Welcome

This is a survey on the use of different operating systems in the COmputer Science curriculum. We are investigating why instructors and lab administrators choose the platforms they do. Primarily, we focus on Windows platforms vs. Unix/Linux, since these seem to dominate the field. We are interested in learning about the advantages and disadvantages of each system and how those weigh in the choices you and your colleagues make.

You will be asked to answer to a number of specific questions. In addition, there are numerous text boxes in which you will be invited to give your thoughts in free form.

The survey is divided into six pages, one discussing general OS usage in computer labs, and the other five corresponding to the following groups of courses:

  1. Introduction to the use of a particular OS, e.g. using the Windows interface or Unix shell.
  2. Introduction to programming in a particular OS, e.g. Unix shell programming, using Microsoft Foundation Classes, and Unix system calls.
  3. Certification-based courses, e.g. Cisco network management certification.
  4. Introduction to the use of some applications, e.g. Word, Excel, Photoshop.
  5. Principles of operating system design and implementation, e.g. process scheduling, concurrency, ISO network model.

Courses in the first three groups are inherently OS-specific. Those in group 4 tend to be OS-specific, in that many applications are predominantly associated with one OS. Those in group 5 are generally not OS-specific, but may become specific when case studies are done or programming assignments are given.

Presumably every college has some general computing labs, so that part of the survey should be filled out by everyone. Other than that, you will be asked to fill out only those parts of the survey for which your school offers courses.