If you still have, or are planning to have, a computer lab, then these 24 things are essential to include.
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You could put this up on the doors of your computer labs! Photo by Terry Freedman 2017
11 ways to deter colleagues from using education technology
Why should other teachers get their hands on all that lovely ed tech? You can't tell them not to use it, but here are 11 tried and tested ways to make them not really wish to.
Read More24 must-have features of computer labs
If you still have, or are planning to have, a computer lab, then these 24 things are essential to include.
Read More10 uses for a computer suite
Lots of schools with computer suites are getting rid of them by turning them into ordinary classrooms. The reason is that with mobile technology such as tablets, and initiatives like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), there is no longer any need for a computer suite.
But getting rid of a computer suite is just one option: there are several others.
Is the computer lab defunct?
Having attended a conference at the Westminster Education Forum today on the future of technology in education, I am moved to raise this issue again: have computer labs had their day?
The idea that they have was mentioned two or three times. Whilst I can see the attraction of arguments in favour of mobile technology as opposed to fixed technology, I don’t think the two are necessarily mutually exclusive. Rather than rehearse my arguments again, I’ll refer you to an article I wrote back in March 2011 called Come back, computer lab, all is forgiven. Hope you enjoy it.
Come back, computer lab, all is forgiven
Why is it that all innovators seem to have an “either-or” mentality, an all-or-nothing approach? “Out with the old, in with the new!” seems to be their call to action, yet sometimes – I would say often – the new is not as good as the old. At least, not so much better that the old should be dispensed with altogether.
8 Point Room Check
Use a checklist to help keep the facilities in tip-top conditionHere's a checklist you can use to help keep a computer suite in tip-top condition. Make sure the students know you will be checking as well.
Room number ____
- Are all the computers working?
- Are all the printers working?
- Do the printers have paper in them?
- Have discarded print-outs been cleared away?
- Are all the mice working?
- Are all the monitors working?
- Is the network working?
- Is there a student User ID list handy in case someone forgets their details?
This article was originally published on 14th October 2006.