[Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
Royce Williams
Royce.Williams at billanook.vic.edu.au
Mon Sep 4 16:11:44 EST 2006
I subscribe to a SF writer who said
"when an old respected scientist says that something isn't so ... or is
impossible .. he is probably wrong"
so i probably am ..
However until laptops in robustness, cost and ubiquitness get to the
level that calculators now are .... I am still right
I maintain that I can supply the level of computers usage students
REALLY need in class from school stock ..
Which is a lot more cost effective for the parents than buying them. In
fact because of the extra insurance / warranty/ interest etc Parents
have to pay ... i can buy them $1000 each cheaper
How many periods a day should a student use a computer out of say 5
(1,2,3,4,5) i say that unless its 4 the school should supply
In fact if its that many the school has got its technology tail wagging
its educational dog. Do the maths on how many computers are needed to
give each student 3 periods out of 5 on them.
This is even more so when School owned machines do not have the level of
games and other crap on them that student owned ones do
On top of this is the surety the teachers have that the students will be
able to get a computer from the library and not left it at home.
Now back to Calculators ... i can legitimately ask the maths teachers
present ... can the current students actually add up without a
calculator .. do they know when they have made a keying in mistake ...
have graphical calculators actually added anything real to the teaching
of maths.
Royce Williams
Round Square BoardWalk Co
"We keep your feet Dry"
-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark Scott
Sent: Monday, 4 September 2006 3:18 PM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'MailingList
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
Royce
In the words of the immortal Billy S
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood."
To be short, you have no idea what you are talking about.
They said the same thing about calculators back in the early
seventies.
Cordially yours
Mark Scott
Luther College
-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Royce Williams
Sent: Monday, 4 September 2006 2:51 PM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'MailingList
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
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.
_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe,
unsubscribe IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
Authority and http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information
Technology Teachers Association Inc
_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe,
unsubscribe
IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
Authority and
http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information
Technology Teachers Association Inc
_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe,
unsubscribe
IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
Authority and
http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
Teachers Association Inc
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/ipm/attachments/20060904/5369283a/attachment-0001.html
More information about the ipm
mailing list