My dream Classroom is pretty much the one I already have, with a few more added peripherals such as ActivTablets and ActiVote devices on each table, this would allow instant feedback or boarding of learners work and answers, it would also allow the learners to interact with the IWB and to display items that they have on their screens. The classroom has a nice sound system and other audio / visual equipment.
Nice! I know that the British Council classrooms are already really well-equipped and have several features that I really feel are important, e.g. extra room to move around in, round tables. I like your interactive ideas although. Would the laptops/netbooks and a data projector + wifi = your IWB + ActivTables/Votes. What do you think the cost comparison is? Just wondering,
ReplyDeleteValentina
I think the cost would be the same ish, the only problem with laptops and netbooks is the wifi connectivity, try starting up 20 laptops at the same time and getting them all connected to wifi! it doesn't work. Also battery life on these things dies very quickly with extended use, the cost of replacement being quite high. I've worked with class sets of laptops before and really hated the experience, more trouble than they are worth, maybe in the future when battery life and wifi standards improve.
ReplyDeleteOh no! We aregetting 'class sets ' of laptops. OutITguy and guyette assure me that staggered use with time to recharge and monioting activity will mean it will work. Tell me something you liked about the experience.........please.
ReplyDeleteSome points:
ReplyDeleteDo you have long enough for them to recharge between classes?
Will they be on charge all the time if not being used?
Is the wifi router in a place that can easily be reached by all the laptops?
Do you have the budget to replace the batteries every year?
After 1.5 yrs of usage in my old centre, some of the laptops had a 15 minute battery life, so they needed to be plugged in, leading to cabling nightmares all over the classroom.
It took 10 - 15 mins to get them all out and set up, then another 10 mins to get them all shut down and put away properly.
They could only be booked for an hour at a time, 25 mins of which was taken up by getting them out and putting them away again. This is a trendy but unworkable solution. I don't have an answer, I just know that laptops isn't it.
Maybe netbooks would be a better option, greater battery life, cheaper etc, but have no experince of using them so I don't know
Wow, Gary. You raise a lot of good points about using laptops in class I didn't really think of. I liked your classroom as well.
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention I also really liked your idea for the ActiVote devices (yet another mechanism to keep students involved). Kind of reminds of one of the life lines (audience input) on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."
ReplyDelete