Aliens have landed at 5X社区 at Tuscarawas.
The campus unveiled a computer lab with 24 new Alienware computers for the fall semester of 2023. Students studying engineering technology and/or animation game design at Kent State Tuscarawas are able to use these high-end computers to draft images and create code.
Bradley Bielski, Ph.D., dean of Kent State Tuscarawas, was so excited about the new computer lab, he posted a picture on Instagram highlighting the benefits to students in these programs. Kent State Today followed up to get the scoop.
鈥淭hose two degrees are quite important to the campus, and we tend to put money into those programs, so students get the best opportunities to learn on great equipment from some of the best faculty around,鈥 Bielski said.
Paul Dykshoorn, academic program director at Kent State Tuscarawas, managed the installation of these computers with the help of the information technology department.
鈥淲e decided we're going to benefit both engineering technology and animation game design programs and get the best computers possible,鈥 Dykshoorn said. 鈥淲e are looking toward the future because every year they come out with new software that has higher and higher requirements.鈥
Kent State Tuscarawas administration thought the $5000 price tag for each Alienware R15 Gaming Desktop computer was worth it for its programming. These computers can run the high-end software that students need for their classes. And that experience with these machines translates very well to these industries.
Alienware computers are top-of-the-line gaming computers that are specifically designed to handle programs such as 3D modeling AutoCAD software without overheating or crashing. Case in point, an Alienware computer鈥檚 Intel-Core i9 processor has 24 cores and can handle large programs with ease. In contrast, a Macbook M2 processor only has 8 cores.
Dykshoorn says around 40 students each semester are using the computers in classes such as Engineering Drawing, 2D Graphics, Modeling and Texturing, Character Animation, and Games for Education.
鈥淢y goal is to equip our students for work,鈥 Dykshoorn said.
Learn more about engineering technology at Kent State Tuscarawas.
Learn more about animation and game design at Kent State Tuscarawas.