The ideal classroom would have a laptop available for every student at their desk. I feel this technological set up would allow each student to learn on his or her own and have hands on experience with the laptop. I would also require each laptop to be connected to the projector screen. This would give the teacher the option to choose a student and project his or her work on to the screen in the front of the class for them to share or demonstrate. The laptops would have to have Microsoft office and the internet loaded on them for them to be effective in the classroom.
A laptop at every student’s desk would require some special wiring and set up. The student’s desk would have to have the wires running through them and possibly connecting to an outlet in the floor under each desk. An internet line would also have to be ran at each desk for each laptop and wired through a server in the school.
The advantages to having a laptop available for each student would be endless. The laptops could be used for all subjects. Students could work on math or english worksheets together on the projector screen through their laptops. They could use the laptops for science experiments and research. The students could use the laptops to write reports, make excel worksheets, or power point presentations. I feel a laptop for every student would improve interest for students and learning opportunities.
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Great job describing and defending your ideal layout, Tammi!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the ability to have the laptops connected to the projector. We use a piece of software called NetOps here at UIS. It allows the instructor to monitor what is taking place on the student computers, but it also allows files to be shared back and forth and other monitors to be projected. It's really slick!
I taught in the K-12 system for several years and had an opportunity to experience just about every layout imagineable. The layout that worked best for my teaching style was an instructor computer (attached to a projector) and 4-6 computers for class use. A computer lab was available with enough computers for every student. To be honest, I’ve never seen a portable laptop cart successfully work – including here at UIS. Laptops are certainly portable and easy to deliver. But with such a short battery life, the hassle of plugging them all in was not worth the convenience of having them delivered to the room. If only someone would invent a laptop that was charged from the lights in the room!
I would also add a SmartBoard, document camera, and digital camera to my ideal layout. UIS is the only place I’ve ever worked where I had the luxury of all these technologies – and now I’m spoiled! If you aren't familiar with SmartBoards, we'll be playing with one this weekend.