[Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

Laurie Savage sav at pvgc.vic.edu.au
Tue Sep 5 12:07:12 EST 2006


And now we have a generation of people who cannot do the simplest 
calculation in their head.

Laurie

Mark Scott wrote:
>  
> 
> 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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> 
>  
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
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> IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
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> Information Technology Teachers Association Inc

-- 
Laurie Savage
===============================================
Student Assessment, Reporting and Tracking
Pascoe Vale Girls College, Pascoe Vale, Vic, AU
+613 9306 2544
===============================================



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