LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Dear LM_NET,
Thanks to all who helped me with the following information. I apologize
for not answering you personally. This is very helpful to us!
Peter Milbury, 891-3036
Librarian-Mentor Teacher http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~pmilbury
Chico High School, Chico, CA 95926 http://dewey.chs.chico.k12.ca.us
.......................................................................
All teachers in our school have laptops and we have found that the tech man
spends a lot of time fixing errors and problems. I would wonder about the
danger to the laptops when students accidentally push it off the desks! How
would you move them from room to room safely? Would all classrooms have
access points for internet to handle a set of laptops? We couldn't do that-we
only have 6-10 places to plug them into the network.
Peg Kleppinger, Librarian
Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School
899 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044
215-441-7907 <mkleppin@mcunix.mciu.k12.pa.us>
-------------------------
You pay a hefty premium for a laptop. Add in the lower reliability, lower
durability, more expensive repair, fewer upgrade options, and you might want
to think twice before putting laptops in.
Spec out what you could buy in desktop machines for the same price before you
buy the laptops, and then figure out if you couldn't make do with desktop
machines on some nice portable carts.
How much are you spending on your laptops?
You can get a 266Mhz Pentium, 64MB RAM, 6.4GB disk, 17" monitor, 32x CD, Zip
disk, plus Office97 for about $2000.
A P166, 16MB ram, 2.1GB disk, 15" monitor runs for about $900.
You can get a REALLY NICE computer cart with heavy 3" castors for $250 from
Spectrum Technologies.
Let me know if you want more info, or if you want to hear what a big
difference QUALITY (not quantity!) computers will make in a school.
Stephen E. Collins
sec@web66.umn.edu
-------------------------
With $$ from a grant, we purchased a classroom set (30) Powerbook 190's two
years ago this spring. They have been a nightmare. Here are some of our
complaints: a) The batteries are not reliable--especially if more then one
class is planning to use the powerbooks during the same day. We have gone to
stricktly plugging in every time we use them. b) If the batteries were
reliable, recharging for the next day was a major undertaking. The cart we
purchased (Spectrum) had plenty of outlets, but the charging cords on the
laptops made it impossible for more then one row to be charged at a time. c)
Our classroom desks are slightly tilted and an unattended computer is very
unstable. Also with having to plug them in, the classroom becomes a mass of
cords, causing other hazards. d) The computers themselves are not proving to
be very durable. It takes considerable time to keep on top of things--disks
getting stuck, batteries dead, removing student work inadvertently saved to
the hard drive, etc. e) the cart we purchased weighs a ton and the wheels
were too small to make manoverability simple. Most classes now opt to either
use the laptops in the media center where we have more outlets and flat
tables, or come in one by one and check one out to take back to the classroom
rather then try to move the cart. f) We had hoped to circulate a few (5) to
students to catch-up or make-up work at home. They proved to be too fragile.
Now at our elementary site we have 2 sets of Applesmarts and they withstand
anything. We might have been better off purchasing some of those, at least
for circulation.
Sorry, we don't use them for internet access.
-------------------------
As part of a grant for a special program (Systems Thinking), our middle
school "came into" 32 Powerbook 170s. Teachers participating in the program
have first "dibs" on them but there are several days during the month when
any teacher can check them out for his/her class. Teachers sign up on a
calendar - first come first served.
The computers only have a few programs on them mainly because of the grant
stipulations but they also run better due to fewer conflicts) Microsoft Works
is one of the programs. They do not have ethernet cards. We have one
(sometimes 2) "permanent" desktop computer in each classroom that is hooked
to the school network. It is used for Internet access, email, etc.
The laptops are housed in a cart (Bretford) 16 in each and each cart has a
JVC projector, VCR and 2 printers. The laptops can charge in the cart as
there is a power strip built in so you just have to plug in the cart.
We haven't had any serious problems. Teachers need to understand that it
takes a few minutes to set up/take down so they should plan well ahead.
That's all I can think of - hope it helps.
