LABORATORY MANAGEMENT SAFETY EBS 366 1 SESSION FOUR

LABORATORY MANAGEMENT & SAFETY EBS 366 1

SESSION FOUR COMPUTER LABORATORY MANAGEMENT ISSUES 2

COMPUTER LABORATORY MANAGEMENT It is the application of management principles in the day to day running of ICT tools and equipment designated as a computer laboratory. These principles of management in the context of this course are the activities that “plan, organize, and control the operations of the basic elements of people, materials, machines, methods, funds, providing direction and coordination, and giving leadership to human efforts, so as to achieve the sought purposes for which the computer laboratory was set up. 3

THE GOAL OF LAB MANAGEMENT The goal of lab management is to guide lab personnel to deliver their assigned duties within limited time and resources. This includes acquiring grants, personnel, equipment, or the necessary tools, as well as designing the workflow, overseeing the daily operation of the lab, and training new lab personnel.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LAB MANAGER Strategic Roles Setting lab objectives Designing long-term plans Overseeing lab operations and relevant regulations Assigning tasks, monitoring and evaluating staff progress, performance and customer satisfaction Developing and administering the budget Reviewing regulatory requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LAB MANAGER Tactical and Operational Roles Internal work processes Regulatory adherence Mentoring Paperwork Organizing Meetings

SKILLS OF A LAB MANAGERS Analytical skills Management skills Interpersonal skills Communication Coordination Negotiation

FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTER LAB MANAGER Help define the vision, mission, aims/goals of the lab Draw budget for the lab and see to the efficient use of funds when provided. Ensure the cleanliness of the lab and the resources within it. Ensure the proper arrangement of resources at the lab installation, configuration, upgrade and maintenance hardware and software. of Installation, configuration and maintenance of the Network system. Perform computer backups on a regular basis. Draw up the schedules in consultation with other teachers for the use of the lab 8

FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTER LAB MANAGER CONT. Develop user policies for teachers, students and administrators. Manage student behavior in the computer lab. Maintain the security of facility and all resources. Maintain security of the lab. Ensure the smooth running of the lab by way of supervision, instruction, training and orientation of student staff, including demonstrating the proper use of computers and other resources. Where required, aid the students and teachers and monitor their use of the resources at the lab manually or through an application. Perform daily checks to ensure that every equipment functions as expected. Log equipment damage and malfunctions. Where applicable create and maintain student database which must include academic records 9

COMPUTER LAB POLICIES FORMULATION Who should have access? How should access be granted? What procedure must be followed when accessing the lab and its equipment? How should scheduling be done? What should be the dos and don’ts of the lab? What kind of user training be done, how should be done and who should handle it? What should be the safety rules for both users and technicians? What should be the security measures for protecting the lab and its equipment as well as Internet and Information security?

COMPUTER LAB POLICIES FORMULATION CONT. What rules should govern the use BYOD? What procedure must be followed in terms of reporting issues for student and teacher users? What are the routine activities that each employee at the lab must follow while working there? What is the chain of command reporting mechanisms? What actions must be taken in situations of emergencies? What should be inventory procedure? How should issues of maintenance, replacements and upgrades be done and who can specifically undertake specified maintenance and upgrades? Who is responsible for liaison between the lab and management, lab and community, lab and other organizations? What is permissible to discuss with any of these stakeholders?