[Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

Mon Sep 4 14:51:19 EST 2006

Where to start

The theory that every student should own and bring to class a laptop is of course one of the biggest educationalist crap shoots ever. With changes in the Internet / increased home ownership of computers /increased home broadband /USB memory down to 59$ per gig /pod casting/ VCE and drafting ... Remember that  ... I think student carried lippies should be well dead by now.

However Pods ?COWs individual laptops taken into classes is very valid.
Particularly in science .. Which not only has specialist rooms but have a huge amount of simulation and other programs that can be used.

We have for student use here about 150 laptops that can be borrowed by classes and individually. We don't use trolleys here due to physical layout of school. But bringing technology to students is better than making them lockstep to a "special" room .. Not withstanding that we have specialist computer areas (music/multimedia/art) and two full size computer rooms for when they are appropriate.

Laptops do cost more than equivalent desktops because of more expensive PSU's / batteries and LCD screens .. Tho the difference is rapidly falling. However you also need a better constructed laptop to survive the rigours of school life than you do a desk top. So hopping to get several years out of a sub $1000 laptop is a forlorn hope.
E.G. you might run DELL or Acer in your labs but you need the IBM or HP in your laptops.

Here students are not allowed in Computer rooms without supervision (in theory) .. In Middle school it leads off the Library .. No problems .. But senior school is really a problem with damage .. I need to put a teacher on a couch in there ... Rofl.
However there are 12 computers in the senior Library for student use as well.

 Royce Williams
Manager Information Technology 
Billanook College
197-199 Cardigan Rd
Mooroolbark 3138
Victoria Australia
Tel: 61-3-9725 5388; Fax: 61-3-9725 8556

-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Cameron
Sent: Friday, 1 September 2006 10:22 AM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers'Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

Apologies if this appears more than once - forgot to change identity.  :(

Let me say that Laptop computers are not a fad. Once seen as a way that 
private schools could "show off", they are now very mainstream in schools, 
business and homes. Laptops are a superb solution to mobility and "where are 
we going to fit in some more computers?". They have a role to play where 
appropriate.
I would give my right arm for the ability of my Science classes to be able to 
wheel in a set of notebooks to record prac results and create reports in real 
time *in the lab*.
Each of our Yr 7 classes have their own trolley of 12 notebooks (1 between 2 
model) that they take to each class. They are responsible for their own 
trolley which has helped reduce damage as they have a sense of ownership. The notebooks have helped many teachers transform the way they teach. Having 
immediate access to the technology without need to organise room-swaps or 
book computer rooms allows teachers to teach and students to learn "on the 
fly" if needed. You don't need to plan to have "a computer lesson", you just 
integrate the ICT as needed. The change we have seen in just 8 months is 
astounding.
As mentioned the "bang for your buck" works out well in favour of desktops, 
but only if you think in terms of hardware costs. I would place a great deal 
more weight on "educational bang for your buck" when considering between the 
two and notebooks rapidly catch or even surpass desktops when that is 
factored in.
Given the amount of use the laptops have had, they are holding up remarkably 
well. We have had one badly damaged case that will cost in the region of $800 
to repair. OUCH! - may as well buy a new one. We have had a bit of trouble 
with some keys being removed, but when you think of the amount of time they 
are used for, it isn't too bad.

We are probably looking at a bit of both. We are having trouble deciding where 
we can store the trolleys securely and at the same time, where we can fit in 
more desktops. It is great to have the technology out of sight until you need 
it and then you can place it on the same desks without the need for 
additional furniture or desks.

If it is foreseen that students will one day have their own personal computers 
in whatever form they may take, we may as well start now and develop teaching 
methods and courses that use the current mobile technology. I believe a 
graduated development of teaching pedagogy will be more useful than waiting 
and trying to shift over to a new style once it has been deemed that enough 
students have access to make it worthwhile.

Cheers
Cameron

On Thursday 31 August 2006 20:12, Stephen Digby wrote:
> Just got a single notebook trolley with 10 ACERs much against my 
> recomendation.  Hope that the machines last..... In the past, I have 
> had bad experience with notebooks in classrooms - more than twice the 
> price (esp. including more frequent amd much more expensive repairs); 
> last less than half service life (include downtime); less classroom 
> efficiency for teacher (get trolley, supervise handout, supervise use, 
> wait till students start them up, supercvise return to trolley c 
> correct connections to chargers; return trolley and plug in)
>
> Think that this is a very temporary fad until students all have 
> "personal" computers as seamlessly as they have phones.....
>
> 
>===========================================================================
>= ==========
> Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
> mailto:admin at cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> <http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/>  Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617
> ===========================================================================
>= ==========
>
>
> An empty stomach is not a good political advisor.
> Albert Einstein
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] 
> On Behalf Of Robert Minato
> Sent: 31 August 2006 03:37 PM
> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management 
> Teachers'Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
>
>
> Our school does not let students into computer rooms unless under 
> teacher supervision. We have three computer classrooms and another 
> computer room attached to the library. Students are allowed to use 
> library computers whenever library is open.
>
> We have recently gone down the path of setting up three cows 
> (computers on wheels). The library staff take bookings for these 
> laptop trolleys; nine laptops per trolley. Teachers book the cows and 
> can use them in any classroom. The advantage I have found with the 
> cows is that you can sometimes just book one cow as not all students 
> need a computer at the same time; ie others are doing prac tasks.
On Thursday 31 August 2006 20:12, Stephen Digby wrote:
> Just got a single notebook trolley with 10 ACERs much against my 
> recomendation.  Hope that the machines last..... In the past, I have 
> had bad experience with notebooks in classrooms - more than twice the 
> price (esp. including more frequent amd much more expensive repairs); 
> last less than half service life (include downtime); less classroom 
> efficiency for teacher (get trolley, supervise handout, supervise use, 
> wait till students start them up, supercvise return to trolley c 
> correct connections to chargers; return trolley and plug in)
>
> Think that this is a very temporary fad until students all have 
> "personal" computers as seamlessly as they have phones.....
>
> 
>===========================================================================
>= ==========
> Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
> mailto:admin at cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au
> <http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/>  Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617
> ===========================================================================
>= ==========
>
>
> An empty stomach is not a good political advisor.
> Albert Einstein
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] 
> On Behalf Of Robert Minato
> Sent: 31 August 2006 03:37 PM
> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management 
> Teachers'Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
>
>
> Our school does not let students into computer rooms unless under 
> teacher supervision. We have three computer classrooms and another 
> computer room attached to the library. Students are allowed to use 
> library computers whenever library is open.
>
> We have recently gone down the path of setting up three cows 
> (computers on wheels). The library staff take bookings for these 
> laptop trolleys; nine laptops per trolley. Teachers book the cows and 
> can use them in any classroom. The advantage I have found with the 
> cows is that you can sometimes just book one cow as not all students 
> need a computer at the same time; ie others are doing prac tasks.

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