The Information School has four distinct computer lab spaces for student use:

• Computer Classroom in Mary Gates Hall (MGH) room 430
• Team Lab, Quiet Study Lab, and Group Meeting Room in Mary Gates Hall room 440
• Introductory Programming Learning Commons (IPLC) in Mary Gates Hall rooms 334 and 342
• PC Computer Classrooms in Mary Gates Hall rooms 076 and 082

Computer Classroom — Mary Gates Hall room 430

The Computer Classroom supports hands-on instruction and allows students the opportunity to engage in participatory learning with technology. The computer classroom includes an instructor computer and 41 student computers. Each computer is an Apple Mac mini with 32GB of RAM, 500GB SSD hard drive, six core processor, and is connected to a 34” curved USB-C monitor. Student laptops with a USB-C connection can connect to the monitor for a second display, wired ethernet, and power.   

Instructors can project to a ceiling-mounted LCD projector from the instructor podium computer or from their own laptop. Software is also available so the instructor screen can be displayed on each student screen. A video camera, microphones, and Panopto recorder allows instructors to schedule automatic video and audio capture of their lectures and have those videos automatically published on their course Canvas page. See this UW-IT webpage for information and directions about using the automated Panopto Scheduled Lecture Capture functionality.

The room is also equipped with an audio system for in-room voice and sound amplification, ceiling-mounted speakers, Apple TV, Wi-Fi, and power outlets at every workstation.

When the room is not reserved for Information School classes, it serves as a general use student computer lab. An electronic panel outside the room displays a calendar showing room availability.

Team Lab — Mary Gates Hall room 440

The Team Lab (also referred to as the “Technology Exploration” or “TE Lab”) has been designed to support student collaboration and group projects. The room includes multiple 34-inch monitors that work with bring-your-own laptops, four Mac mini computers with 34-inch monitors, furniture arranged for group work, multiple sit-stand desks, one flat-panel LCD wall mounted display for presenting material, multiple whiteboards, a group meeting table, and a shared network printer.

Quiet Study Lab — Mary Gates Hall room 440

The Quiet Study Lab has three Apple Mac mini computers and multiple 34-inch monitors that work with bring-your-own laptops. This room is for students who wish to work individually on assignments without the distractions of the group setting. No talking is permitted in the Quiet Study Lab. Groups working together should meet in the larger Team Lab space where talking is permitted.

Each of the computers in the Computer Classroom, Team Lab, and Quiet Study Lab is an Apple Mac mini configured to run macOS and a Windows Virtual Machine via the VMware Fusion application.

Group Meeting Room — Mary Gates Hall room 440

The group meeting room is equipped with a conference table, whiteboards and large screen display for presenting material.

Introductory Programming Learning Commons (IPLC) — Mary Gates Hall rooms 334 and 342

The Introductory Programming Learning Commons is a computer classroom and open lab that consists of two spaces:

Mary Gates Hall room 334 includes an instructor computer and 18 student computers. Instructors can present to the class using the dedicated computer or bring-your-own laptop connection, via an overhead projector. Software is also available that allows the instructor display to be shown on each student display. A wireless microphone and ceiling mounted speakers provide in-room audio amplification.

Mary Gates Hall room 342 includes a Teaching Assistant (TA) computer, five student computers, and power outlets for bring-your-own laptops. The room is also equipped with a large screen display for presenting material and a video conference system.    

MGH 334 and 342 are shared with the Allen School of Computer Science. Each computer is a ThinkCentre M93z all-in-one with a 4 core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 500GB SSD hard drive. Electronic panels outside the rooms display calendars showing room availability.

PC Computer Classrooms in Mary Gates Hall rooms 076 and 082

Mary Gates Hall rooms 076 and 082 are classrooms shared with the Department of English. Both rooms include an instructor’s computer and 26 student computers. Instructors can present to the class using the provided computer or bring-your-own laptop connection, via a large screen monitor. Software is available that allows the instructor display to be shown on each student display.

Hours

All of the iSchool computer labs are unlocked and available to the general public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, depending on whether classes are scheduled. Consult the UW Time Schedule for class information.

MGH-440 is a general student access room and has no scheduled classes.

iSchool students can still access our computer labs (and the iLounge in Mary Gates Hall) outside of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday by using their Husky Card, during regular Mary Gates Hall building hours.