Original Post:
I started to draft a form and a checklist for our new mobile laptop lab when
I realized someone out there in LM_NET land might already have these forms.
Why reinvent the wheel when someone has already done so (and, I'm sure done
it in a much better way than I ever could!)
I'm looking for a form to report problems with equipment (we have laptops, a
camera, printer, and projector). Also, a checklist of things to check
BEFORE signing it out and AFTER returning it (would this be the same
checklist or two different ones?)
**There were only a few responses but many requests for a HIT. The ideas
and forms I received were great. I cut and pasted the ideas and forms below
because LM_NET does not allow attachments. **
Responses:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have student assistants ( I call them Tech Marshalls) who check the
carts, then take them to teachers, and another group will take the carts
back and check them. They also troubleshoot when needed. We have slips of
papers numbered to 30 (for the number of computers on the cart) and each
kid who receives a computer signs their name on the line with the
computer's number on it.
The teacher (or I, for teachers who don't remember how or want to) sign up
the carts on software called Calcium. We check and re-check this software
all day long. It works pretty well and everyone has a sense of
responsibility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My teachers are required to meet with me
before they can use any computer lab: I have 2 Academic labs of desktops and
5 rolling labs of laptops - all of them are still being used (1 – 6 years
old).
1. I show the teachers exactly what is expected.
2. I have clipboard in each lab and on each rolling cart that outlines
the Use Procedures and includes a checklist to help teachers ensure the
equipment is maintained properly.
3. I took the time when the laptops came in to install DeepFreeze on each
laptop so the students could not damage the hard drives.
4. I removed all Internet games from the hard drive (but left things
like solitaire so the students wouldn't get into too much trouble when they
finished an assignment early).
5. I made a tag/label for each laptop with a number that I placed on the end
of the laptop that could clearly be seen while the laptop is on the cart
shelf as soon as the doors are opened.
6. I made labels for each shelf and put them beside each shelf so the
students would know where each laptop belonged.
7. I also took time to measure and draw a line with a permanent marker along
the front edge of each shelf and explain to the teachers that each laptop is
to be placed on the shelf behind that line to ensure the lock on the cabinet
doors do not damage the laptops.
8. During the orientation session with the teachers, I show them how to
remove a laptop from the cart, hold the laptop and remove the power cable,
carry the laptop to a seat, log onto the laptop, repair the wireless
connection, shutdown the laptop, hold the laptop to plug the power cord back
into the laptop before it is returned to the cart shelf, how to gently place
the power supply on top of the laptop, how to gently slide the laptop into
place on the cart shelf, and how to lock the cabinet door and put the key in
a pocket.
9. Laptop carts are checked out through me and I visually check the cart
when returned - it's extra work, but worth it.
10. I have 2 rolling labs of 28 each that belong to the Science
department and they keep in their areas most of the time - I do require them
to bring the laptop cart to me at least once each semester and leave it with
me for at least 2 days during which time I turn on and update each laptop
and clean them.
My teachers know that I check behind them. If they do not report a
problem or accident, then I will speak to them about the problem and they
may not be able to use the rolling lab again. They know that the lab is
intended for the use of everyone and if they want to continue use, they must
be responsible and follow the rules. I have some teachers who will never
use a rolling lab - they aren't responsible enough. I have even banned
teachers from the desktop labs. My teachers know that I do not play games
when it comes to equipment - I am fair, but firm.
I am copying and pasting the sheet I keep on the clipboard for each
rolling cart - attachments don't work with this listserv. The laptop #,
Student Name, and Teacher Notes are in a table. Some of the margins are off
in the email format:
Teacher: Class Period: Date:
Laptop Computer Assignments
Each student is to print his/her name beside the number of the laptop to
which he/she is assigned and will be using.
Each user is responsible for the equipment he/she uses
- report any problems immediately
- missuse or abuse may result in a discipline referral.
Laptop # Student Name (Print neatly) Teacher Notes
1.