***********************************************************
Maria Savoldi Jane Macon Middle School
Media Specialist Brunswick, GA 31520
maria@glynn.k12.ga.us 912.267.4118 (Work/FAX)
***********************************************************
-----------------------
We have classroom sets of E-mates that are very successful. They are like
laptops, but with limited functions. They are much less expensive than
laptops, and allow word processing and other simple programs. Our district
will not have internet access until this spring, so I can't comment on their
usefulness in that respect.
But, with these, all students can work at the same time (classrooms have 5
power macs and a main complaint is the trouble working with larger numbers of
students). Teachers who have been extremely hesitant in the past (in terms of
technology) are really using these to begin to integrate technology in the
curriculum.
We have only had them a few weeks, but are ordering 70 more! The only problem
thus far has been the hassle of recharging. Oh, and keeping track of who gets
what, when (and who is responsible for recharging).
-Carin Barwick
LMS Northwood Elementary
West Seneca CSD, NY
Bookpusher@aol.com
-------------------------
I have seen very few laptops that would standup to student use. I would not
recomend apple one's we have several that circulate to faculty and have
problems with them. I most case student would be as least as bad on the
equipment. I have seen a panasonic windows model that a tech uses that comes
to a local compute club it might hold up metal case and other features that
make it better for such use
James Johnson
Media Specialist
1704 North 3rd street
Oskaloosa Jr. High
Oskaloosa Iowa 52577 johnsonj@aea15.k12.ia.us
515 673 8308 ext 1725
-------------------------
Islander Middle School (Mercer Island, WA) circulates 16 Mac 1400s and 25
e-mates to classrooms. We are a grade 6-8 school with a student population of
roughly 980. Demand in the 30-station lab, and 12-station satellite lab has
been increasing, so 2 years ago we added mobile checkout. Our uses resemble
those you listed, and our math classes also use laptops with Geometers
Sketchpad.
We purchased two 15-unit storage carts with electrical outlets for
recharging. These have been useful for storage, security and recharging...and
get staff involved in security and recharging with minimal pain. (We consider
sturdy carts with big wheels a necessity!)
Yes! they are used for Internet access - connected to our network with DAYNA
ETHERNET adapter cards. Classrooms are wired with eight ehernet ports. We
also have a portable hub which can be set up in classrooms (or the library)
for additional access. This is handy for inservice and workshop sessions.
We consider it a workable model, and recommend it. Staff is most positive
over the improved access and the minimal impact on classroom space. In the
past we have tried moving full-sized workstations on carts - try to fit a
dozen or more of them in a standard classroom! No serious problems noted,
just some inconveniences. All of our current equipment is standardized and
networkable. We are currently an all-Mac district, on the brink of moving to
2 platforms. I suspect some compatibility and neteworking headaches are just
over the horizon.
I hope the info is useful, and cant wait to read the HIT you compile!
Dee Parypa, Librarian dee_parypa@misd.wednet.edu
Islander Middle School (206) 230-6171
Mercer Island, WA 98040 (206) 236-3408 fax
-------------------------
We just bought a set of DreamWriters to be used for keyboarding instruction
and word processing, but I believe there are fancier ones (E-mates or
AlphaSmarts) that may serve your purposes at a cheaper rate. We check out
the DreamWriters as class sets, and have a sign-up sheet on the cart they go
in (recharges the DreamWriters). The chart is broken down into hours, and
teachers can sign up for them when they'll be needing them. It's the
teacher's responsibility to get them and return them. We let them sign up
for the DreamWriters up to a week in advance, on a weekly chart I made.
Kathy
-------------------------
Our school just received a set of 16 eMates through a grant. They are stored
on a cart where they are re-charged when on the cart. They will be checked
out to classrooms as a set the cart is wheeled to the room. Eventually they
will be checked out to individual students to take home.
Our District tech mentor has them in her room now and is training kids and
teachers. If you would like more info, let me know and she can contact you.
They will eventually end up in the library and checked out with a bar code.
We are a K-5 school.
