ICT suite layout.

[maniac]

I couldn't find the relevant section to post this under, hope it's ok here!

 

There is the possibility that we may have the oppotunity to change the layout in some of our ICT suites this coming summer, but as usual the planning starts now. What I'm after is peoples experiences of good and bad room layouts, and also how much attention people pay to the advice contained on these pages on the becta site starting Here specifcally to do with the amount of space allowed per workstation.

 

My personal preference for several reasons is have the machines round 3 sides of the room with some normal desks in the centre of the room and the teachers desk centre of the room at the front. Put the printers next the the teachers desk. This way the teacher can see most of the screens from the front of the room, can monitor the printers and it also makes cabling and power nice and easy. This is how most of our rooms are layed out at the moment, but we're open to explore new layouts if they are beneficial, offer better use of space or a better room for staff to teach in. I'm sure there are better room layouts to be explored!

 

How have different people got rooms layed out? Has anyone got some pictures of different ICT room layouts and can people tell me how well they work in practice? We're trying to make sure the right decisions get made first time round if this re-arrangement goes ahead. It's only a proposal at the moment, but I like to do my homework!

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[john]

I have got mine in various ways, I've got PCs round the edges and the centres with PCs in as well, I've got PCs on 3 walls as you describe but the teachers machine on the side. I've had it where there are PCs intersperced with free desks as well. I have seen / worked in rooms where there are PCs on all 4 walls and the teachers machine is in the middle of the room and printer in one corner (I wasn't keen on that design), uum i've seen a designe where the pc's come out from a long wall on rows so the kids all sit back to back have the white board so they all look to the right (or left depending on which way you lay it out) and have the teachers PC (TPC) in the corner out of the way:

____________________

PC PC PC PC PC PC

PC PC PC PC PC PC

PC PC PC PC PC PC

PC PC PC PC PC PC

PC PC PC PC PC PC

PC PC PC PC PC PC

 

 

Board and Projector TPC

 

I don't know how good it is for Teaching in, but I have seen that way.

 

My personal Preference is the 3 walls in a U shape with the teachers machine at the head of the room so they can see all 3 walls of machine fairly easily and the printer up near the teachers machine.

[_Bat_]

This is going to be the layout of our new ICT Suite which I am really looking forward to:

 

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7159/layoutdn5.jpg

 

Here are some artist impressions of what the front of the room will look like. Bear in mind it is a primary school.

 

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9316/artist1oi6.jpg

 

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4541/artist2gl4.jpg

[webman]

Ours are:

 

• Room 13
  
• Room 14
  
• ICT Suite
  
• Study Centre
  
• Room 42
  

 

Other photos ...

Edited June 10, 2008 by webman

[maniac]

@webman

 

I really like your schools website, been having a good browse! Was that in-house or commissioned from somewhere?

 

I'm so deeply disappointed with ours, it was comissioned before I started although we've still not got it live yet, we've no motivation as we all dislike it, and adding and editing content on it is so awkward! Ours just looks so amaterish compared to most.

 

Mike.

[webman]

Thanks Mike, I've sent you a PM so we don't go off-topic

[_Bat_]

it was comissioned before I started although we've still not got it live yet, we've no motivation as we all dislike it...

 

 

Sorry to continue the off topicness (but it is your thread after all ), but who actually made your website if it was comissioned? Incidently I like Craigs website as well, I stole his ideas for the virtual tour on our site (though admittedly mine is no-where near as professional looking).

[russdev]

Will upload pictures of our new ict suite when it opens week on Monday...

 

Basis of it is total of 34 computers put around edges with central island of computers but we have also kept area at front of room for group teaching by the board...

 

My also suggest you ask teaching staff as they are ones who have to use it what they would like...

 

Russell

[MkII]

1 vote for plain old boring PCs around 3 sides! (plus desks in the middle, teachers desk/ whiteboard/ etc on 4th side)

 

It's the only way teachers can keep an eye on all PCs . Yes you can view all screens remotely (we do that) and kids are at liberty to turn their monitors away from you . With TFTs you can keep the desktop narrow . 30+ PCs requires a big room .

[russdev]

... 30+ PCs requires a big room .

 

You would be surprised it doesn't need big room we though that.

 

not sure measurement of our room but not that big room slightly bigger than normal classroom but not much.

 

But what it does need for you to do is throw away the furniture catalogue and find someone like design technician who is willing to design and build the room over half term. Also works out lot cheaper as well...

