Abstract

The Health Sciences Microlab is an essential computing facility for students in the Health Sciences and other nearby departments. In order to provide high quality service for our users, we conduct regular surveys to determine their needs. Based on this student input, we would like to request replacements for 10 Macintosh workstations and licenses for a number of software packages. Requested software includes: A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy, Acrobat, EndNote, Nutritionist Pro, StatTransfer, three web-based molecular biology/bioinformatics tools and software to improve system stability.

Background

The Health Sciences Microlab was established in 1986 to support the common computing needs of the six Health Sciences schools (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Community Medicine, and Social Work). As computing needs have changed over the years, primary use of the lab has shifted from face-to-face instruction to collaborative learning supported by drop-in use. Today, most Health Sciences students use the Microlab as their primary computing center. Our gate-counts indicate that approximately 1,000 students/day use the Microlab.

The Microlab currently consists of a common drop-in area for general use (70 seats), two traditional lecture style computer teaching room (20 seats each), a collaboratory-style teaching room (25 seats), a small Library Teaching Lab (13 seats), and an email area (14 stations).

The lab is open seven days a week for a total of 81.5 hours. For approximately 88% of our open hours, the teaching rooms are available for general drop-in use. Academic course sessions are held in the computer teaching rooms during the remaining time, an average of fewer than 2.5 hours per weekday per classroom. The Library Teaching Lab, funded by the Library, is available as a quiet work area during evening and weekend hours and as an overflow area when needed.

The Microlab serves over 4,000 graduate and undergraduate students in the health sciences and is open to all UW students. It is centrally located in the same complex as the classrooms, teaching labs and other instructional support services for five of the six Health Sciences schools (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health).

In addition to our primary clientele, the lab is used by students in interdisciplinary programs taught by Health Sciences faculty, and other nearby programs such as biology, bioengineering, molecular biology, bioinformatics, chemistry and zoology.

All Microlab computers provide access to the campus network, to the Libraries' public databases and electronic journal subscriptions, to unique health sciences software programs not available in other computing labs, and to general purpose applications (e.g., word processing, presentation graphics, spreadsheets, statistical software and email). Student use of the Microlab ranges from assigned course work to self-directed information discovery and retrieval. Subject specific software promotes the learning and retention of vast quantities of information (such as anatomy, physiology and genomics) and acts as an effective component in learning skills (such as how to accomplish blood draws).

Laser printing in the Microlab is self-service and is provided on a cost-recovery basis. The current rate is $.10 per page, which is subject to change based on annual reviews of costs for printer maintenance and supplies. Print jobs are selected and paid for at self-service computer printing stations.

Benefits

The Health Sciences Microlab is a resource that is highly valued by our students. Students also appreciate the regular improvements we make and have come to rely on having a high quality lab. To maintain this quality, we conduct user surveys once or twice each year. Based on comments from recent surveys, we developed questions in the following topic areas for our Fall 2003 survey: replacement of outdated Macintosh workstations and purchasing additional software. We used responses from the 162 Microlab users who completed this survey to shape this proposal. You can see the survey and survey results at http://catalyst.washington.edu/webtools/webq/survey.cgi?user=hsl&survey=18
and
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/commons/stf/2003surveyresults.htm

Benefits of replacing Macs:

The computers in the Microlab are used heavily by a variety of people from 7:30am to 9:00pm most days. This type of use contributes to significant wear and tear. We have been operating on a 4-year workstation replacement schedule, favored by 83% of survey respondents. We currently have 14 Mac G-3s and G-4s in the drop-in area which are over 3 years old, so should be replaced next summer. According to our surveys, Mac use in the lab has declined from 11.4% in 2001 to 6.8% now. So, we asked students if they would favor replacing all 14 macs, or replacing half the Macs with Macs and the other half with pcs. Considering the relatively small number of Mac users, there was strong support for both positions (30% for replacing all and 58% for replacing half). So we split the difference and are requesting 10 new Mac workstations. The workstation features we’re requesting (e.g. flat screen monitors and cd burners) are also based on survey responses. We have 4 older pc workstations that can fill the vacated slots. So, Mac users benefit by having new workstations and pc users benefit by having 4 additional workstations.

Software Benefits:

We created a list of software that had been requested by Microlab users in the past, either in previous surveys or directly to staff. Then we asked our users what they would like to use STF funds to purchase. The 162 survey respondents are a sample of the 4,000 Health Sciences students who use the lab. On the theory that not everyone uses every software package, we decided to request any software that was supported by at least 20% of students who responded to this survey question.