(lists all the numbers here)
* * * This log is to be left on the rolling laptop cart and will be
collected by Mrs. Hudson. * * *
Use Procedures
1. Laptops are to be handled gently.
2. No food or liquids are to be near the laptops.
3. No student may get out of a desk while he/she has a laptop on the desk.
4. No laptop is to be moved while cables are connected.
5. Do not touch the display screens.
6. Do not save any work to the laptops - all student work must be
saved to a floppy or the network.
7. Laptops must be properly shut-down before lids are closed and they are
returned to the cabinet.
8. Laptops are to be returned to their proper shelves.
9. Laptop power cords must be plugged into the laptops when they are
returned to the cabinet.
10. Any problems detected are to be reported to Mrs. Hudson by the end of
the day.
Checklist
_____ The laptop cabinet is to be kept locked when not in use - Do not leave
keys in the door.
_____ Be sure laptop cabinet power is off before plugging in or
unplugging the power cord from the wall.
_____ Connect both network cables on the cabinet to the network.
_____ Laptop cabinet power must be on for the wireless network to
operate.
_____ Laptops must be properly shut-down before lids are closed and they are
returned to the cabinet.
_____ Laptop power cords must be plugged into the laptops when they are
returned to the cabinet.
_____ Any problems detected are to be reported to Mrs. Hudson by the end of
the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The problem reporting form has columns labeled with the following:
Date, Laptop #, Teacher, Problem
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laptop Cart Notes & Policies
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES may these computers be checked out or leave your
classroom or the building. This is a district policy and central
administration-approved.
Decide where the cart will be placed in your room. It needs to be near a
network connection and an electrical outlet. Unplug the network line to
your computer and plug it into the laptop cart.
You should orient your students to working with the laptop lab the same way
you would with regular computer. For some, this will be the first time
they’ve worked on laptops. Ryan strongly suggests you have an
orientation/instruction period on using the laptops instructionally.
Have your students check (if you have them working on something they need to
save) that they have a P drive. Occasionally a student does not, and the
first step is to restart the computer. If that doesn’t fix the problem,
please contact Mrs. Mulch.
Remind students they should save periodically to their “p” drive—not on the
computer or desktop. Any files saved to the computer itself will be lost
when it’s shut down. These computers do have a cd/dvd burner, so students
may save to that as well. The library does have cds and cases for sale for
$1.00.
With a few minutes left in the period, have your students beginning shutting
down and returning the laptops to you/the cart. Laptops need to be allowed
to shut down all the way before the lid is closed. Students do need to plug
the laptops back into the power cords. BE SURE to check the cart before the
bell to see that all laptops are in place. DO NOT allow your students to
leave the room if a laptop is missing. Contact a principal immediately if
you cannot determine the location of them all.
At the end of the class period, please try to
Inspect each laptop as it is returned, note any damage, and ask students if
they
experienced any problems.
Report any problems to Mrs. Mulch or Ryan Axman or Jay Vratil.
Please do not attempt to make any repairs yourself.
Plug the laptops back into their cords in the cart.
Lock the cart.
Please keep laptops in the cart and plugged in when not in use. Make sure
to switch the toggle on the lower side of the cart to INTERNAL power to
recharge the laptops. Switch to EXTERNAL power to use the laptops in your
room.
Avoid using computer #30 (or use it for teacher only)—it does not have a
special lockdown program on it.
The computers should last about three hours with a full charge. However,
use of a cd/dvd or lots of animation will use more of the battery and make
it run down faster.
The computers have the same programs we all have on the network. Should a
student (or teacher) download any program to any individual computer; it
will be lost when the computer is turned off.
It is NOT possible to have the network operating and have the computers
plugged into their cords (and charging) inside the cart at the same time.
Return the cart to the library when you finish with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone who responded!
Carrie Higgins, Library Media Specialist
Wissahickon Charter School
Philadelphia, PA
carriergreen@hotmail.com
higgins@wissahickoncharter.org
_________________________________________________________________
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