Education Blog

The best way to learn about emerging education technologies is to talk to those who have tried them. During the Educause Annual Conference last week, our team had the opportunity to host an interactive conversation about virtualized learning environments with a group of IT visionaries who have first-hand experience. The discussion, moderated by Vice President of Dell Higher Education John Mullen, centered on specific goals of virtualization as well as the challenges and obstacles the panelists have overcome. Below are some of the highlights from our lively discussion:

• For California State University Stanislaus, the goal isn’t to take away devices, but to ensure that we’re managing all devices in an effective way, said Carl Whitman, AVP Info Tech/Chief Info Officer.

• Dr. Robert Owen, CIO for Western Kentucky University, chose virtualization as a way to maximize the use of labs on campus.  

• According to Alisa Berger, Principal of NYC iSchool (K12), her school’s early experiences with 1:1 learning was expensive and difficult to manage.  With Dell’s virtualized desktop solution, they are able to tackle challenges head on.   

• Michael Carlin, Deputy CIO University of Maryland Baltimore County, talked about dealing with licensing issues. We need more leadership in this space, but slowly we’re finding out solutions, he explained.

• At the University of Kentucky, said CIO Vince Kellen, virtualization has helped put more software in the hands of students. 

The panelists also openly shared their advice and best practices for those who are considering virtualization:

• The most important thing is to think ahead, said Berger. Another key element was building trust that students’ work was safe and secure.

• Students expect on-campus technology to operate at the speed and level of their normal mobile life, noted Kellen. If solutions aren’t simple and easy to use, they’re not going to be up to snuff.

• Make sure you talk to reference sites and have a good relationship with your vendor, especially if you’re wandering down this aisle for the first time, advised Owen.

• Set expectations for the finance office and beyond, said Whitman. And don’t forget to look at remote access and the security aspect ahead of time.

If your organization is ready to explore virtualization, Dell can help. For more information about our unique adoption process and how to get started, click here.