I prefer to call it "artistic chaos!" :-) We make sure that each class
is supplied with power strips and those plastic floor covers for the
cords. We have small classrooms and the rooms are frequently
re-arranged. Teachers are supplied their choice of any combination of
two different kinds of power strips. One has a 15' cord and the other
has a compact hub of 8 receptacles. =20
Some teachers have highly structured systems for powering laptops in the
classroom. Some have cabinets set up as "charging stations." Some have
fairly static classroom environments with the tables effectively "wired"
for power and some slap the power strip on the floor when someone calls
for it.
A mosaic of electrical beauty! ;-)
Alex
Alex Inman
Director of Technology
Whitfield School
St. Louis, MO
314.434.5141
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Dave Candelario
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 11:19 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Battery "best practices" in an 1:1 environment
Thanks for the very helpful input.
I find it fascinating that an apparent "technical" issue like charging a
battery is perhaps more complex and linked to "teachable moments". But
I
suppose all school situations should be considered opportunities to
teach
and learn. =20
Alex,
Getting back to a practical matter, are you saying that it's basically a
"free for all" with regard to battery charging at Whitfield or do you
have
a policy that is monitored?
=20
Thanks,
Dave
A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
writes:
>Hi Jim,
>
>I agree with the idea of quality over quantity and I certainly like the
>idea of reducing our carbon footprint. However, teachers need to be
able
>to explore and experiment to discover quality ways to use the
technology
>well in the classroom. Creating a standard that keeps laptop use
reduced
>to 3 hours per day seems to be an excessive limitation on the
exploratory
>creativity of classroom teachers and would require a significant degree
>of planning among the teaching team. A policy of this nature could
also
>have a "chilling effect" of seeking to find and capture that "teachable
>moment." Doing so is to jeopardize the reliability of that battery
being
>able to make it through the day. I absolutely applaud the effort to
find
>ways to manage a 1:1 program on batteries but after doing this for 9
>years in two different schools I haver personally given up on the
fight.=20
>(I know...so defeatist!) :-) Good education is messy. So are laptop
>cords.
>
>Take care,
>Alex
>
>Whitfield School
>St. Louis, MO
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: A forum for independent school educators on behalf of Jim
>Heynderickx
>Sent: Sat 2/9/2008 3:16 AM
>To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
>Subject: Re: Battery "best practices" in an 1:1 environment
>=20
>Hi, Dave
>
>I've been sharing an idea on this topic that I've seen work
successfully=20
>at two schools. First, a school should determine how many hours during
>the school day a laptop really should be used for academic work. Is it
>2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours during the school day (8-3?).=20
>
>A new Macbook battery can carry a charge for about 3.5 hours. It may=20
>only be able to do that for about 18 months of use, but typically they=20
>can run that long if the use of the laptop is managed well.
>
>So, consider this idea. If the goal of a laptop program is quality of=20
>use and not quantity of use, what if students didn't have AC adapters
at=20
>school? What if the challenge for students was to manage their laptop=20
>and battery use to make one full charge last for the school day?
>
>Of course, there would be exceptions. A student could be loaned an=20
>adapter if the battery is out by the last period (but not every day). =20
>In science, there may need to be adapters for hours of probe data=20
>collection. Batteries that begin to fail will need to be replaced.
>
>The benefit, however, is that the use of the laptops could be more=20
>focused. Additionally, most of the electrical cable clutter in=20
>classrooms is removed. The laptops weigh less being transferred from=20
>home to school and back again. The laptop cases can be narrower
because=20
>there doesn't need to be an outside pocket for the adapter. Finally,=20
>the laptops will likely last longer if their use was more focused
during=20
>the day, and their use as "big iPods" just before and after school was=20
>reduced.=20
>
>So, just an idea. I have seen it work successfully, but obviously it's
>not a fit for all laptop programs.=20
>
>
>Jim Heynderickx
>Director of Technology
>American School in London
>
>
>Dave Candelario wrote:
>> We're in the process of developing our 1:1 implementation plans.
>> I'm very interested to hear from 1:1 schools that have a good
solution
>to
>> keeping student laptop batteries charged. =20
>
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