Barbara Stricker, Librarian
Alta Elementary School
21771 E. Parlier Ave.
Reedley, Ca. 96354
bjs33@cvip.fresno.com
-------------------------
Summit, NJ High School is in its second year of The Laptop Project. Several
teachers were given intensive training in computers during 2 weeks in the
summer of 1996. During the 96-97 school year, the set(s?) of laptops were
"checked out" to those teachers' classes on a rotating basis, but there was
no internet access. This year, the students have internet access since the
AUP was drawn up and accepted by the Board of Ed. Since I'm in one of the
elementary schools, the details of the program escape me. I do know that one
laptop met its end under a car tire after a teacher had propped it (not
securely enough) by the curb while going to get his/her car. Another was
stolen from a classroom lab. Our technology coordinator could give you more
information--Mrs. Catherine Hathaway, Summit Public Schools, 90 Maple St.,
Summit, NJ 07901--sorry I don't have her internet e-mail address. -- Cindy
Hedin, Library Media Specialist Washington Elementary, Summit, NJ
cphedin@idt.net
-------------------------
Hi Peter, we had a class set of laptops in 1995 and 1996. I have to tell you
it was a nightmare. The booking and checking, the maintenance and problems
that different users experience(and create) caused many hours of additional
work. We came to the conclusion that laptops work really well with ONE owner.
Also at any one time you could have 5-8 laptops out of action, therefore
making class use difficult. It was something we put a lot of thought and time
into implementing, but quickly discovered you needed a technician working
each day on the problems(students shutting down wrongly, being rough with
them, breaking cords, pins(this was the worst!), dropping things in the
keyboard, jamming disks in the drive, movement and abuse, lack of training
for staff and support in classrooms(you really needed 2 teachers for 20
students) We went through great traumas, now we have 4 good laptops that go
out overnight to staff and year 12 students only, otherwise we are convincing
kids to LEASE laptops - that was the other problem, if you do decide to go
ahead, don't buy the laptops - lease them with the 2 year option of swapping
over for new technology.
Sorry to be soo gloomy. We now have 4 manned labs(with a help Desk like the
library) where we can offer support, and bookings for groups and guarantee
PCs will work when they need them to - also having software loaded that
is needed was another nightmare on the laptops - kids would generally find to
delete or corrupt some files!
Good luck Please let me know if you need more info.
Regards,
Marian Rebesco
Director of Information Services
Westbourne and Williamstown Grammar School
Victoria, Australia
-------------------------
We circulate 4 sets of 20+ eMates (over 80 eMates) to classrooms in our K-12
school of 1200 kids. Teachers were skeptical at first, but now want more
access - more eMates so they are not scheduled so tightly. The students are
very receptive. We are using them to introduce keyboarding skills at the
intermediate level, draw and write projects for primary children, science
experiments with a probe at the high school level, and, of course,
wordprocessing at all levels.
We move them on carts with a printer or two available for each set. Some
maintence problems have developed - mainly it is a lack of proper supervision
by specific teachers. Keeping the eMates charged is another issue that we
handle by regularily plugging them in. An original concern was that these
were only toys, not real computers; most teachers now appreciate the ease of
which the kids use them in their own classrooms at there own desks and the
eMates are equal to the tasks our teachers/students demand. eMates run on
batteries so finding enough outlets is not a problem in the rooms. We have
been using them for the past six months and have not sent any in for repair
and have not 'lost' any. All are in operation at this time.
We do not use them for internet/email and they are not networked. Beaming is
fun.
Colleen Draxler, Librarian
Unity School District
Balsam Lake WI 54810
colleen_draxler@unity.k12.wi.us
-------------------------
We have a set of 30 Toshiba Laptops we use. They are in 4 carts. Each cart
has a power supply for 15; units; and is equipped with a laser printer. In
addition each cart has 2 power strips so machines can be distributed around
the room. Power is required because our machines batteries are only good for
2 hours. We plan to purchase network cards and make that [Internet] an option
next year.
I don't consider them a success yet Our staff needs much more training before
many will attempt to use them. So far they have been used as very expensive
typewriters. Repair and maintenance are a nightmare. Repairs always require
off premises work and take much longer to get back in service. Also the kids
are really hard on them about changing settings, deleting files, setting
passwords and adding programs.
Jim Neal
Library Media Specialist/District Grant Writer
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