Taco's Question

[scr4wl]

Hey guys,

 

A school asked the place where I work an odd question. They want to know (if money is not an object) how can they expand technologically to provide a better learning enviornment. This means new classes, enhanced classes, better experience, etc...

Anyway they want us to write them a proposal, and then they'll hopefully higher us to do the job (or at least some of it depending on cost).

 

Any way to keep the story short I'm one of the people in charge of this. I have a couple ideas, but I'm sure some of the members here will have much more interesting ones.

 

So if you were to improve a school technologically to provide a better learning enviornement what would you do?

 

Note:

 

It's k-12 so pretty much anything would be ok to say.

[DLS2008]

Definitely Smart Boards in every classroom. My high school installed them over my 4 years there. They made a tremendous difference in class.

 

Give all of the teachers laptops and have wireless access for them throughout the building. Don't let the students use the wireless though.

 

Use Blackboard to post students grades and assignments.

 

Install a computer lab for teaching computer programming, computer graphics, etc.

 

Have computers available for student use and include commonly used programs. We had Photoshop in our library which was fun for when we had free time.

[Coors]

Hands on experience trumps everything imo. Though maybe not as much in grade schools but I learn things better by actually doing it rather than reading it or doing computer based training (CBT's....anyone Military knows how gay those are <_< )

[scr4wl]

The smart boards are a great idea thanks for that I also like the programming class idea.

 

I probably should have included this in the first post, but the last time they had us do this they had been given a 100 thousand dollar grant for computers. They had us set up wireless, build the computer lab, and most teachers have laptops. Sadly though we cannot control wether or not the students have acces to the WIFI:(

[DLS2008]

The smart boards are a great idea thanks for that I also like the programming class idea.

 

I probably should have included this in the first post, but the last time they had us do this they had been given a 100 thousand dollar grant for computers. They had us set up wireless, build the computer lab, and most teachers have laptops. Sadly though we cannot control wether or not the students have acces to the WIFI:(

 

I take it you mean they won't let you restrict the WiFi? I'm guessing that's what you mean, because if you mean you don't know how, then you shouldn't be the one handling this

[scr4wl]

I take it you mean they won't let you restrict the WiFi?

 

That is correct they want anyone to be able to use it at anytime, although for the life of me I don't know why.

[cchalogamer]

That is correct they want anyone to be able to use it at anytime, although for the life of me I don't know why.

Visiting administrators (and not wanting to try and remember the login info to distribute to each teacher as they get new laptops (assuming personal laptops here), etc) and such a long with the idea that a student COULD use the connection for learning using a personal laptop.

 

The smartboard idea works great for most environments though there is another device that my local HS bought a few of my Sr year that mounts on a normal dry erase board and captures the text etc. That's another option as well. Biggest plus with this was it was a cheaper alternative a smart board, but for many classes offered the same functionality of saving the info the teacher wrote for future reference or for students who were out sick. Something like these, but that's not the same thing they purchased.

 

Another idea would be to use something like blackboard to give teachers a way to distribute notes/homework and even do review/testing.

 

It would be nice if every student could be given a netbook for school work, but i would guess that would be a bit much with today's economy.

[scr4wl]

The smartboard idea works great for most environments though there is another device that my local HS bought a few of my Sr year that mounts on a normal dry erase board and captures the text etc. That's another option as well. Biggest plus with this was it was a cheaper alternative a smart board, but for many classes offered the same functionality of saving the info the teacher wrote for future reference or for students who were out sick. Something like these, but that's not the same thing they purchased.

 

It would be nice if every student could be given a netbook for school work, but i would guess that would be a bit much with today's economy.

 

I like the projector thing, do you know how well it works?

 

I've included blackboard in the proposal already. I think I'll also include the smartboard with the Projector thing as a backup. Any other ideas?

 

The laptops may be a bit much, but they did say if money was not an option. Maybe creating a website where the students can access information at anytime.

[scr4wl]

Bump for thought?

[JBags]

i dunno if this was inferred at all, but my county (i work in the IT dept over summer) uses a system that monitors and blocks websites, i think it's called WebSense or something like that. Maybe something like that could be used so even students can use the wifi in school and basically be blocked from going to youtube, myspace, FB, porn, email, etc..

[Compxpert]

Hmm my school has loads of laptops and ones for the teachers even. Also they broadcast two separate networks one for staff and other for students both feature different filtering. Both of which are secured however. We also have smartboards however not in every classroom.

[DLS2008]

I like the projector thing, do you know how well it works?

 

I've included blackboard in the proposal already. I think I'll also include the smartboard with the Projector thing as a backup. Any other ideas?

 

The laptops may be a bit much, but they did say if money was not an option. Maybe creating a website where the students can access information at anytime.

 

That's not a projector he was referring to. The SmartBoards use projectors, but he was referring to a camera device that captures what is written on a whiteboard. There are some at U of M here, but I think Smartboards are more useful. Definitely get the Smartboards if money permits, otherwise, the white board capture device will have to suffice.