I would rather see some type of set up where we could get discounted
laptop purchases available to students (not just the typical student/
educator discount--but a larger one based on large purchasing)
partnered with some type of financing deal with local banks. I read
about something like this a few years ago in some educational
magazine--happened at a very large metro school. It was more of a
community partnership to make computers/laptops more affordable. In
theory that would possibly put some in the hands of more students and
it would not be affiliated with the school. In actuality it would be
no different than all the requests that hit me (and I'm sure all of
you) with home computers from staff (and students)--I cannot imagine
the repair issue/time demand that would exist to keep this
operational as well. (And yes, when I get those calls I think "Did
you call the food service director to plan your supper tonight?"
Alas, I smile and assist as best I can.) Without proper staff
development and a willingness to change teaching (or to see that the
1:1 is a better tool--which it may or may not be) kind of seems like
a waste of money. For those who do use it--are the computers under
school AUP for the entire time students use them (at home as well)--
and are they typically turned in after 4 years of HS or can students
buy them, or ?
I do see the need to think about the future and technology in the
school. As we look at the affordable handheld type stuff that can
surf the web, word process, etc.--it's hard for me to believe my
children will work in an environment of the traditional computer lab
setting when they reach HS. I think more realistically I'll be
dealing with students wanting to bring in their laptops or phones or
handhelds or ? and use those versus the school computers and then
transferring back and forth with flash drives, etc. I can think of a
few HS students who do that already; I can only think that number
will increase. But this is an entirely different subject.
On Feb 11, 2008, at 11:29 AM, Diane Elbert wrote:
The schools I have visited with who use mobile labs say the repair
is constant and never ending ; not to mention power and battery
life is a huge issue. Faculty acceptance and implementation is a
additional hurdle even with training.
Also, this is totally outside of our budget; however, for us it is
a very likely we could find a donor to underwrite the cost of
purchase. Here-in lies the dilemma – we would have to show that it
was 100% operational at all times by teachers and students. It
would not sit well with the donor if it was wasteful and the money
could have been used more effectively elsewhere.
<image002.jpg>
Diane Elbert
1224 N. McCoy St
Algona, IA 50511
515-295-3521 W
515-884-2637 H
515-320-2431 C
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.garrigan.unlimitedweb.net
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:info-tech-
[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JON HUESER
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 10:59 AM
To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us
Subject: RE: [info-tech] Text BooK Replacement
Has anyone looked at how the kids take care of the textbooks they
have????? Of course I am sure they would take care of a school
owned laptop much better.
BTW: if they do damage it, how many parents can afford to repair
or replace the laptop (like we do with books), also if a free or
reduced kid breaks it do they have to fix it or do we charge enough
for the other students to makeup that cost.
I have enough issues with my teachers and laptops let alone the
kids, but if you have a district where the kids take excellent care
of their books and other school materials, please go for it.
Thanks!
Jon W. Hueser- MSE, Ed. S
MS/HS Principal
Technology Director
East Greene CSD
405 12th Street South
Grand Junction, IA 50107
515-738-2411 x241
Fax: 515-738-5719
From: "Keith Stoeber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:53 AM
To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us
Subject: RE: [info-tech] Text BooK Replacement
We have not done a one to one, but have chosen to use the portable
lab solution. We have six labs available for use and it seems to
work. The biggest issue we face is repair the machines. As like
Murray I work mostly with the network and have a part time aid to
help. I think anyone looking at a one-to-one needs to have the
proper staff to handle the repair and daily issues that will arise.
Just my two cents.
Keith Stoeber
Sioux Central CSD
4440 US Highway 71
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585
(P) 712-283-2571 x 5900
(F) 712-283-2285
From: "Murray Gafkjen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:23 AM
To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us
Subject: RE: [info-tech] Text Boox Replacement
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Some of the hoops,
Do the teachers want this? It's like buying a dress for your wife
and she's not with you. We have about 1/3 of our books on the
tablets, but most of the teachers are still using the books. Some
of the ebooks use an earlier version of Acrobat, which causes
problems when we standardized with version 8. (These publishers -
vendors- insist that we use a CD in every machine. Some vendors
will push an web-base textbook, but if the student lacks
connections at home, then there's another problem.
Price- it's really not cheaper than books, I don't have the numbers
at hand. Currently software is still off the Silo tax list.
When I shared direction of the 1:1 with the listserv, one of the
questions was, "are you going to buy them a car as well?" Looking
back, the car idea would have been better.
We have 170 students with laptops, plus the staff. Teaching Special
Education full-time, I try to focus on Network issues, we have a
tech(paid at the level of an aide) that deal only with the desktop
and repair. Yes, this will be quite an undertaking.
I'm sure I have more, but Monday morning beckons,
Murray Gafkjen
Clay Central Everly
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:info-tech-
[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richardson,Tony
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 4:12 AM
To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us
Subject: [info-tech] Text Boox Replacement
Hello all,
It has been suggested to me in a meeting that we replace our paper
text books at the High School with notebook computers. It sounds
insane to me to give 400 high school kids a notebook computer not
to mention the design and implementation of such a thing with only
1 tech person. The district is also going through bad financial
times and probably would not hire any more full time help to
support this.
Is any other district out there doing this? If so what is your
experiences with this?
Thanks,
Tony Richardson,
Technology Coordinator
Humboldt Community School District
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
