[Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
Mark Scott
msc at staff.luther.vic.edu.au
Mon Sep 4 15:18:27 EST 2006
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.
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