­
How to set up a teachers' computing area — ICT & Computing in Education
  • Front Page
  • Search
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
Menu

ICT & Computing in Education

Articles on education technology and related topics
  • Front Page
  • Search
  • Newsletters
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
  • Info
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
Photo by PhotoMix Company on pixabay.com Licence: CCO

Photo by PhotoMix Company on pixabay.com Licence: CCO

How to set up a teachers' computing area

February 21, 2018

When I looked into the music store room next to one of the computer labs in my new school, I didn't see a music store room. I saw a teachers' computer lab. The size and shape -- long and narrow -- were irrelevant. I knew I could make better use of it than how it was being used now. It was not so much a store room as a junk room, with old music stands scattered all over the place, piles of paper which had obviously not been looked at in ages, judging by the dust on them. So I went to the headteacher, and asked if I could have the room. To my delight (and, I have to say, surprise) he said "Yes."

Before going any further I should point out that this was some time ago, before many teachers had computers at home, or schools had laptops. However, I think my comments will still be relevant today. In my view, teachers need areas where they can prepare materials, search the web or mark online without being distracted by the general hubbub of the staffroom.

I wanted an area where teachers could just come, use the facilities whenever they liked, and without needing to ask permission. I often had teachers come to my classroom to ask if there was a spare computer they could use. I always welcomed them, but I felt that teachers also needed privacy in relation to students.

I cleaned and tidied up the room, and installed 8 computers, a printer and a scanner. The question arose, should I furnish the room with equipment I'd replaced, ie older stuff? My answer (to myself) was "No." Teachers should have the latest and, funds permitting, the best. Why?

First, I think teachers deserve the best. Simple as that.

Secondly, there was a mercenary element to my thinking, which ran as follows. If a teacher is using really good, fast equipment that is not past its use-by date, not scratched from years of use, not unreliable, they will probably be much more likely to consider booking the computer facilities for use with a class.

My gamble paid off. The room was in constant use, and not always by the same people. I think nearly everyone on the staff list used it fairly regularly. It was a very good use of a space that wasn't being used effectively at all.

What might be different today, now that laptops and tablets are to be seen almost everywhere?

First, I would still have a room like that. Teachers still need a place they can work, away from the probing eyes of pupils.

Secondly, if the powers-that-be wanted to decommission the computer labs, I would argue the case for retaining one of them as a staff computing area. I saw something like that in operation at a school I used to visit as an ICT advisor, and it worked really well. What indubitably helped was the near-constant presence of the Head of ICT and a couple of technicians -- although it may just have been the free tea, coffee and biscuits available at all times!

Thirdly, if space permitted, I'd leave empty areas, populated only with a chair, a surface to work on, and power sockets, so that teachers could plug in their own laptops or tablets.

Fourthly, again space permitting, I'd have a few easy chairs scattered around the room, where teachers could work on a tablet or laptop.

Finally, money permitting, I would have at least half a dozen top-notch portable devices for use on a first-come, first-served basis, in the room only, while sitting in the aforementioned easy chairs.

Bottom line: the devices teachers use and their availability may have changed over the years, but the need for a quiet, well-appointed and relatively private area has not.

Related articles
Is It Always Better To Use A Computer Than Pen And Paper?
Dec 24, 2020
Is It Always Better To Use A Computer Than Pen And Paper?
Dec 24, 2020

It seems to me that whether the use of a computer is "appropriate" from an efficiency point of view depends on a range of factors.

Dec 24, 2020
24 must-have features of computer labs UPDATED
Jun 26, 2019
24 must-have features of computer labs UPDATED
Jun 26, 2019

If you still have, or are planning to have, a computer lab, then these 24 things are essential to include.

Jun 26, 2019
How to set up a teachers' computing area
Feb 21, 2018
How to set up a teachers' computing area
Feb 21, 2018

Teachers need areas where they can work on computers quietly, efficiently and away from pupils. Here's how to go about setting one up.

Feb 21, 2018
14 things to check when using education technology
Dec 10, 2017
14 things to check when using education technology
Dec 10, 2017

This article was originally published in 2008. Apart from a few obvious points, such as the references to CDs, large monitors and, in some schools these days, computer rules, very little requires changing in terms of the advice. But the interesting aspect of the article is, I think, what is implicit. Having two computers out of commission would have been an issue in those days. Bring Your Own Technology had yet to be a possibility for most pupils. Laptops were still expensive enough to make class sets of them something to dream about. There were tablet computers, but the iPad was still two years in the future. The reference to planning to use the internet: nowadays it's virtually unavoidable because so much is online. When you think about all that, it is hard to remember that the article was written less than a decade ago!

Dec 10, 2017
24 must-have features of computer labs
Aug 4, 2016
24 must-have features of computer labs
Aug 4, 2016

If you still have, or are planning to have, a computer lab, then these 24 things are essential to include.

Aug 4, 2016
Apr 22, 2014
10 uses for a computer suite
Apr 22, 2014
press association markupLots 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.

Apr 22, 2014
Sep 13, 2011
Is the computer lab defunct?
Sep 13, 2011
Sep 13, 2011
Mar 12, 2011
Come back, computer lab, all is forgiven
Mar 12, 2011

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.

Mar 12, 2011
Nov 27, 2010
Please! No More Mantras!
Nov 27, 2010
If there’s one thing that really bugs me it’s people coming out with stuff with no thought whatsoever, but which they assume is profound. I’ve been to some conferences where a couple of speakers recited such mantras as
Nov 27, 2010
Apr 21, 2010
8 Point Room Check
Apr 21, 2010
Apr 21, 2010
In Leading & Managing Computing & ICT Tags teachers, computer labs, computer room, computer lab
← The importance of Creative Problem-Solving SkillsHow to evaluate digital content: a 25 point checklist →
Recent book reviews
Backlist: The Written World
Backlist: The Written World

Writing was invented ‘only’ a few thousand years ago. It’s a fascinating story.

Read More →
Backlist: What I'm reading: Bounce
Backlist: What I'm reading: Bounce

What does it take to become an expert? And what can the Computing teacher do about it?

Read More →
Backlist: The Fourth Education Revolution
Backlist: The Fourth Education Revolution

The title of this book invites curiosity: what were the other three ‘revolutions?

Read More →
A book review for your English department colleagues perhaps
A book review for your English department colleagues perhaps

Some of these stories are so richly told, it can almost seem as though you’re right there with him.

Read More →
Review: Pen Names
Review: Pen Names

OK, so this has nothing to do with education technology, but we all read (I hope!). A very interesting examination of the pen names some authors have adopted, and why.

Read More →
Review: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History
Review: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History

There's a really interesting section in this book about how ceramic storage of data and information is probably the most likely medium to stand the test of time.

Read More →
A book review for your biology colleagues perhaps
A book review for your biology colleagues perhaps

The subject under discussion here is how human physiology has developed in different ways, in response to different conditions around the world.

Read More →
Review: Social Media for Academics
Review: Social Media for Academics

This book is very readable, and if I sound surprised that is because it’s not always true of academics!

Read More →
Quick looks: VIBE Coding by Example
Quick looks: VIBE Coding by Example

For the time being, this book is free in Kindle format.

Read More →
Review: The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too
Review: The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too

Despite the relative paucity of immediately obvious National Curriculum links, teachers will find several of sections of this book to be highly engaging.

Read More →
Dig+Ed+Banner.jpg

Contact us

Privacy

Cookies

Terms and conditions

This website is powered by Squarespace

(c) Terry Freedman All Rights Reserved