6November

toc =My thoughts- Nigel= If I knew everything, people would pray to me. They don't. So with that disclaimer ... I think laptops and wireless networks have finally got to the stage where they offer a viable solution for student use in schools. We rarely need every child in a class to have access to a separate computer at the same time so do not need one laptop for every child in the school. A well designed trolley can transport class sets of laptops to where ever they are needed and individual machines can easily be carried around school. A good network should allow students to access their work regardless of which computer they sit down with. Laptops do not take over a classroom in a physical sense in the way that desktop computers do. Be very wary of second hand laptops. New batteries can cost several hundred dollars and most need replacing after 2 or 3 years. Leasing could be a sensible option or the Classmate PC's may be another solution - see below. Nigel

=Advice from Jamie McKenzie= Cartoon by Jerry King http://www.jerryking.com/ view it at [|**From Now On**] http://fno.org.

This article from Jamie McKenzie will provoke some thinking on just how many computers we really need in our classrooms. http://fno.org/jan02/overequipped.html

Read about the benefits of wireless laptops http://fno.org/jan01/wireless.html

Please add any useful links related to computers in classrooms

Getting Attention in the Laptop Classroom By Jamie McKenzie http://fno.org/nov08/attention.html Over the years we have seen too little attention paid to the pedagogy (effective use of teaching strategies to promote student learning) required to manage classrooms heavily equipped with laptops. In this article, Jamie explores the challenges facing teachers working in such learning environments and suggests ways to meet those challenges.

=Laptop Storage Solutions=

[|Read more about this storage / transport solution]http://www.apple.com/education/k12/mobilelabs/

=Second Hand Computers= CANZ su pplies used equipment donated by commercial and government organisations, usually about three years from brand new. This equipment, all quality ‘name’ brands, is refurbished, upgraded as necessary and sold with a warranty and after-sales service. Prices are considerably lower than for new computers. 

The Ark is the CANZ accredited supplier for most of New Zealand. They also supply some new machines and offer leasing options.

 =Finance = = =  I am not trying to promote this company. It was simply the first that I came across when searching for lease options. It is, however, the company used by the MoE for its TELA laptop programme for teachers.

=Mini-laptops = = =  Some of you may have seen these Classmate PC's at the ULearn conference. They do look impressive and with pricing starting at $560 + GST they become tempting.

=5 computers from one = = =  Yet another way to get more computer users per $. MPA is the local distributer for the Xtenda unit which allows tyou to connect extra keyboards and monitors to one computer. Visit the MPA website http://www.mpa.co.nz/ for pricing and more information or click on the NComputing link to get to the manufacturers site.