Computers for Schools Scheme, anyone running this yet?

[markman]

Is there anyone running the 'Computers for Schools Scheme' yet? We are to get 327 laptops to be sent home to less fortunate families and to give thema broadband internet connection.

Just interested is anyone up and runnin'? If so who is looking after the laptop repairs / broadband connection prob's when there is a problem?

[markman]

I mean the 'Computers for Pupils scheme' Sorry!!

[mortstar]

LEA provided Thin Client solution here.

 

All I would say is that you should take a look at your Job Description if you're being expected to provide support for home based equipment.

[iatkinson]

I've issued about 65 of the 89 laptops we got so far. As I understand it, theft or accidental damage is our job to deal with through insurers. Faults/setup issues should be dealt with by the supported service provider, XMA in our case though they still want to deal with school rather than student.

I was told once the laptops were out of my hands then not my problem but unfortunately hasn't been the case.

[FN-GM]

My new job are doing it. next week they have 62 laptops coming..

[steve]

We were entitled to 117, only about 20 eligible and interested.

 

Made sure from the outset that all support comes from the suppliers. We have nothing to do with them at all :-)

[FN-GM]

We do a "Limited Support" and show them how to work them. There is a grey area of how much support we give. Were do I draw the line? What support do others give please?

 

Thanks

Z

[acrobson]

We had a total of approx 900 laptops issues to all years groups, in our experience this has been a nightmare, we have about 10 back every day. Mainly down to family members who have been browsing naughty things online and when realised the kids were bringing them to school the next day, they tried to delete the evidence, which meant the laptops just got re-ghosted. We have had the police etc involved on some occassions, however mainly its just kids installing dodgy software and getting viruses etc.

 

With regards to the technical support, we currently have to deal with it, however there is talk of having the 6th formers trying to study ICT operating support clinics 3 nights of the week, however this does pose security risks, as most of the laptops get ghosted and sent back out which would require some config, IE with admin passwords and ghost licensed disks in the open. Plus half the parents tried putting the laptops on eBay and claiming on the insurance!

[tech_guy]

We had a total of approx 900 laptops issues to all years groups, in our experience this has been a nightmare, we have about 10 back every day. Mainly down to family members who have been browsing naughty things online and when realised the kids were bringing them to school the next day, they tried to delete the evidence, which meant the laptops just got re-ghosted. We have had the police etc involved on some occassions, however mainly its just kids installing dodgy software and getting viruses etc.

 

With regards to the technical support, we currently have to deal with it, however there is talk of having the 6th formers trying to study ICT operating support clinics 3 nights of the week, however this does pose security risks, as most of the laptops get ghosted and sent back out which would require some config, IE with admin passwords and ghost licensed disks in the open. Plus half the parents tried putting the laptops on eBay and claiming on the insurance!

 

WTF! Really?

[acrobson]

We had a total of approx 900 laptops issues to all years groups, in our experience this has been a nightmare, we have about 10 back every day. Mainly down to family members who have been browsing naughty things online and when realised the kids were bringing them to school the next day, they tried to delete the evidence, which meant the laptops just got re-ghosted. We have had the police etc involved on some occassions, however mainly its just kids installing dodgy software and getting viruses etc.

 

With regards to the technical support, we currently have to deal with it, however there is talk of having the 6th formers trying to study ICT operating support clinics 3 nights of the week, however this does pose security risks, as most of the laptops get ghosted and sent back out which would require some config, IE with admin passwords and ghost licensed disks in the open. Plus half the parents tried putting the laptops on eBay and claiming on the insurance!

 

WTF! Really?

Yes sir, welcome to my world! I advise leaving this project for a good while until it becomes alot more established (like VISTA!), with policies in place and guidelines etc. School leaders love this project, it's a shame that they don't consult with those on the front line!

[kylewilliamson]

Anybody here from coventry and been involved/seen cutter/european electronique's sun thin client rig up?

[Geoff]

The user 'linescanner' on these forums is a representative of the cutter project. I suggest you PM him.

[markman]

This whole sceme seems to have gone off half cocked with no one actually taking time to set it up properly! I for one am dreading the arrival of the laptops. Most of them will be on sale in the local pub the week after.

[mortstar]

Anybody here from coventry and been involved/seen cutter/european electronique's sun thin client rig up?

 

I've seen the setup working at Sun MicroSystems office on Warwick University Science Park, but I know for a fact that our list of pupils hasn't been handed to Redstone to provide the ADSL line in the home.

[Guest]

2 of my schools have recently been given laptops (15 each) to go home to pupils. They will be receiving Broadband via WiMAX.

 

Have been told that the laptops must have AV / Web filtering / Deep Freeze / Plus usual software. The cost of this has to be met by the school.

 

Anyone here got any recommendations of good stand alone web filtering software?

[kylewilliamson]

Anybody here from coventry and been involved/seen cutter/european electronique's sun thin client rig up?

 

I've seen the setup working at Sun MicroSystems office on Warwick University Science Park, but I know for a fact that our list of pupils hasn't been handed to Redstone to provide the ADSL line in the home.

 

Hmmm, ok.

[FN-GM]

We had a delivery of 62 laptops yesterday. We are sending them out and having nothing to do with them after that. I managed to set-up about half of them today (taking note of the pupil who its going to, taking the serial number and the Windows product key and preparing a letter for the parent to sign).

Z

[bossman]

Have just been handed the first list and as far as i am aware it is our lea that has the problems if any to deal with as adsl is being installed as part of the deal and i have been told they are to be monitored via a server at the LEA.

Well i won't be holding my breath but will keep all informed of progress.

[beeswax]

As far as we've been told, we'll have nothing to do with them once they've been distributed. Insurance cover, 3G connection, software and any other peripherals are all the responsibility of the company providing the laptops. All (!) we've got to do is make a note of the serial numbers and who they're going to (this will be decided shortly) never to see them again. Each school was/will be given a sum of money, not unadjacent to £9000 to cover the cost of doing this, though I'm not sure if this figure rises or falls with the number of laptops being given out per school.

[FN-GM]

Beeswax that’s what we thought! If there is any damage or if the laptops need re-imaging its up to it support to diagnose the problem and send it off for repairs. If it needs an image IT support do it at the school. XMA will not do any of the work they will not even talk to parents about the issues they will only talk to IT support at the school. As we are in the same area you will have the same.

 

We have had 3 damaged laptops and one laptop needing imaging back in 4 weeks.

 

Beeswax, should you need a disc with the image on you know my e-mail. Oh and also you will get your insurance through for the laptops all in separate envelopes and it says you need to activate each one but ours was already done.

 

Z