To that end, we have recently decided to explore the possibility of installing, in some HS classrooms, a PC for each student. The desk would potentially be a flip top desk so that the monitor could be "put away" when not in use and give maximum desk space. There are a few different methods that we've thought of doing this, and I'd like to outline them here. I've quickly come to the realization that this change not only affects the physical hardware and software that we manage, but also creates a revolution of teaching as we know it in our traditional classroom. As we move forward, I will try to detail all that we are doing so that others may learn from our mistakes! I will attempt to cover what changes occur in the physical classroom, technology affected, and the change in teaching style as it relates to information dissimenation forms, ie. lecture versus blended learning/teaching skills.
Desks:
Our first issue, which is one not normally addressed by technology departments, has to do with desks and desk sizes. As you try to retrofit a decades old classroom with computers, you have to contemplate and consider work areas. Cabling to an individual desk poses its problems and hazards with contemporary flooring. Creating a floor suitable for this task poses other ADA problems as well.
The ideal solution would seem to be to post all drops and electricity on the walls and arrange desks so that they are set in a "lab" setting with walkways through them. However, this interferes with current teaching styles for many teachers and brings up questions about cheating on exams. Some teachers would like the flexibility of moving classroom desks around as well. This is not very possible with computers "hard wired" to the wall or floor.
As well, normal flip top desks are larger and heavier than most student desks. With physical size of classrooms restritcting how many could be installed, and the number of students required in today's classrooms this poses a unique problem in and of itself.
Wireless laptops would seem to be THE solution to this, however, we are attempting to find a lower cost solution that would allow for remote management of devices, such as thin clients. (I'll cover what we are looking at doing there in another post.) Even then you have to have room for charging stations in the rooms somewhere and then allow for more breakage to the mobile nature of the systems.
So, considering the proximity issues of fliptop desks, and the size and lack of mobility we are trying to find an "in between" solution from those to what is currently in the classroom. If we could have a "normal" size desk with the ability to have a monitor/thin client combo attached so that is could be stored when not in use I think that would be ideal. As well, I think these desks could be semi-movable to allow for some rearranging as needed. One solution that does come to mind is a setup that I tried in Sinton ISD with teachers Mary Lankford and Bruce Goodlock. They did a wonderful job of adapting their teaching methods for Math. Students were paired into groups with five desks to a group. One of the student desks had a computer. As the students worked in groups, one would be designated to control the pc for research, documenation, etc... This responsibility could then be rotated among members of the group.
This type of setup allowed for computer access without overburdening the classroom with computers and the needed wiring to make it work. In this format, the teacher could still move around and in between groups to monitor student work.
Next post...tihin clients vs. laptops vs. pc
Technorati Tags: technology school furniture technology integration
Posts
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete