Given a limitless budget and unlimited support...

[Ric_]

Recent musings on the computers for pupils programmes have led me to wonder what ICT services people think schools might like to offer if money and support was not an issue.

Remember that this is the 'Blue Skies' forum so what I'm interested in is a general view... I'll start the ball rolling

* All classrooms would have flip-up desks containing an access device
* In teaching rooms without desks, wireless access devices would be available
* All classrooms would have an interactive whiteboard and a couple of wireless tablets that can be passed around the class for colaboration
* Wireless coverage would be truly 100% and offer some kind of quarantine system so that anybody can bring their own computer in
* There would be spare rooms containing suites of suitably specced computers for media production
* Students would have proximity cards that would be used for all school services (registration, library, payment, print accounting, logon, locker access, access control......)
* A VLE (with MIS integration) would have been implemented and contain ALL course materials
* The canteen payment system would track the pupils' diets
* The school website would allow SSO access to the VLE, details of the pupils' diets, a parent payment solution, access to the school's remote access system and provide news feeds and output that can be used in other systems
* The school would have a large farm of servers allowing remote access to documents and applications anywhere and anytime
* Digital signage would be installed at all entrances/exits and in all communal areas to deliver targeted information to pupils, staff and visitors
* ALL pupils would be offered an access device and paid-for broadband for home so that they may take advantage of the remote access and VLE

I think I've probably missed some stuff but it will do for a start.

I can think of solutions to ALL of these but that's not what I'm after... simply ideas on what people's ideas of a perfect ICT infrastructure is.

Please add additions below

[Andrew_C]

A licencing method that would allow digitisation of any appropriate material for teaching, be it television (currently ERA), radio, DVD, Video, Web-cast, photographs, or even old fashioned books. All this without pain.

[webman]

• Schools would individuall manage their own ICT under BSF

[bossman]

Well said webman here! here!

[bossman]

just had a thought, unlimited training (compulsory) for teachers on computer applications.

[sqdge]

Biometric scanners on all computers to enable login (our school library has this system for getting books out, and it works very well).

[john]

Compulsary training for staff to learn to do the basic things like check the PC is plugged in and turned on before calling the techy out.

[sqdge]

Originally Posted by john

Compulsary training for staff to learn to do the basic things like check the PC is plugged in and turned on before calling the techy out.

...and to switch the machine off and then on again before calling for help.

[localzuk]

Originally Posted by sqdge

...and to switch the machine off and then on again before calling for help.

Oh but then they won't be able to go 'but I have hours of unsaved work! Can't you do something to fix it without having to turn it off?' at us! :-P

Wifi throughout the school with a systems monitoring package running and techies having PDAs/smartphones which tell them when things break instantly.

[daveyboy]

Self configuring, self healing, self repairing workstations, servers, printers, WAP's (802 11xtra - 11meg ones), cameras, scanners, PDA's - everlasting toners, etc, etc.


Full training for staff - on every application to MOS level.


Me? I just want this course: -

This Training course

Oh, and only to work less than 50 hours per week.

[VGeek]

Daveyboy you have got right the idea we all wish this was possible. I would say complete control on what software was installed on the network and not just any old piece of software you can get out of a cereal box.

If it was me would have to install IBM blade servers and jack pcs with no kids hold on thats the perfect world. But on a serious note I would say teachers need training and we need to be able to do our job without disruption and constant conflict with staff.

[webman]

Originally Posted by VGeek

If it was me would have to install IBM blade servers and jack pcs with no kids hold on thats the perfect world.

Replace 'kids' with 'teachers' and I'll agree with you on that 8)

[Face-Man]

sqdge wrote:Biometric scanners on all computers to enable login (our school library has this system for getting books out, and it works very well).

This is already happening see http://www.bmsbiometrics.co.uk/
and the case study http://www.bmsbiometrics.co.uk/news/...se%20Study.pdf