Ghost and Norton SystemWorks have the overwhelming support of 89% of survey respondents. Ghost will allow staff to reimage damaged workstations quickly, keeping them available for lab users. Norton SystemWorks will help lab staff recover files that have been accidentally deleted, saving students the time it would take to recreate them from scratch. We are also requesting Apple Remote Desktop, a useful Macintosh administration tool.

Web-based molecular biology tools were supported by 61% of survey respondents. Computer tools for analyzing molecular/genetic information are an essential component of all modern biology research. Learning to use a variety of these tools is critical to student success in the arena of biology research as well as in their personal understanding of the risks and benefits of the genomics revolution now underway. Such tools are subject to rapid changes as the amount of biological data continues to grow exponentially. In order to keep them up to date, most of these tools are available via web-based subscriptions. Three important programs are:
1) Genesifter.net, a tool for analyzing microarray gene expression data;
2) PubGene, and advanced "bibliomics" tool for mining the vast quantities of scientific literature; and
3) GEMS Launcher from Genomatrix, a powerful molecular sequence manipulation and analysis tool.
They complement each other by covering different types of genomic data plus the available literature. Together they provide a powerful suite for learning both fundamental and advanced strategies in dealing with biological information at the molecular level. With access to these products, students will be able to do their research with the most current information available, learn to evaluate and integrate data from a variety of sources, and experience industry-standard research tools.

Acrobat 6.0 upgrade is supported by 54% of survey respondents. In Fall 2001, our initial Acrobat 5.0 purchase was supported by almost 69% of Microlab users. Acrobat 6.0 will allow students to create pdfs using current industry-standard software. New features of 6.0 include the ability to convert and merge documents into one pdf file in a single step as well as improved ability to create interactive forms. Overall, it will simplify document-sharing now and experience with the software may make students more marketable in the future.

EndNote 7.0 upgrade is supported by 40% of survey respondents. EndNote has a wonderful feature that allows students to search some databases from within EndNote and store citations easily. However, this feature doesn't work in EndNote 5.0 (our current version) for the latest version of PubMed, the most popular database for Health Sciences students. So now they need to follow a more cumbersome procedure to manage their references. Upgrading to EndNote 7.0 will save students time by combining their database searching with writing bibliographies in the appropriate style for their papers.

A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy is supported by 38% of survey respondents. It is an interactive resource that helps students learn more about anatomy. It has more than 40,000 images and is both searchable and browsable. Students have repeatedly requested anatomy software (and other subject-based tutorials) to supplement their learning. They use it to enhance individual scholarship and as a refresher for licensing exams. While there may very well be classes that require students to use this software, we are requesting its purchase primarily for students' individual use. Our request for 10 user licenses is less than the number of workstations in any of the Microlab classrooms.

StatTransfer is supported by 36% of survey respondents. Students use a variety of statistical software packages such as Stata, SPSS and SAS in their research. StatTransfer makes it easy to transfer data among these and other programs so that students can share data and collaborate in their research.

Nutritionist Pro is supported by 21% of survey respondents. Nutrition is an integral part of maintaining good health and providing good health care. Having access to a good, current nutrition analysis tool will allow students to monitor their own diets and to learn how to evaluate diets of future patients. Like any subject-specific software, this could possibly be used as an instructional tool. However, our request for this software is based entirely on student input, not that of their instructors.

Benefits of New Headphones:

We forgot to ask about headphones on our survey. Luckily a number of students used the comments boxes to remind us of their importance. Students use headphones to listen to music while they work and to listen to many of the audio resources available. We purchased 20 sets of headphones two years ago and have been distributing them from the service desk. Due to the wear and tear caused by heavy use, we are down to 6 headphone sets now. We would like to purchase 30 headphone sets so that students can continue to take advantage of the increasing number of audio resources available.

Student Access

The Microlab provides ready access to computing resources at a location that is convenient to Health Sciences students' classes, labs, and patient care responsibilities. The library is open 81.5 hours/week, spanning the hours when students generally come to campus. Other campus computing facilities are located too far from the Health Sciences complex for drop-in use between classes and lack the specialized software needed by Health Sciences students. We’ve found that many non-Health Sciences students who have classes in the Health Sciences Building or in neighboring buildings also take advantage of the convenience of working here.

Access to the web-based molecular biology/bioinformatics software is restricted by user id/password. Students will be able to get the passwords through a registration form on the HealthLinks BioResearcher Toolkit (http://healthlinks.washington.edu/bioresearcher). Dr. Mark Minie (meminie@u), the H.S. Library BioResearcher Liaison, will distribute passwords to students only.

