Setting up a new room - after kit recommendations.

[speckytecky]

We have a new classroom coming into use within the next few months. It used to be sleeping accommodation but the internal walls are going and it's going to be a dedicated ICT Classroom. I have been asked to get it set up as a premium quality facility.

We are a KS3 EDB School with maximum class size of 8.

One of our Assistant Heads used to be in an Exeter RM kitted school which he tells me had a herringbone set up down the middle of the room so the teacher had full view at all times of what the happy chappies were up to. Also, by the sound of it they had thin clients.

We aren't going the thin client route but perhaps some all in ones with decent spec and screen might be the answer.

Recommendations would be appreciated on both the PCs and the desk set up please.

[tommej]

Lenovo A70z M90z are both very nice all in ones, getting hold of 30 in a reasonable time was a pain, 8 should be easy!

[VeryPC]

If your looking for a premium, clean and tidy set-up - we manufacture and supply a series of USFF desktop - here is a nice example of an ICT suite at Ashfield School in Nottinghamshire, they took height adjust and hard glass screens . We also can laser brand your schools logo on the front - there are some good examples on the green computing forum .

BroadLeaf desktop PC Implementation at Ashfield School - YouTube

I'll PM you my details if you want some more info.

Andy

[maark]

We have had some nice all in ones from novatech - they will customise them for you - put in SSD's if you want.

[cpjitservices]

Stone ? USed stone for years and no complaints.. If you only have small class sizes it may be an option to lease rather than buy.

IT manufacturer and solutions provider to the Public Sector | Stone Group

[speckytecky]

thanks for the replies. we will probably be going with the Lenovos recommended by tommej. The thing we are trying to suss though is a desk / workstation manufacturer who can give us the required herringbone effect the teacher has asked for?

[VeryPC]

I'll have a word with our account managers here for desk supplier details to pass on - Where are you based ?

Andy

[VeryPC]

thanks for the replies. we will probably be going with the Lenovos recommended by tommej. The thing we are trying to suss though is a desk / workstation manufacturer who can give us the required herringbone effect the teacher has asked for?

Hi Speckytecky,

Good choice with the Lenovos- very cool bit of kit .

The A70 and M90 are quite old spec and End of Life.

The latest models to look at are edge 72 and edge 91z models.

I'll PM you the latest models and stock availability if you like ?

As generally it seems as @tommej states they can be like rocking horse drops to get hold of ....

Andy

[speckytecky]

Thanks Andy. Mid Wiltshire.

I'll have a word with our account managers here for desk supplier details to pass on - Where are you based ?

Andy

[SteveT]

Have some experience (actually lots ....... 20 years!!) of EBD so would suggest you consider the following:

1. Problems with screen damage to all-in-ones. Much easier to have a standard set up so you can quickly replace a broken monitor.
2. rather than the "herringbone" set up would suggest separate "study-booths" round outside of room. Reduces inappropriate interaction between students!! Much easier/cheaper to cable etc. Leaves space for other items in centre, seperate tables etc.Use something like AB Computer Control to watch what they're actually doing ..... this also gives control over their machines, enables teacher to gives demos etc.

[speckytecky]

Thanks Steve T. Only just picked this up.

Might be the way forward. The room is going to be 8.5M long by about 5.5M wide. So, not a huge lot of space. Your 'Booth' concept sounds good to me. We are running Impero but to date I have not set any of the teachers up with it.

Any further best use suggestions on the space would be most welcome.

Have some experience (actually lots ....... 20 years!!) of EBD so would suggest you consider the following:

1. Problems with screen damage to all-in-ones. Much easier to have a standard set up so you can quickly replace a broken monitor.
2. rather than the "herringbone" set up would suggest separate "study-booths" round outside of room. Reduces inappropriate interaction between students!! Much easier/cheaper to cable etc. Leaves space for other items in centre, seperate tables etc.Use something like AB Computer Control to watch what they're actually doing ..... this also gives control over their machines, enables teacher to gives demos etc.

[multipoint]

Stone ? USed stone for years and no complaints.. If you only have small class sizes it may be an option to lease rather than buy.

IT manufacturer and solutions provider to the Public Sector | Stone Group

Stone all-in-one is a bit messy and wobbly now and you could get better pricing from Novatech, or VeryPC. Go for hard glass monitors they're under £100 for 21" and even the cleaning lady can't damage them...

[Axel]

There's a picture of what can be achieved on link below with TCs.

Tidy Thin Client Installation

Desks were supplied by a company called "ABC Desks"

You can get various software solutions that will give the teacher the ability to see all the student's screens on the teachers monitor at the same time, so teacher doesn't have to be in line of sight of each student's monitor. The teacher can also take conrol of any student's machine. (Google Netsupport, I think it works on PCs and TCs)

Windows Multipoint Server has this feature embeded as standard, and supports up to 20 users - it sounds like that should be enough.

[speckytecky]

Thanks @Axel. I'm not looking at Thin Clients as I'd need to change a lot of other things to achieve it.