distribute laptops to students

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

How do you distribute laptops to students, the problem we are having is that we have 400 laptops coming in and the head wants the laptops to be signed out to the students in the morning and checked back in in the afternoon all from one location.

 

Just wondering if there are any schools out there with this many laptops and how you go about handling them with the students.

[creese]

400 x 2mins / 60mins = 13.3333333 hrs

 

Maths is obviously not your Head's strong point.

[creese]

On a more practical side, how about a token system. They have a token with their name/admission No. which they exchange for a laptop.

[pete]

Even if you can whittle it to 20 seconds a laptop, it's still going to take over 4hrs a day (in + out) for 1 person.

 

If you're supposed to be checking for damage/functionality as well it becomes unmanageable, especially if you've got kids who need to catch a bus and can't wait around in the queue at the end of the day.

 

Where are they stored / charged overnight? Does the kid take it from lesson-to-lesson? I'd be looking for some sort of individually keyed charging cupboard so the kid can lock it away and put it on charge. Something like this: Laptop Lockers | Lockers | Static Lockers | LapSafe

 

Then do spot checks in downtime. Say if Y9 have games on a Wednesday afternoon, check through their laptops then once a week.

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

need solutions please Edited July 28, 2010 by NBC_Sys_C-ord

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

Distribution and storage of 400 Student Laptops

These are the options:

Option 1 Issue to each individual student. To be kept overnight. Bag also issued.

Pro’s There are no issuing problems each day. Each student is held personally responsible for their laptop.

Con’s Possible muggings on journey to and from school. Studies have shown that this rarely happens.

 

Option 2 Issue to each individual allocated student every day. Laptops stored in a central area and issued to the allocated student.

Pro’s Each student is held personally responsible for their laptop.

Con’s There would be massive logjams at the issuing point. Eg. If 400 laptops were issued at one time by two people, at 30 seconds each this would take 1 hour 40 minutes to complete.

 

Option 3 Issue to student as needed. Laptops stored in a central area and issued on an as needed basis.

Pro’s Flexibility as to who gets them.

Con’s There could be massive logjams at the issuing point. Eg. If 400 laptops were issued at one time by two people, at 30 seconds each this would take 1 hour 40 minutes to complete.

More difficult to track down any abuse.

 

Option 4 Distribute laptops in laptop cabinets in strategic positions around school. Issued on an as needed basis.

Pro’s Flexibility as to who gets them.

Far less congestion problems, compared to storage in one location. Laptops can be located nearer to where they are wanted.

Con’s More difficult to track down any abuse.

 

Option 5 Distribute laptops in laptop trolleys in strategic positions around school. In classrooms. Issued on an as needed basis.

Pro’s Flexibility as to who gets them.

Can be easily moved in bulk, to where needed.

Con’s Teacher would need to responsible for issue.

[bossman]

@NBC_Sys_C-ord:

 

What about lockers which also charge the laptops overnight?

 

Students are held totally responsible for their own laptop and that means securely locking them away at night.

 

You can then run checks on batches of laptops i.e. 20 at one time to see if the students are taking care of them once a week.

 

All laptops can then be booked out in one session and the laptop users sign an AUP to the effect of the above and that also get their parents to sign an AUP to pay for the laptop if their child damages it.

 

This can then be monitored as I have said in a relatively fast and efficient way and the laptops don't have to leave situ unless signed for by the student.

[creese]

Fully aware of all the pit falls - need solutions please

 

Should have put that in your 1st post. I wouldn't have bothered posting then.

[teejay]

You could use a library system, barcode the laptops and book them in/out like books. The only problem is the storage space and number of staff required to book in/out that many laptops.

[pete]

How well-behaved are your kids? Here (where they're pussycats and parents are unlikely to sell the laptops for a fix) I'd go for Option 1 combined with a two-days-a-week lunchtime laptop clinic where any issues can be sorted out. I'd also keep spare chargers in a few central locations since another con is the likelihood they'd remember to charge them overnight. Padded laptop sleeves that go into a schoolbag would mitigate the minor mugging risk.

 

I'd also make sure i had PacketFence or NAP running to enforce a minimum level of health on the student laptops.

 

Are the students likely to want to do their homework on the laptops? Data logging for field trips? Will the usage model grow as teachers and kids work out ways they can use them? The more a kid uses "their" laptop, the more they'll want to be taking them home.

[K.C.Leblanc]

I would be talking to the union, a spend like this must have been discussed at many levels. The idea the having this dumped on you without any consultation is ridiculous. Unless you have a very big team there's no way you'll be able to absorb the extra workload these laptops will present.

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

I would be talking to the union, a spend like this must have been discussed at many levels. The idea the having this dumped on you without any consultation is ridiculous. Unless you have a very big team there's no way you'll be able to absorb the extra workload these laptops will present.

 

Not in a union, can't find one that suports ict services personel

[teejay]

Not in a union, can't find one that suports ict services personel

 

If you're in a state school, Unison or GMB, in a private school ATL. The other option is The Voice which is a non striking union.