I used to teach at a large Catholic college here in South Australia ( website @ http://www.ignatius.sa.edu.au ) and we looked into buying laptops for our students, but ended up investing in hiring desktops to fill 4 classrooms at the senior school and enough for a classroom at the junior school plus one for each junior classroom. Why? Firstly, there was the cost of providing a laptop for each student. AT 800 students the costs were prohibitive for the school and discriminatory for poorer families. Also there was dealing with the infrastructure. The school is networked, but designing and constructing a network for 800 PCs straight out was also looking a bit pricey. Also there was the upgrading. Laptops aren't the easiest things in the world to update component-wise. By leasing desktops we upgrade every three years, and we can spend the rest of the budget on software licenses for new and relevant software. By having 4 classrooms full of computers, all students can enjoy learning about computers as well as get the chance to integrate their use into other subjects. The school has an active policy of achieving computer literacy across the breadth of subjects offered. By doing this students achieve the concept of computers as part of everyday life - like they should be! Also, as far as maintenence is concerned, it is easier to look after the 300 or so computers that the school has - and they don't get dropped (often!). Some schools in Australia went for laptops for all students, and it is interesting to note that most are now dropping that option in favour of desktops. Also other schools have dropped by this one to see how we do it - achieving good curriculum standards and a safe and secure network that is used responsibly by the students. Hope this is helpful!
Slashdot Mirror
I used to teach at a large Catholic college here in South Australia ( website @ http://www.ignatius.sa.edu.au ) and we looked into buying laptops for our students, but ended up investing in hiring desktops to fill 4 classrooms at the senior school and enough for a classroom at the junior school plus one for each junior classroom. Why? Firstly, there was the cost of providing a laptop for each student. AT 800 students the costs were prohibitive for the school and discriminatory for poorer families. Also there was dealing with the infrastructure. The school is networked, but designing and constructing a network for 800 PCs straight out was also looking a bit pricey. Also there was the upgrading. Laptops aren't the easiest things in the world to update component-wise. By leasing desktops we upgrade every three years, and we can spend the rest of the budget on software licenses for new and relevant software. By having 4 classrooms full of computers, all students can enjoy learning about computers as well as get the chance to integrate their use into other subjects. The school has an active policy of achieving computer literacy across the breadth of subjects offered. By doing this students achieve the concept of computers as part of everyday life - like they should be! Also, as far as maintenence is concerned, it is easier to look after the 300 or so computers that the school has - and they don't get dropped (often!). Some schools in Australia went for laptops for all students, and it is interesting to note that most are now dropping that option in favour of desktops. Also other schools have dropped by this one to see how we do it - achieving good curriculum standards and a safe and secure network that is used responsibly by the students. Hope this is helpful!