Teachers laptops

[CyberNerd]

We recalled all teacher laptops 3yrs ago and binned them.

There was an initial outcry that everything would be 'impossible' and they 'couldn't teach' without them. That died down quite quickly after the rationale was supported by SLT.

We provided permanent machines in each room.

We encourage those who want to to bring in their own device. Most have ipads or other tablets.

The cost in terms of man hours for support and cost of replacement is a lot less with fixed desktops.

[simpsonj]

Interestingly, we went the other way and ditched the classroom desktop and went with laptops. So far (around 18 months in) and it's been okay, a few damaged laptops, but we've had the spares to cover for it and staff seem to prefer laptops. They have to use the laptops for registration, which means they have to be used and I actually get told when there is an issue!

[hallb15]

We have a desktop in every classroom (some with 2) so staff laptops are not provided as a rule. However, if a staff member requests one, and SLT agree one is required then one is provided.

[Quackers]

Every member of staff has a laptop here, and we have fixed stations in the classrooms for the IWB's to. Has been like this for 10 years now. Staff use the laptops loads just walked into the science prep room this morning and it was like a mini IT suite, all getting resources ready.

[themightymrp]

All of our teaching staff are given laptops as a matter of course. We don't provide classroom workstations so the laptops are used all the time for projecting etc. Interestingly, we have maybe only a dozen Smartboards in the school! We started putting them in but they weren't used (apart from some idiot who wrote on theirs with permanent marker). We started giving out laptops about 8 years ago and they get replaced roughly every 4 years once they become too 'teacher damaged' to continue using. Nothing amazing though, we spend £300 per laptop MAX!

[psydii]

Yes 100% teacher and 70% Full Time Support staff.

No departmental office PCs.

No PCs in classrooms.

Most offices are entirely wireless.

VPN access (quaintk I know. We weren't in a position to faff about with Direct Access, and it still hasn't got to the point where we've got enough time)

All documents, offline files, folder redirection, background sync to servers

A Meru network built to support this scenario.

Some Docking stations for offices that need screens larger than a laptop (i.e. for those people who are primarily static, but need occasional mobility/ to be able to work from home)

 

We always fix on an 'enterprise model' so we can get known hardware for 18-36 months. All staff laptops are encrypted (Bitlocker).

 

Five year refresh cycle. (which has been possible since release of Core 2, provided you buy at the enterprise/mac end of the market). May have to replace batteries at some point, but I know that my last place is running second generation core 2 devices (with intel 4956 abn wireless) on the originals and performance remains acceptable.

Edited October 21, 2013 by psydii

[strawberry]

We don't supply laptops here, We don't have the budget to. We have some old laptops out with staff members who periodically bring it in to me and demand a new one but they get sent away.

 

It's a shame that we can't/don't run an optional purchase program. We'd provide all the main infrastructure then if staff want a laptop we recommend and buy in bulk and provide then they cough up.

[clareq]

We have fixed machines in each classroom but still provide laptops, although I have argued against it for years. The amount of laptop envy we get each year when we hand them out is staggering.

[bushby]

yes each member of staff does have a laptop. some i dont even see onsite now which is going to be shot soon

if they want macbooks they have to put the rest of the money in to by it as we get a cost per laptop tosh normaly

[sparkeh]

We have fixed machines in each classroom but still provide laptops, although I have argued against it for years. The amount of laptop envy we get each year when we hand them out is staggering.

Ha yeah! Had an infuriating conversation with a HoD who demanded a new laptop, when asked what was wrong with hers she replied that nothing was wrong with it but a member of her department had a newer one, "I'm head of department, I should have the newest laptop!" *boggle*

[buzzard]

Got rid of Laptops, too much of a headache (this was a few years ago) but a way to make sure they at least bring them in we found was using KMS, keep it off the network then it will stop working.

[pantscat]

Each teacher gets a laptop - is part of their "toolkit".

 

No classrooms have PCs - in fact, we have very few desktop PCs available for staff use.

 

We get the odd person who uses their laptop infrequently... but generally speaking they all get used rather well.

[Chris_]

All classrooms and admin offices have fixed desktops. There's desktops in the staffroom for preparing work etc also. Terminal servers available for accessing school resources from home. We have around 10 laptops here. Where SLT have wanted a laptop we've stipulated that it will replace their desktop and given them a dock and larger screen.

 

So much more reliable than dishing out laptops and expecting the staff to bring them in each day, and then moan that they have a better laptop at home. I'm sorry but I'm not given enough budget to replace them as often as you might like.

