Recording the loan of laptops/tablets?

[Rob_D]

Hi all,

 

A question for schools that still have a central repository of laptops/tablets that students can use/borrow.

We have a set of 30 laptops and 30 iPads in our Library which are available for students to use through the day, either in the Library or taken back to their classroom. As we're just about to roll out a new set of laptops, we're investigating the best way to manage this. So how do you guys do it?

What system do you use to sign out devices for student use?

Do you have any restrictions (like they can only be used in the library or a teachers has to come get it or something)?

Do you even let students borrow devices piecemeal or can they only be loaned as a class set?

Who is responsible for checking the devices are still in once piece? (our last set of library laptops fell victim to a spate of keys being ripped out)

 

Thanks for all your feedback!

[bald_pig]

We're using Snipe-IT here

[ITGuyNW]

We're using Snipe-IT here

 

Same here for recording inventory. We also use CRBS for an actual booking system for these type of things.

[psydii]

Several departments manage their own resources through Eclipse-MLS. Its not great but it works. (DSLRs Video Cameras, laptops and iPads are all managed this way)

 

Central IT has bookable resources, and these require at least 24hrs notice and are generally delivered and collected by members of the IT team. (this is from six bookable sets of 15)

 

ad-hoc loans to specific students (1-7 days) require teacher authorization and get logged in a spreadsheet which is shared with Reception (who are the backup return point) and items are signed in and out. A ticket in the helpdesk keeps the sponsoring teacher responsible for the device's good health.

 

For students who have laptops permanently allocated, they either operate as per ad-hoc (but with pre-authorization), or we issue a full 1:1 device with paperwork home etc etc. The SENCO tells us which would be most appropriate in each case.

[Rob_D]

So you've all managed to avoid a situation where students will rock up a couple at a time through the day asking to borrow a laptop for a single lesson?

[bald_pig]

So you've all managed to avoid a situation where students will rock up a couple at a time through the day asking to borrow a laptop for a single lesson?

 

They still turn up occasionally, we just tell them to go away!

[thimon]

We only loan out laptops, if students have forgotten their BYOD items. We have a simple form on the wall in the IT Office, where they date and sign their name against the laptop name. We also add their name in the AD description of the laptop, removing that when they bring the laptop back.

[mikes]

So you've all managed to avoid a situation where students will rock up a couple at a time through the day asking to borrow a laptop for a single lesson?

 

Nope, I'll have a bunch in the morning, some needing a charger (forgot to charge mine at home), others left theres at home, sometimes a teacher needs 3 to cover isolation... it's a real nightmare especially with no automated method of knowing who has signed into exactly what device due to our peculiar welsh govt enrolment system.

Am working on a system asap but stage 1 of that is me laser engraving a MASSIVE number into the front lid of the chromebook and finding out a way of tracking when they are logged on off-site and exactly what they are doing when logged on at home. Plus getting each devices MAC address so I can check which AP they are connected to.

 

During covid we had a nightmare with ones we had loaned out, the member of staff responsible for tracking up on them left jobs (I bet the stress of doing it contributed) and we had a nightmare getting some back.

Does anyone know if there's a fiddle for resetting them? We disabled guest accounts and set forced re-enrol so if you powerwash them, or even re-install the OS via USB, they should still re-enroll. So in theory the chromebooks should be useless when we disable the school account as they can no longer log on. But so many didn't come back I am convinced there must be a hack for them to restore them to standard use. I wonder if there's a hacked USB OS you can use to factory reset and re-install a hacked version out there.

 

I really think schools shouldn't go the Trolley/General Loan method. They should issue each pupil a Chromebook, and that Chromebook is then there responsibility. If they don't have a Chromebook or a Charger, then it is on them and they can provide collateral for a temporary replacement if needed.

Edited April 4, 2023 by mikes

[Rob_D]

Does anyone know if there's a fiddle for resetting them? We disabled guest accounts and set forced re-enrol so if you powerwash them, or even re-install the OS via USB, they should still re-enroll. So in theory the chromebooks should be useless when we disable the school account as they can no longer log on. But so many didn't come back I am convinced there must be a hack for them to restore them to standard use. I wonder if there's a hacked USB OS you can use to factory reset and re-install a hacked version out there.

I really think schools shouldn't go the Trolley/General Loan method. They should issue each pupil a Chromebook, and that Chromebook is then there responsibility. If they don't have a Chromebook or a Charger, then it is on them and they can provide collateral for a temporary replacement if needed.

 

Would people go to that much trouble for a potato quality laptop? (Thinking of the DfE provided ones.) I think it's more likely they've forgotten they have it, especially when you factor in requests like this:

"Parent: My darling child would like a school laptop to help with their homework as they don't have one at home.

Tech: You were issued one last year, which we can see you're not using."

 

I would love to go student 1:1, but the plans never get off the ground for one reason or another, and the staff just keep asking for more shared use devices.

[yac2016]

Snipe-IT and Senso seems to work well.