a lab or classroom, or to restart them before the next class. Some programs offer the ability to shut down or restart an entire lab simultaneously with a few mouse clicks on the instructor computer. Installed Network Interface Cards (NICs) in each computer must support this feature for it to work.
2. Transfer a file to all student computers:
   If a school file server is available and a "shared folder" has been created allowing student as well as teacher access, files for a particular lesson can be opened from the network. Some lab management programs allow for the distribution of files directly to the hard drive of every computer in the lab, however, and some can even retrieve modified and saved files from the student computers to the instructor computer at the end of class.
3. Chat:
   While some teachers may think this feature is superfluous and unneeded, chat capability included with lab management software can be invaluable for a variety of reasons. First, most students love to chat on their computers: typing text messages to each other as they would in an online chat room. A major difference between an online chatroom and a chat environment provided by a lab management software program is that the participants are controlled: only those students physically in the room can participate in the chat. As a reward for staying on task or completing a lesson, students can be given five minutes of chat time at the end of the period. Students desperately need guidance and instruction on what is appropriate and safe to disclose in an online chat environment, so in addition to motivating students, chat sessions can also provide them with invaluable digital safety skills.