Notebook Computers at BSC

Bridgewater State College strives to provide our students with the best possible technology to enhance learning and campus life.

Upon the recommendation of the All College Committee, President Mohler-Faria approved the proposal for a student notebook computer requirement at BSC for all full-time undergraduate students, which was implemented with the incoming freshman class in the Fall of 2004.

The intent of this requirement is to enhance students' overall college experience and to help students develop technology skills for their lives after graduation. We believe the requirement will also enable interested faculty to incorporate technology in their teaching in many new ways.

Notebook Support

There are many ways in which notebooks may be helpful to you as an instructor. In a few cases, faculty members may choose to have students use notebooks on a regular basis in the classroom. In other cases, faculty members will use computers occasionally -- or not at all -- in the classroom, but more extensively for assignments outside of class. Notebooks also lend themselves well to collaborative projects among groups of students. We encourage you to think through whether and how to integrate this tool into your teaching strategies and to call on our support staff for assistance of any kind you may require.

For more information, please contact the Teaching and Technology Center at x.2634 (from off-campus at 508.531.2634). Teaching and Technology Center Faculty Fellows are also available to offer pedagogical strategies for effectively integrating the use of notebook computers into your classes.

A Student Notebook Checklist is available for distribution to your students. The student checklist provides general guidelines for notebook care and maintenance and helps students as they prepare their notebooks to access the wireless network.

A Faculty Notebook Checklist is available as well. This Adobe PDF document is a two-sided color handout that includes some tips and tricks for faculty members who use notebook computers, as well as recommendations for successfully incorporating the use of notebook computers in the classroom based on lessons learned by IT and other faculty members.

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to read these documents.

Purchasing a Notebook Computer

Bridgewater State College is partnered with Dell Inc. for BSC's student notebook computer requirement. Dell provides a custom configuration for College students, faculty, and staff at a substantial discount below their standard educational pricing. The package includes an extended warranty with accidental damage protection and an extensive selection of software including Microsoft XP Pro, Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Publisher and FrontPage packages, anti-virus software and an anti-spyware program.

To learn more about this offer, visit the MassAdvantage Notebook Computer Program purchasing info page at http://notebooks.bridgew.edu/Purchase.cfm.

Notebook Best Practices

In 2005, Bridgewater State College began the BSC Professional Partnerships for Notebook Computer Integration to build technology and information literacy among students. See how BSC Faculty are incorporating notebook use into their classes.