[Ephelyon]

We do currently allocate staff laptops but haven't refreshed them in a while. Staff have full admin access to these laptops. That means maintaining a balance between empowering teachers to install applications for their own productivity on the one hand, and dealing with the "it's really slow on the Internet because I've installed six IE toolbars" complaints on the other.

 

We may look at a salary sacrifice scheme along the lines of those offered by e.g. Stone Computers or BT Business Direct, though introducing it after having provided them "for free" for so long would be very tricky. Some case studies on whether or not they actually make a real difference to staff productivity these days, where (as in our case) most staff do have a home device and remote access can bring them their full desktop, could be useful. The same debate has been had out before around IWBs and how tangible the difference was when viewed in the long term.

[clareq]

I once suggested to the Head of ICT that instead of providing laptops we provided remote access to school computers from home. "oh" he replied, "will school will be paying for everyone's Internet connection then?" He was being serious.

[FishCustard]

I once suggested to the Head of ICT that instead of providing laptops we provided remote access to school computers from home. "oh" he replied, "will school will be paying for everyone's Internet connection then?" He was being serious.

 

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[Ephelyon]

There's a good diversity of approaches here. For many schools it will be "laptop or desktop" or perhaps "laptop or remote access". What has been the business case in the past for equating them?

[glennda]

Personally I feel teachers should not be supplied with laptops. However the pot of money should not just be reclaimed but spent on alternative solutions (which probably would be cheaper) for setting up remote access to the schools systems whether it be via remote desktop services - some kind of SSL gateway (like the juniper ones) etc.

[Chris_]

I once suggested to the Head of ICT that instead of providing laptops we provided remote access to school computers from home. "oh" he replied, "will school will be paying for everyone's Internet connection then?" He was being serious.

 

When I was working at the local council a few years back they were paying for internet connections at the councillors homes as they used a council provided laptop at home. There were limitations with this as they were only allowed to use the connection for work purposes. Also, calling the ISPs to troubleshoot internet problems with a connection in somebody else's home is a real problem!

[FragglePete]

I just had to clarify this with our BM recently, we only supply laptops to staff that do regular off-site meetings. All classrooms have desktop PCs in place but faculty's can purchase for their departments if they wish but its not supplied from my budget (just as well really). A number of teachers have aging laptops from the days before we had network ports in every room and then desktops on their desks but we will not be replacing these.

[witch]

I just had to clarify this with our BM recently, we only supply laptops to staff that do regular off-site meetings. All classrooms have desktop PCs in place but faculty's can purchase for their departments if they wish but its not supplied from my budget (just as well really). A number of teachers have aging laptops from the days before we had network ports in every room and then desktops on their desks but we will not be replacing these.

That sounds like a sensible approach - those who need, get and others can possibly negotiate for one if they can argue it with the department budget holder.

[CyberNerd]

That sounds like a sensible approach - those who need, get and others can possibly negotiate for one if they can argue it with the department budget holder.

 

We found that there can be a lot of problems when hardware purchases are delegated to departmental budget holders. They tend not to plan in advance too well, and don't work out TCO's. It makes future upgrades a nightmare when MS or Capita demand you upgrade. IMO it is better to have a criteria for staff who would be eligible for laptops from a central pool.

[witch]

We found that there can be a lot of problems when hardware purchases are delegated to departmental budget holders. They tend not to plan in advance too well, and don't work out TCO's. It makes future upgrades a nightmare when MS or Capita demand you upgrade. IMO it is better to have a criteria for staff who would be eligible for laptops from a central pool.

 

I was presuming that all tech purchases would still have to go through, and be approved by, the IT dept - the budget holder wouldn't be allowed to buy laptops othewise

[Earthling]

Teachers here all have laptops, along with TA's and Cover Supervisors. No wi-fi, but ethernet in every room. The teachers connect their laptops to Smartboards and projectors. We have a three/four year rolling replacement plan and most of the laptops are well used but well looked after, apart from one instance three years ago.

 

Having just spent a shedload of money virtualising the back-end, I'm not sure when the remainder of the original five year old Toshiba A200's will be replaced. Current models are Dell E6520 and E6530's.

 

Problems arise when we have supply teachers (and we have a lot of supply teachers) who are only here for a day or two or a week or two.

 

We don't have any 'teacher' pc's in the classrooms, they weren't being 'looked after', to coin a phrase.

[FragglePete]

I was presuming that all tech purchases would still have to go through, and be approved by, the IT dept - the budget holder wouldn't be allowed to buy laptops othewise

 

Absolutely - anything hardware or software has to be agreed with us in advance. Hardware we will usually do for them as I have a wealth of account managers to choose from. No exceptions.

 

Pete