Physically labelling ICT Suite machines

[_Bat_]

Seemingly simple task... but not so easy at all.

 

My ICT Coordinator told me to print off some labels which contain the number of each machine and stick each label to the correct machine (beneath the monitor where the kids cannot see it) with sellotape. I was skeptical from the second she said to do this, but did it anyway for lack of a better idea.

 

Have now come back from christmas holidays and the labels are already starting to peel off. Yet the kids haven't even been here to pull them off yet!

 

My ICT coordinator wanted the machines labelled physically in case a computer broke, therefore they can write exactly which machine there is a problem with in the book.

 

How does everyone do it here?

[ChrisH]

You need to stick the labels on then use some good quality tape on top of that. If find the best sort is the stuff they use to repair books etc so go talk nicely to the librarian or similar figure. It also helps if you clean the area first as well.

This wont stop the kids peeling them off particularly though.

[Ric_]

The selotape will not stick to the paintwork of most computers... hence your problem.

 

You need to use something more sticky or get yourself a nice Brother P-Touch 2450DX like I have for making laebls

 

I always lay the computers out in a room in order too so that I simply have to count round to get the computer number.

[CyberNerd]

buy asset tags in bulk, they are really sticky

[pete]

Definitely buy a labeller.

 

You may want to use bginfo.exe (google) to make the machine name big and obvious on the logon and desktop background as well - that way kids can report the right machine name.

[acb_]

We create a map of the room on an hta (it also doubles as our internet turning on/off interface).

 

If they can't tell us the name of the machine, we refer them to the room plan and they can find it on there

[_Bat_]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

 

You may want to use bginfo.exe (google) to make the machine name big and obvious on the logon and desktop background as well - that way kids can report the right machine name.

 

We already use this - a very useful freebie. The problem is caused when the machine won't even switch on though.

[Ric_]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

 

You may want to use bginfo.exe (google) to make the machine name big and obvious on the logon and desktop background as well - that way kids can report the right machine name.

 

We already use this - a very useful freebie. The problem is caused when the machine won't even switch on though.

 

If the machines are in numerical order (e.g. RM1-01, RM1-02, RM1-03...) surely it shouldn't be unreasonable to ask them to look at the screen on either side and work out the missing number?

[_Bat_]

If the machines are in numerical order (e.g. RM1-01, RM1-02, RM1-03...) surely it shouldn't be unreasonable to ask them to look at the screen on either side and work out the missing number?

 

Hahaha... it's not gonna happen. If I do this they'll still write stuff like 'the machine beneath the big "I" on the notice board'. Not sure why, maybe people with more experience in schools then me can tell me?

[acb_]

We do a lot of stuff remotely, so we insist on a machine name before we go any further.

[CyberNerd]

If I do this they'll still write stuff like 'the machine beneath the big "I" on the notice board'. Not sure why, maybe people with more experience in schools then me can tell me?

 

The same reason that if they *are* clearly labled the teacher finds it easier to describe as 'the one 2nd in from the printer on the left'.

[john]

Plans on the wall of the IT room work well in all the schools I've been in. Mark key features on the plan such as doors, white boards, printers, scanners etc and number them there, when they say its the one on the far side you say which one, point to the same plan in your office and they soon learn especially when they say why not put the plan in the IT room, when you point out that its there above the teacher computer they soon go off and never make the same mistake again.

[theriver]

Labels on the ceiling has alway been fine for me.

[Ric_]

btw... the other thing that I do when moving computers around is write on them with permanent OHP pens (these are great for CD-Rs too). The ink does not come off easy and they come in a multitude of pretty colours

[Friez]

Over here we use a combination of things mentioned above. We use a proper label maker and stick the labels on the back of the PC's so that staff may identify a machine, but we also use software solutions.

 

I knocked up a PHP / Windows Service that gives us a room plan of the PC suites, with each machine in the room numbered, and when highlighted gives us the name of the currently logged in user, therefore we can easily find which pc someone is talking about, even when they say stuff like "I'm sitting next to Jane".

 

(For added bonus, clicking said machine VNC's into it which freaks out the students to no end).

[EvLPhenom]

Here we use so called 'Anti Tamper' labels that we print onto...they are good for the first few months use but they soon start to peel away at the edges and then the kids start to play with them, and soon enough we have half a label on the computer.

 

When we label laptops though we put a label on top of the machine and also one on the bottom so we usually have a full label between them. :?

 

We also put the machines in numerical order.

[_Bat_]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Buying a labelling machine is not really possible - we are only a primary school so it probably wouldn't be worth it.

 

If the next plan of my ICT Coordinator doesn't work (we got around the sellotape part - the only thing that can go wrong now is that the kids pull them off) then i'll look into both labels on the ceiling and a room plan/diagram/layout on the noticeboard. Both these seem like very good ideas.

[Sylv3r]

We use a labelling machine here and I have put together room layouts using visio which are stuck to the wall in each of the rooms.

 

@ _BAT_

 

Labelling machines are relatively cheap these days and something like this

 

http://www.misco.co.uk/productinformation/~99923~WW~/DYMO%20LABELPOINT250.htm

 

Would do the job fine for under £50.

[plexer]

Ahh ICT Co-ordinators in primary schools bless them.

 

Selotape is always going to fall apart eventually.

 

I have a small handheld labeller that wasn't too expensive plus you can label everything not just pc's and I mean everything one of my favourite tools.

 

Ben

[steve]

We use the tape method - its cheaper in the long run for us.

 

And we also have diagrams of all the rooms, these double as seating plans.

ict08.pdf

[netadmin]

 

I knocked up a PHP / Windows Service that gives us a room plan of the PC suites, with each machine in the room numbered, and when highlighted gives us the name of the currently logged in user, therefore we can easily find which pc someone is talking about, even when they say stuff like "I'm sitting next to Jane".

 

(For added bonus, clicking said machine VNC's into it which freaks out the students to no end).

 

Offtopic, sorry.

 

Friez, do you think there is any way you could share that script with me? My school is going to be installing a new computer lab this summer and this program would be SO useful for us.

[Andrew_C]

How about the cable ties with a write-on area? Tied to a vent hole on the back where the kids don't see them...

 

Like these!

[pinemarten]

the kids here always seem to pull off the label , then try(unsuccessfully) to stick it back - I can't figure out whether this is just guilt or if they expect to find a winning number under it ,like a scratchcard...

 

how about engraved brass plates screwed into the casing(only joking lol)

[Andie]

My primary school solution was to create a Word document of text boxes containing the computer names, print off the sheets, laminate, and guillotine the boxes to make labels. I just fixed these on with two small blobs of blu-tack. In four years, we have had a few blobs of blu-tack removed and a few labels relocated, but the tack and labels are easy to replace. If I need to move a machine, the label is easy to change. I also keep the machines in physical numerical order (I use computer names such as IT-01 for the Suite and YR3-01 for classrooms). But I appreciate most of you are dealing with a much bigger environment and bigger pupils! And despite the nice clear label on the front, users still refer to "the computer next to the furthest door from the office"!

[sidewinder]

The cable ties with the write on area seem an excellent idea, may even suggest those in my school, pretty much tamperproof

 

We currently use a labeller and put the machine name on the front on the plastic as its the only place it will stick. They mostly stay there and even if some get peeled of theres normally enough left around it to work it out

 

We also write the machine name on top of each monitor with a CDR pen in the larger computer rooms

 

Also what we often find, especially in the Tech block, teachers and technicians that phone up will often quote the port number the PC is plugged into. Not ideal, but its something to let us know which machine they mean