Re: Libraries & Tech Labs

[Betty Dawn Hamilton <bhamilt@TENET.EDU>]

Lee and the Group,

Please share your responses to this one (quote below).  I have been lobbying
*for* a
writing/tech lab in the library!  Am I asking for trouble?  My argument is
that students can come to the library for research independently and have
access to computers for word processing or other projects OR (main reason)
the teacher can bring whole groups to get them started on their projects
as a group.  As they get into the projects, students can work on their own.

I see this as time saving for me because right now I have 650 students who
come independently to use 6 computers and I have to explain the same
things over and over individually.  If I had a writing/technology lab, I
or the teacher could do group explanations.  (Some also use computers in
classrooms around the building which means that if I help them, I have to
go to wherever the computers are...sometimes some distance away from the
library.  We have extended hours and sometimes I am the only "helper" there.)

Of course, I apparently have an advantage that you, Lee, probably do not
have....our library is VERY LARGE.  It was built with growth in mind and
our population has shrunk.

If there are problems OR advanages with such a set up, please let the
group know.

Betty
                            bhamilt@tenet.edu
Betty Hamilton, LRS             .----.
Brownfield High School LMC      |    |                Home:
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> --------
> When a summer remodeling job is finished in the fall, my
> already too-small library will also house a technology lab
> at which students will work at 17 stations at such things as
> robotics, lasers, hydralics, etc.  A tech teacher will be hired.