[Technical] Netbooks/Laptops/Notebooks program Year 7 next year

Wed Nov 4 14:07:47 EST 2009

Hi Jim,

This is great . Many thanks.

Kevork Krozian
Digital Learning Manager
Forest Hill College
k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au
Mobile: 0419 356 034

From: tech-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:tech-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Jim Maunder
Sent: Friday, 30 October 2009 12:23 PM
To: Technical Discussion in Schools Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Technical] Netbooks/Laptops/Notebooks program Year 7 next year

Where to start?

My school has been a 'laptop school' for almost as long as MLC - we have about 500 girls from yr5-12 who have their own lappies, and I have been looking after them for nearly 10 years. However, this does not mean I know everything and my/our way is the only way - far from it.

The 3 most important things are support, support and support. When a lappy breaks down you need it fixed promptly and with a minimum of fuss. You need an easy way to log repair jobs. Our laptops come with 3 year warrantee and 3 year insurance. Warrantee repairs are done on site same or next day, likewise non-catastrophic insurance repairs. (I've seen 2 that have been run over by mum's car in the last 2-3 years)

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If they can't fix a lappy in 2 days we can get a loan machine.

I like students to use the carrybag (Targus hard padded bag) the lappy comes on, but most students just put it in their backpacks to go to and from home, and just carry it around with their books during the day. As a result the lappies soon become battle scarred. This is an issue school management do not support me on.

I keep a supply of power adapters - when a student's charger stops working I can replace it on the spot, then put the replacement back into stock. Adapters break at the tip or where cable to the lappy comes out of the brick, or stop working for unknown reasons. The 1st two cases can be reduced by careful handling of the adapter (don't wind the cable around the brick, don't tip the lappy up while plugged in) but as long as there are no obvious breaks in the cable the adapter will be replaced under warrantee. When a student loses an adapter I can sell them a new one.

You need handy powerpoints the students can use to charge laptops - consider hanging GPOs from the ceiling of classrooms. (Frankston High does this well). You need a convenient way for students to print. The school has 100% wireless coverage.

As you might guess from the pic we get Toshiba lappies from our supplier, and I am quite happy with them, particularly because the supplier provides the 3 most important things mentioned above very well. The Toshiba might not be the best laptop, but they are adequate and the support makes them the best for us. Most students and staff get Toshiba lappies through our supplier, but some bring their own. Some brands I like judging from my experience in setting them up for school and subsequently supporting them are Lenovo, Sony, HP/Compaq as long as they are not plasticy sub $1000 Green Guide specials. There are a handful of netbooks here, and while I like the size etc they seem underpowered for what we need them to do. Apple iBooks are a separate issue - while they are nicely made and quite pretty, we will only support them if they are set up with Windows before I see them. (Of course this rule is more honoured by the exception, but the price the student pays for bringing me a Mac not running Windows is having to put up with a grumpy technician. Proxies in Safari - grrr)) Generally I find that the laptops brought in outside the laptop program require more support from me - more things seem to go rwong. The ones that come with Chinese version of Windows are interesting to set up. (Hardest one was one with German Windows)

For software I set up alternative browsers and email clients (Firefox and Groupwise), MS Office (without Outlook), things like Graphmatica, Inspiration, Kahootz (but see the attached checklist). I update the image every term. I set up a sample machine that the suppliers clone before delivery. I use the same setup for students and staff.

I have my own workshop with a counter that students can come to. Students and staff do not come in my room unless I invite them. I have enough space to deal with about 10 laptops at a time, but most of that space is covered in junk\\\\ other things and I can manage 2 - 3 lappies at a time comfortably. There is a space for the visiting technician. (Why 3 lappy spaces? Even though I'm a bloke I can manage 3 or 4 at the same time, well, one a time in short sessions: eg one doing a chkdsk, one installing software, one running a virus scan, while typing long email replies). A nearby boy's school that has laptops has 2.5 the number of support staff per student than we do, so you'll need to factor that into your support sums.

Places to visit? You are welcome to come here, but see if you can visit Frankston High. Our supplier Computelec (ph 1300 361988) would be helpful as well. Our account manager is Narelle.

Hope this helps. I'm only too happy to answer specific questions

rgds
Jim

-----------------------------------------------------------
We have to use this Disclaimer

Views, opinions, etc. expressed reflect those of the author and not
Ruyton Girls' School
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Jim Maunder
Laptop Technician
Ruyton Girls School
Melbourne, Australia
ph 9290 9374

>>> Kevork Krozian<K.Krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au> 30/10/2009 10:57 AM >>>
Hi Folks,

Sorry for the cross posts.

We are at an important crossroad/milestone in our school regarding Netbooks/Laptops/Notebooks for Year 7 next year.

We are committed to introducing new Netbooks/Laptops/Notebooks in 2010 which students keep, take home, are responsible for and need to manage. I know it sounds like horse before cart but we are determined to make it work.

We are keen hear from any other school expecially regarding any pitfalls, issues, preferred choices for brands, reliability, service, software and hardware, application installations, warranties etc etc.

I would say feel free to email me off list but I am sure others would like to hear about these experiences for their own research also.

As usual if none of this interests a subscriber there is the delete button.

With thanks
Kevork Krozian
Digital Learning Manager
Forest Hill College
k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au<mailto:k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au>
Tel: 0419 356 034
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