all at the same time by a class. They are used as kids need them, often =
2-3 in a class. Having a cart with kids coming in and out borrowing and =
returning laptops in this model was crazy. We moved to having the =
laptops on shelves this year, and it is has been so much better. We =
have 60 laptops on shelves in two back to back rooms. You can quickly =
see whether all are plugged in. The students can quickly grab a laptop, =
sign it out, and take off without having to reach into a cart. It is =
also much quicker to plug it back in. We also have a supply of extra =
power adapters, so students use these when needed rather than pulling =
them off the shelves.
When we used a moving cart, this is what worked well for us:
1. Have 2-3 extra power adapters. Batteries dies, and kids will unplug =
them from the cart, and they often will not plug them back in.
2. Label the laptops, the slots, and the power cord ends with the same =
number. That way, when the power cords get tangles, and they will, =
students can more easily find their cord and not grab another cord which =
means somebody's laptop doesn't get plugged in. Also, the laptops end =
up in the proper slots.
3. Have at least two extra laptops beyond your largest class. For =
example, if your largest class is 20, have 22 laptops on the cart. =
There always seems to be some issue with 1-2 laptops, so this really =
keeps the stress level down having the extras.
4. Ask teachers to assign students to a laptop and have them keep track =
of who is assigned to which laptop. The extra two laptops on the cart =
are used if someone's assigned laptop has problems. Students shouldn't =
be using another student's laptop.
5. Ask teachers to assign laptop monitors in each class, even down to =
Kindergarten. These can be weekly, rotating assignments or a person =
that does it all year. Their job is to unplug each laptop and hand it =
to the student, and then plug them back in. It is their responsibility =
to make sure the laptops are all plugged in and charging at the end of a =
the class. With K-2, I found you need to have an adult with the monitor =
the first two times they do it, but after that, they can do it on their =
own. In 3rd and up, usually showing 1-2 kids once what to do and having =
them show the next monitor assigned works fine. If you have a cart that =
has a door on each side, have two computer monitors. If you just have =
one door, have one monitor.
6. Create some sort of repair system that is easy for teachers to use. =
We had half-sheets of paper on the top of the cart along with a pen that =
was taped down. The teacher (or older kids) would write up a problem =
sheet, and put it in my box. If the laptop was not usable while waiting =
for repair, it was put on top of the cart. However, if the laptop could =
still be used (e.g. missing key), it was left on the cart for use until =
we got to fixing it.
7. Obviously thinking about logins and local admin privileges will help =
too. Sometimes what you do for laptops might be different than for =
desktops. For example, if you are not giving the students local admin =
privileges, you need to make sure all possible printers they can use, =
where ever the laptops are being used, are installed since the students =
can't install themselves.
8. I find I need to reimage all laptops once a year. If I reimage all =
in the summer, I have a lot less problems during the year.
9. Train your teachers and students on procedures you want them to =
follow with the laptops. If you see problems, discuss with the =
teacher(s), students as soon as you see it. For example, if the laptops =
are not being plugged into charge, address it as soon as you notice it. =
I hope this helps.
Renee
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