PD from 8-28-2012 over Laptop/Tech Set-up in the Classroom

1. Laptop & Tech
Set-up in the Classroom

2. Overview
Cart Set-up
Expectations for Use
In Practice/Procedures
Troubleshooting
Questions

3. What we want to
avoid...
Damaged/Missing
computers
Chaos (jumbled cords,
computers out of
order)
Frustration

4. Before using the cart
with students
Physical set-up of cart
Explicitly teaching and reinforcing
expectations to students (!!!!!!!)
Rehearse procedures
Establish common expectations with all
teachers using the cart

5. Physical Set-Up
Clearly label each slot with the number of
the laptop
Both sides, bottom of slot
Wrap cords
Loop around to prevent students from
being able to pull them all the way
out.

6. Before you can teach the rules, you have to know them…
Student Expectations
Before using a laptop students and their
parents have to sign an Internet Acceptable
Use Policy (IAUP).
The expectations outlined in the IAUP should
also be explicitly taught to students prior to
using the carts.
All expectations should be regularly
reinforced. Consequences for failing to meet
these expectations MUST be enforced.

7. The Official Rules
from September 2010 newsletter
Basic Handling/Care:
To carry the laptop, close the screen and use
two hands, holding it to your chest.
Always place the laptop in the middle of your
desk. It should be flat and never on top of
anything else.
Note: Some older laptops are missing the
rubber pads on the bottom and slide easily,
which equals laptops crashing to the ground.
Keep your hands on your own laptop
Issue: students reaching over and turning off
another student’s laptop
Never slam the lid to the laptop. This can
disconnect the screen and cannot be fixed.
Keep ALL food/candy/gum/drinks away from
laptops.

8. Operational Use
Students must always show the bottom
dock that shows which windows are
open.
No sound/music on the computer unless
permission is given
Bandwidth!!
Go only to appropriate sites related to
assignment.
No right to privacy on school laptops
When a teacher (or any adult) asks you
to close the laptop, you should comply
immediately.
Do not download anything without the
permission of the teacher.

9. General Responsibility
Laptops must be kept in your
possession at all times. They should
not be given to other students.
Student must check in/check out
their computer.
NOTE: We have been asked by
the administration to not loan out
computers from our cart to
students in other rooms. Laptops
from your cart should remain in
the same room as the cart.

10. Consequences
Depending on the severity of offense:
Jupiter Grades Referral/Parent Contact
Laptop Timeout
Student is still responsible for the
same or similar work using a pencil
and paper.
Typical Offense: Repeated off task
behavior, touching another student’s
laptop, taking a laptop not assigned
to them, etc.
Loss of Laptop Privileges in Classroom
Student cannot be trusted to abide
by laptop policies and/or has
damaged laptop beyond repair due to
neglect or misuse.

11. Classroom Procedures
Each student should be assigned a computer that
they will use in your room. Post several copies of
the assignments in the area where you keep your
cart so they can be easily seen by students.
Example on next slide
Blank version to be shared with all teachers.

13. Check for damage, report missing keys
Students are responsible for their laptops.
They should quickly inspect their laptop when
they check it out and immediately report any
damage. The last person using it (who does
not report damage) is held accountable.
Tip: Mark any existing damage/missing keys
with post it on lid of computer
While students are using laptops, circulate!!!
Maintaining visibility of student screens cuts
down on most issues.
- Don’t turn the laptops off, just close the lid. This
saves valuable class time.

14. Practice taking computers in/out of the cart
without damaging computers. Return computers to
the correct slot and plug in.
Once these procedures have been taught and
rehearsed you can delegate some of the
responsibility by training a laptop cart monitor
(do-gooder student or one willing to work
for candy).
Give yourself enough time at the end of the
period (approximately 3-5 minutes) to collect
laptops. No student should leave the classroom
until all laptops have been returned to the cart.

15. Tech Issues
• Teach students how to fix common laptop issues
themselves.
• Identify the “techy” students and have them
available to assist students.

16. Teach these steps to students
If there is a problem with the laptop:
Step 1: Do not close the laptop or return
it to the cart.
Step 2: Identify the specific problem.
(i.e. the internet connection is not
working – “It’s broken!!” isn’t specific)
Step 3: Attempt to problem solve through
troubleshooting methods taught in class.
Step 4: Raise your hand and wait for the
teacher
* If you (the teacher) can’t fix it (or don’t
have time), put a sticky note with a
description of the problem and what has
been tried so it will save time later.

17. How to solve common laptop problems
http://queenscollegiatetech.wikispaces.com/
-Select troubleshoot
-Read through/familiarize yourself with info
- Updates will be made to site to reflect new
technology/common issues as they arise.
- If Internet is down you can’t access page – I
am working on making handouts of this info for
all teachers. You can also hang posters for
students -- see samples of posters in room 218

19. Most Important!!
- Carts get returned to home teacher at
the end of the day!
- All teachers are responsible for
reporting any damage/missing
computers immediately. The home
teacher should also check at the end of
the day.

20. Keeping Good Relationships with Colleagues
Common Frustrations:
Laptop cart is a mess (tangled cords,
laptops out of order, programs
downloaded, crumbs, keys switched, etc.)
So many laptops are broken that
you don’t have enough for all of your
students
To Prevent This:
Return the cart in the condition you
found it.
Communicate!! I would be happy to help
mediate any issues.

21. Questions
?