Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the lab. If your question is not answered here, or if you wish to comment on the lab, please ask one of the Lab Assistants or contact the Director of Operations in the Multimedia Laboratory.

Where is the LARC Multimedia Laboratory?
The LARC lab is in the Business Administration building on the east side of the San Diego State University campus. There are two wings, in BA-410 (MAC) and BA-419 (PC). Each has computers, videotape players, DVD and CD players, and audiotape recorders.

What is the schedule?
From Monday through Thursday, every effort is made to keep at least one wing of the Multimedia Laboratory open twelve hours a day, from 8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. On Fridays the lab will be open from 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. The lab is not open on weekends. If one of the labs is closed for a special event, the other lab will remain open for student use.

Who may use the lab?
The LARC Multimedia Center is dedicated to instruction in foreign languages, and is for the specific use of the students and instructors in the SDSU world language programs. It is not an open lab. The University maintains several open labs around campus. For a list of these, visit the SDSU student computing information page.

What do I need?
If you wish to check out software or video materials for use in the lab you will need a current San Diego State University Red ID card. Please note that no other form if ID can be accepted by the lab assistant.

Time Cards:
Many faculty require that students keep a record of time spent in the lab each semester. You can get a time card at the counter of each lab wing, in BA-410 and 419.

Diskettes:
If your faculty member has asked you to write and save an essay, or you wish to begin an essay in the lab and continue your work on it at home, you will need a formatted floppy diskette or Zip disk on which to save your work. The computers in the PC lab do have zip drives, but you can check one out at the front counter for use in the lab.

Can I check items out for use at home?
All lab materials must remain in the lab.

What software and materials are available?
LARC maintains a database of about 1000 titles of instructional software, videos, movies and similar items. Students may use any of the lab materials with a current SDSU Red ID card. Students are encouraged to review the materials database and explore the titles available.

What if I need help with equipment or software?
Student assistants behind the counters are trained to help you with the equipment and software. Directions for use of commonly used instructional programs are available in a brochure cabinet in each wing of the lab.

May I print out my work?
Yes, the LARC lab has the SDSU pay-per-print system installed which allows you to print out your work at the cost of 10 cents per page. Students may add money to their Red IDs at the AztecCard office or at a Dart station.

May I bring my own software to use? Or my own files?
Because LARC must protect the computers against virus infection and must protect the university against copyright infringement, it is not possible to bring your own software. You may certainly bring your own files (a MS Word document, for instance). The diskettes which you bring will automatically be checked for viruses, and there is danger of your losing materials on the diskette if a virus is detected. Please check your diskettes for viruses before bringing them to the lab.

May I save my work on the LARC computer?
There is a space (a "Documents" folder) on each computer for for temporary storage of documents. This is for while-you-work storage only, and every time the computer is restarted everything in it is deleted to make space for new students. Note too that this space is not secure. If you wish to save your work, please bring a formatted floppy diskette or Zip disk.