Available Resources

The Health Sciences Administration provides funding for most of the day-to-day operations and the Health Sciences Library provides overall lab administration and other support. Support for daily operations of the Microlab includes funding for a 1.0 FTE senior computing specialist and 4.0 FTE student assistants as well as the contributed time of a librarian and library support staff members. It also includes funding for ongoing customer service and technical training for Microlab staff.

Microlab staff install new equipment/software, provide routine maintenance, and assist students in using the lab. Staff also provide security for the equipment by being present in the area while the library is open. All doors are alarmed and centrally monitored while the library is closed. In the unlikely event that STF equipment is vandalized or stolen, insurance is funded by the Health Sciences Library.

The Health Sciences Library provides funding for a 1.0 FTE PhD level BioResearcher Liaison who is able to assist students in learning to use the molecular biology/bioinformatics software. HS Administration and the HS Library also fund the majority of educational licenses for software and computer manuals, the workstations for the Library Teaching lab, and the Microlab email stations.

Since the Spring of 2001, the Health Sciences Library has spent $74,500 to upgrade wiring, power, air conditioning, and rack mounts in a server room that houses equipment servicing the Microlab.

Installation Timeline

If funds are awarded before the end of May 2004, the proposed services should be operational before the start of Autumn Quarter 2004.

Departmental Endorsement

In addition to the departmental support described in the resources section, this proposal is supported by Dean Paul Ramsey, School of Medicine, Dean Nancy Wood, School of Nursing and other Health Sciences deans.

Student Endorsement

Results of our Fall 2003 student survey are available at: http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/commons/stf/2003surveyresults.htm

The following student survey respondents gave us permission to use their names in support of our proposal:

Carissa Hockema, Nutritional Science student, chockema@u.washington.edu

Yu Chen, Nutritional Science student, yuc@u.washington.edu

Tess Moore, Medical student, tess@u.washington.edu

Roger Lucas, Dental student, rwing@u.washington.edu

Elena Jenkins, Nursing student, ecoby@u.washington.edu

Mark Keilholz, Public Health student, mdk6@u.washington.edu

Ben Wiggins, Molecular and Cellular Biology student, benlw@u.washington.edu

Christy McKinney, Epidemiology student, chrismck@u.washington.edu

John Chevillet, Molecular and Cellular Biology student, jchevill@u.washington.edu

Lisa J. Trigg, Nursing student, trigger@u.washington.edu

Tatia Chay, Public Health Genetics student, tatiacw@u.washington.edu

Anthony Moore, Nursing student, nyelvesz@u.washington.edu

Kate Lebedeva, Pharmacy student, klebedev@u.washington.edu

Amy Rodriguez, Medical student, aer0@u.washington.eud

Mike Ess, Applied Math student, mike_ess@yahoo.com

Kunal Walia, Dental student, kunal@u.washington.edu

Suzanne Powell, Medical student, spowell@u.washington.edu

Moz Benado, Epidemiology/Nutritional Sciences student, mozb@u.washington.edu

Erica Lamson, Nutritional Science student, elamson@u.washington.edu

Yuqing Guo, Nursing student, yg4@u.washington.edu

Anne Healzer, Physical Therapy student, healzer@u.washington.edu

Sawar C. Young, Medical student, sawar@u.washington.edu

Christine Blumell, Dental student, blumell@u.washington.edu

Hayden Hamilton, Medical student, hseneca@u.washington.edu

Michael Gilden, Medical Technology student, mgilden@u.washington.edu

Sandra Johnston, Nursing student, stonesk@u.washington.edu

Craig Toman, Pharmacy student, tomanc@u.washingnton.edu

Christina Lynch, Epidemiology student, cslynch@u.washington.edu

Megan Sety, Public Health student, msety@u.washington.edu

Carolyn Hutter, Epidemiology student,
chutter@u.washington.edu

Noelle Husen, Medical student,
nhusen@u.washington.edu

John Yu, Dental student,
johnsyu@u.washington.edu

Ian Templeton, Pharmaceutiics student,
iet@u.washington.edu

Mike Higgins, Medical Student,
scarth@u.washington.edu

Thomas Donn, Microbiology student,
tomness@u.washington.edu

Rachel VanDeMark, Nursing student,
rcv77@u.washington.edu

Bonnie Lind, Health Services student,
bklind@u.washington.edu

Amanda Horner, pre-Nursing student,
mandeehorner@hotmail.com

Items

Below are the items making up the current proposal. The asterisk (*) beside items signify that they were approved by the committee. This however was not implemented correctly for our database before 2005, so earlier years may not show this.

Click an item's title to view details on that item, or show all item details.