Controlling Workstations (Italc)

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The Italc application allows an instructor to control all of the workstations in a computer lab. The U shape represents the workstation setup in Westminster's Computer Lab.

WARNING

Prior to using Italc, you need to have permission to use the computer lab, have taken a computer lab training course, and know how to properly start up the computer lab, and start all workstations.

Please contact AVIT for computer training.

Introduction / Purpose

Italc is a program to allow a teacher (from a server) to control all of the student workstations. This program is open-source and can work in the Linux and MS Windows environment. This application is well-suited for computer labs using LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project).


The main purpose of this tool is to allow the instructor to teach and assist students from their workstations in an efficient manner.

Procedures for Managing Workstations

YouTube Video

If you want to see the visual steps for "Procedures for Managing Workstations", here is a link to a customized YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3fb_AZUy7k


Written Instructions

Below are the written instructions (in case you prefer to have a printout of these procedures):


Before Starting Italc

In order to use the Italc application to manage computer workstations, it is assumed that you correctly followed the procedures to startup the computer lab.

Here is a link to Start-Up Procedures for the Computer Lab:


It is assumed that you have logged into the computer server as the "teacher" account prior to using the Italc application.


Launching Italc Application

Click on Manage Workstations icon to launch the Italc application

To launch the Italc application, double-click on the Manage Workstations icon.

You may be prompted to enter the same password that you used to log into the teacher account.

The application window will appear, and display the current computer workstation configuration (refer diagram at the top of this wiki for reference):

  • Workstation resembles a "horse-shoe" pattern.
  • Top left workstation is workstation #1.
  • Workstations increase in number as you move around the horse-shoe.
  • The last workstation on the bottom right is workstation #7.


NOTE: For best results, the teacher should log in ALL computer accounts during the computer lab session.

For example, use:
  • jamm1 -> jamm7 accounts for workstation #1 -> workstation #7
  • studio1 -> studio7 accounts for workstation #1 -> workstation #7


NOTE: If you do NOT intend to use the data display projector for the computer session, you still need to run the Italc program, and restart the Data Display Projector in order to quickly log-out student accounts, power-down the workstations, and to power-down the computer server...


Useful Features of Italc

Some buttons (features) in the italc application.

There are many features that the Italc application provides in the Computer Lab learning environment including:


Viewing all student Activity
The ability for an instructor in one glance to view all student activity can be very useful:
  • Check to see if students are having problems
  • Monitor the progress of all of the students
  • Check to ensure that students are not distracted (eg. "surfing the Net instead of creating a Word-processing document).
  • Ability to view while sitting-down and not "hovering over students' workstations


As a matter of interest: several community college professors are curious to see this Italc feature at Westminster. Although it may not apply to the Westminster computer lab, the Italc application has an ability to take screen-shots of terminals for proof of cheating during on-line tests or exams!
Using Italc to view student activity.
Focusing on a Particular student's Desktop.
Focus on a Particular Student Account
In order to focus on a specific student's desktop (account), simply point on the workstation, and double-click.
There are some advantages for the teacher to use this strategy:
  • Allow the student to demonstrate with instructor watching (without "hovering" over workstation)
  • Provides a method to have a student demonstrate a technique or skill, and allow other students to view data display projection to learn, then practice technique on their own workstation.
  • Instructor has control over the student's mouse pointer (in addition to the student) to help guide the student in learning


SUGGESTION: It is recommended for the instructor to guide, not necessarily take full control away from the student while they are learning...
Lock all Student Computer Accounts
The instructor can lock all student workstations.
Usually, this is a technique that can be used when an instructor wants students not to become distracted while an important lesson or announcement is made that requires full student attention.
It is a common fact that students can become distracted when having access to a computer. Although many "games" have been removed from the student's accounts, they may still be distracted by the web-browser ("surfing the Net:).
Full Screen / Windowed Demo
Unfortunately, Locking all student computer accounts (discussed above) may "force" the students to focus their attention to the data display projection.
On the other hand, an instructor can select "Full Screen Demo" in order to broadcast the instructor's desktop to all of the students' workstation monitors.
In this way, students will not become distracted, and have the option to either view their screen or the data display projection.
When the instructor turns-off the Full Screen Demo, then control is restored back to the students, to practice their learned skills.


SUGGESTION: Studies have shown that students relate better to a combination of theory and practice. An instructor can break down curriculum into a series of "micro-teaching" sessions, followed by "Practice-Time" or a project.
Lock Workstations to lessen "Distractions".
Using "Full Screen Demo Mode" to provide flexibility for viewing (both Data Display Projection or Workstation monitor).
Log-off and Power Down all Workstations
Confirmation Dialog box to confirm log-off and shutdown of all active computer accounts.
Prior to shutting down students' workstations, all students are required to correctly save their work, and close all applications. The instructor can use the Italc application to verify that the students have correctly performed those tasks.
In order to log-off active student accounts and shutdown the workstation CPUs, simple click on the Power Down button. The instructor will be prompted to confirm shutdown of all active accounts. When the instructors confirms yes, all of the students' accounts will be logged-out and the workstation CPUs will be powered down within 2 seconds! Due to the architecture of this lab, this is not dangerous, and does not pose a risk to students' loss of work.
The instructor can now proceed with "Grabbing Student Work", and/or "Shutting Down the Computer Lab"
NOTE: The Power-on button does not work, and can be ignored since the user can start all workstations by clicking the Start Workstations icon in the Teacher's desktop. This application does not allow remote student or automatic student login from the Teacher account. The reasons for these restrictions are based on security.

Additional Resources

  • Italc User Manual: [ pdf ]
  • Main Italc website: [ html ]
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