 

Russ

[russdev]

arr i see

 

sorry

 

 

Russ

[MkII]

[i meant if you were putting them all around the outside Russ - a downside to that approach ]

[maniac]

If you go by the figres on the becta site, they recommend 1 metre between workstations (presumably measured centre to centre) this means you would obviously need a room with a minimum 30 metres of space round 3 walls to fit 30 workstations in going by their guidelines. At the moment, all our ICT suites have machines a lot closer than this, literally only just enough room for the mouse in between workstation keyboards, because of the size of the rooms, there just isn't this space round the outside of them to get the recommended spacing (which is why I was interested in looking at some alturnatives)

 

Ensuring the machines are spaced properly is our main concern with having them round the outside of the room, which is why I was wondering how much attention other schools pay to that recommended spacing??

 

Mike.

[GrumbleDook]

We go for for 800mm in most rooms, but allow for a deep desk to be able to put the keyboard and mouse to the back and use it as a regular classroom for book work.

 

We also tend to have a central pod of 5-10 computers either as a single strip or a double strip (back-to-back) so that we do not waste the space in the centre of the room.

 

In the very large rooms that can manage all 30 computers round the outside we that have regular tables in the centre.

 

Pics will be put up on Monday.

[john]

... 30+ PCs requires a big room .

 

You would be surprised it doesn't need big room we though that.

 

not sure measurement of our room but not that big room slightly bigger than normal classroom but not much.

 

But what it does need for you to do is throw away the furniture catalogue and find someone like design technician who is willing to design and build the room over half term. Also works out lot cheaper as well...

 

Russ

 

I have done that before, had a fellow tech design and install the room, infact I've done it myself before now and it works well, Kitchen Worktop, Chrome legs (or wooden if you prefer), wall battoning, L brackets are about all you need as major components, of course you need screws, corner worktop clamps etc but they are all common things.

[plexer]

I specify an absolute minimum of 750mm wide by 750mm deep but I prefer 800mm upwards for both.

 

I like the virtual tour as well nice burglars map.

 

Ben

[bossman]

All our suites were designed for complete classrom experience in a smaller space and cater for 32 workstations in each room plus an IWB, as webman has already shown you the rooms i will not show you them again.

 

I would recommend a company called 'Ambic Furniture' who design and build the furniture, they built our first room (studycentre) over 5years ago and the desktops are as good now as when they were first built and our kids can be quite destructive when they want to be.

[russdev]

 

I have done that before, had a fellow tech design and install the room, infact I've done it myself before now and it works well, Kitchen Worktop, Chrome legs (or wooden if you prefer), wall battoning, L brackets are about all you need as major components, of course you need screws, corner worktop clamps etc but they are all common things.

 

We went even further the legs were designed around us i have attached drawings in pic format for you to look at..

 

This means pcs go under the desks and then benching on the top of n shape and then wood on l shape for monitor.

 

When get chance will upload some photo's..

 

Russell

 

edit:

 

Well tried upload but didn't convert right so will try again in minute...

 

Right try again here are layout and legs photos to follow..

[RoyG]

Attached is a quality(!!) pic of one of our computer rooms, the layout of the others is very similar.

 

We designed them so that all the screens point the same way, easily seen from teacher's area and the door! There are no hidden screens for the little dears to get up to mischief unseen.

 

Also the alignment of the desks is such that the kids have to turn away from their screens to see the board, so they're much less likely to carry on tapping away when they're meant to be concentrating on what the teacher has to say & show.

 

All base units are in lockable cages under the desks, maximising desk space. Installation of desks, wiring, carpet, blinds - the lot, by Comproom Limited. I would heartily recommend them - absolutely brilliant & not expensive. They've done four computer rooms, a study area & library for us.

 

Regards,

 

RoyG

[webman]

RoyG: Aarrgghh - a mac!!

 

Do you not have problems with kids messing with the wires on the desk trunking?

[projector1]

we are just about to complete phase 2 of the music room project, this is the old music room ready to be converted to a 6thform ICT centre and a little office for us aswell!

it is about three floors up though (need the excercise)

[webman]

projector1: Complete with your own microwave and kettle! 8)

[_Bat_]

projector1: Complete with your own microwave and kettle! 8)

 

surely that is bog standard stuff for a technicians office, especially the kettle?

[webman]

Nope not for us But if the new staff room replaces the current facilities with vending machines we might have to invest in a kettle and a mini fridge for the milk!

[maniac]

We have kettle, microwave and a fosters beer fridge (for the milk of course ) in our office We're also lucky I suppose to have a sink in one corner of the room, which saves us getting water from somewhere every morning! Mind you, it has a big 'not for drinking' notice aobove it, but it's not killed any of us yet!