classroom setup

[TYO]

hi,

 

just wondering what everyone has as a typical classroom setup.

 

we have 50 classrooms with IWB's and HP docking stations in each room. pretty much every member of staff has a laptop that is compaitble with the docking stations.

 

but we are now trying to renew some our older laptops but the new HP laptops are not compatiable with the old HP docking stations (only 3 years old.) buying new docking stations would then mean the old laptops are no good! (staff move round and need to be able to use all rooms)

 

as far as i can see our options are

replace every staff laptop and docking station at the same time

a dedicated desktop in everyroom

staff plug usb,vga,network cables at the start of every lesson

USB docking stations that will still require staff to plug in charger

[Disease]

but we are now trying to renew some our older laptops but the new HP laptops are not compatiable with the old HP docking stations (only 3 years old.) buying new docking stations would then mean the old laptops are no good! (staff move round and need to be able to use all rooms)

 

 

Thats why we use dedicated machines in every room, no problems with connectors going out of date

 

Our standard classroom pack consists of:

Desktop

Printer (although this is being reviewed with a view to workgroup printers)

Amp and Speakers

IWB

Projector

DVD/Video combi.

[zag]

We just have a nice aruba wireless system in place and the teachers plug into VGA when they use it.

 

Seems to work fine.

[bossman]

IWBs connected to computer for all network resources.

 

If I was you i would be looking at replacing all docking stations with fixed workstations and recycle the laptops back to the teachers as standalone so they can install, test and look at other digital resources without impacting on the network.

 

Works great here and the workstations come at a great value as opposed to laptops which are a constant drain on resources and time.

[EvLPhenom]

Here we have around the same number of classrooms, but we have a dedicated workstation in each that is connected to the prokector and IWB.

[hil]

We have all classrooms with fixed PCs, and teaching staff have got laptops that they use in the offices and at home. Some of the staff laptops are on wireless and some are on fixed wired network cables.

[LukeC]

here we have staff laptops were they connect the vga, auido and usb dongle for the IWB each lessons. in my opinion its not the best as they damage the cables quite regularly and the facepaltes on the wall. I have also worked in a place with desktop in each classroom which i say this works alot better and things dont get damaged.

[cvl4]

Dedicated Desktop in every room would be my choice - Once they got used to it staff now prefer this. Far more reliable.

 

We are no longer replacing the staff laptops - some staff have grumbled but most have accepted the situaion. With VLE, SIMS learning Gateway and remote access there is no real need for laptops except for key staff.

[timbo343]

I personally would go for the desktop option too. Much more reliable. We moved over to all desktops a couple of years ago, never looked back and the staff are really happy with it, rather than bring in their laptops, connect everything up by which point the lesson is nearly over, have trouble logging in to the network etc etc.

 

We have about 50 ish computers for teachers to use as a teacher PC. The majority have access to some speaker systems either an amp and 2 satillites (not as good as the 2.1s) or 2.1 system in the room, a projector with a video splitter.

[zag]

Do people who use desktops in rooms have 2 screens or just connected to the projector?

[john]

We have fixed PCs in all the rooms connected to speakers and projectors.

 

We have a monitor on the PCs as we have most of them set to split the screen so the teacher can work on Serco / work whilst leaving the PowerPoint up for the students etc

[hil]

We have a monitor on the PCs as we have most of them set to split the screen so the teacher can work on Serco / work whilst leaving the PowerPoint up for the students etc

 

Do u have dual graphic cards in ur PCs then John?

[john]

Do u have dual graphic cards in ur PCs then John?

 

Yup in around 97% of the PCs they are dual head.

 

They used to be on clone in most cases when we had XP (but some were split) but Windows 7 make it much easier for each person to choose thanks to the short-cut of Windows+P and then just click and choose the style you want.

 

I know you could do shortcuts in ATI and Nvidia Drivers and control panel but we had a mix of software and hardware so some worked and others didn't so it was very confusing for teachers to keep messing and switching so thanks to Windows 7 this has made it much easier so staff can now quickly and easily sort these little things out for themselves

[hil]

Yup in around 97% of the PCs they are dual head.

 

They used to be on clone in most cases when we had XP (but some were split) but Windows 7 make it much easier for each person to choose thanks to the short-cut of Windows+P and then just click and choose the style you want.

 

I know you could do shortcuts in ATI and Nvidia Drivers and control panel but we had a mix of software and hardware so some worked and others didn't so it was very confusing for teachers to keep messing and switching so thanks to Windows 7 this has made it much easier so staff can now quickly and easily sort these little things out for themselves

 

I do like the new "Windows+p" shortcut in windows 7

Edited October 6, 2010 by hil

[K.C.Leblanc]

Do people who use desktops in rooms have 2 screens or just connected to the projector?

 

Projector and monitor, we use VGA splitters instead of dual head graphics cards.

 

I don't know how good they are, but Toshiba make some USB docking stations.

 

EDIT: I've just had a look round the interwebs, seems they're a bit cack.

[MatthewL]

If it was me I would install a workstation then connections cannot be damaged, its guaranteed that there will be a machine in there to work on, also there is no excuse of I cannot teach because I have left my laptop at home sort me one.

[Ric_]

I just allow our lot to plug into what they need, when they need it... everyone has a wireless laptop. I believe doubling up machines is wasteful and it's something that we cannot afford to do at the minute. I would like docking stations but again, it's a luxury that we cannot afford at the moment

 

@TYO: How many staff laptops do you have? Is replacing them all not an option?

[laserblazer]

I'm just starting to look at a standard system to replace the hotch-potch we currently have. We currently have some staff playing vhs tapes but the players are old and unreliable and i think it would make sense to replace any "must have" vhs stuff with dvd versions played through the computer, either in-house, copyright permitting or buying the dvd version. I'm also wondering about a wireless mic. option for teachers with voice problems (we have a few here).

[SimpleSi]

All my classrooms (Primaries) now run with dedicated computers fro the projector/smartboard.

 

regards

 

Simon

[Ulkary]

Our classrooms are geared toward distance learning and research collaboration, so the A/V systems we have include iMacs as the dedicated machine, Tandburg video conferencing codec, Blu Ray Player (don't know why but cool non the less) Doc Cam as well as space for a VGA and HDMI laptops all connected to 8x8 DVI video matrix. Outputting to either LCDs or Projectors depending on the size of the room.

 

All desks have goose neck mics (video conferencing) these are connected to a Biamp Audia Flex DSP, audio output is coming from ceiling and wall speakers depending on the source (one amp each). Wireless mics are installed in the lecture halls and in cases where the proff has a soft voice.

 

All the kit is installed in a rack at the back of each room, if anyone goes for a system like this I would have a "A/V" room and centralize per floor or area because installing a rack per room is no fun trust me

[zag]

I'm just starting to look at a standard system to replace the hotch-potch we currently have. We currently have some staff playing vhs tapes but the players are old and unreliable and i think it would make sense to replace any "must have" vhs stuff with dvd versions played through the computer, either in-house, copyright permitting or buying the dvd version. I'm also wondering about a wireless mic. option for teachers with voice problems (we have a few here).

 

Don't bother with DVD's, just rip them all to a server as WMV's and stream them. Works great in our place and never have to worry about disks or copy protection again.

[DarrenC]

Laserblazer,

 

There are a number of voice reinforcement systems on the market and some offered as package solutions activsound etc...

 

I would have a look at CIE ceiling tiles, if your budget can stretch to them they are fantastic quality speakers that mimic armstrong ceiling tiles and give a superb sound field to cover a large area.