1 to 1 Laptop Management

[The Innovative Educator]

How do you effectively manage laptops in your school?

[Vinna Deninno]

We have jumped in full force with our 1:1. Our laptops are available to our students all day for every period. What we do is AM pick up and PM put away. I needed to really get the students and staff to work with me. I go into classes daily to re-inforce policy, rules and regulations. So far it is working for us. I get all staff involved including secrity, gym teachers and deans.

[Daniel Ackerman]

We are currently piloting student movement with laptops. We have purchased cheap bags for teams and they carry them from class to class. Teachers have the keys to all classes that they teach. Carts are moved by High School Interns that work at our school for the entire day. We have a partnership with WHEELS HIgh School, where the Interns report for the entire day and work with out staff. In return, our school contributes money to each students college fund.

[john hutton]

My Principal has made it a homeroom responsibility that the teachers have to return to their homeroom to supervise putting the tablets away and taking them back out before and after lunch. If the teacher has another class at that time, then we have asked another available teacher to cover during that time, but that might only be once a week. If the classroom is being used by another class, the iSquad will be able to enter that class and the rest of the class will basically just hand the iSquad their Tablets from the back door. So far it has worked fairly well but it requires a very good iSquad and teachers that will cooperate, which we know is sometimes hard.

[Joe Pascarelli]

We wrote a solid security plan that we review with all the teachers and students. The plan includes proper handling of the computers and inventory management. Not only the computers, but also the laptop cart keys need to be locked. Computers are not to be brought to the cafeteria and gym. Since we have four academies, we allow the Assistant Principals and teachers from each academy to decide on how best to manage the flow of laptops from classroom to classroom. This works well because the small academy teams ensure that the needs of the students and teachers are met.

In addition, teachers are provided with ongoing support from the Technology Coach and Depot Manager. The coach ensures that the teachers are properly trained in computer management and appropriate pedagogical practices using technology. The depot manager ensures computers are functioning properly in the classroom and makes repairs when necessary.

[John Natuzzi]

2 mousesquad students per cart per class. 2 alternates per class

Carts physically located far from each other.

Teachers chosen due their willingness to cooperate and utilize the 1 to 1 laptops effectively.

Teachers with projector carts (40 of 60 teachers) have 2 additional laptop chargers for emergency charging during class time.

[gina]

At IS 93 we have tried to establish concrete rules and regulations in regards to laptop management. From day one, it was established that all students are responsible for their own laptop and need to treat it will care. With this said, MOST students are aware that rules, such as no laptops in lunch, gym or assembly, are in place for a reason and follow the rules. If they don't, there are clear consequences that are in place. Most of the kids don't like being without their laptops (one of the consequences) for any amount of time (long or short), and follow the rules on a regualr basis. The rules are supported from the top administration and all teachers follow the rules also.

[Chris Burwell]

We don't have one policy for storing the laptops at lunch time. Teachers have just sort of worked it out among themselves. Some teachers who share classes cooperate very well with one another, others can't for various reasons. If our students have to take the devices to the lunchroom (and the gym) they have a place in the yard and the gym to lay their bookbags down. In the yard, a school aide stands near them to keep an eye on them. Our students report to the Auditorium before lunch. We are exploring the possibility of having the devices left in the locked auditorium and picked up at the end of the lunch. This doesn't help with charging them, but that is not an issue right now.

[Charles Boyce]

In our school (IS 218) I let the teachers take ownership of the management of the laptop movement. Some "teams" move the carts and others let the students take the laptops from class to class.

The laptops do not move to lunch or gym. Most teachers freely give up a few minutes of their time to allow students to store their laptops. (Their idea) We have had very few problems with scheduling. I think this is because each team has been given the freedom to develop their own plan.

Charles Boyce
Technology Coach, IS 218

[Sandra Bynum]

Because we are a Special Education site we do not face the problems that other schools have with transition.
Our students do not travel with devices, the carts are stationery in each class. We do have a Mouse Squad, these students help with issues within their perspective classroom and with special events in the building. We are looking to create 8th grade interns who could possibly be allowed to travel with their laptops, this would be based on their behavior and how they are doing academically and their attendance is an important part. I saw this done at 339 in the Bronx where they have High School interns. We think this will help our students with their social skills, become more responsible and create a student interest in these type of posiitions.

[John Sorocco]

Each academy in the school is managing the laptops differently. On the third floor the policy is that the laptops are distributed in homeroom and collected in PM homeroom. On the other floors we have tried to work out arrangements to put the laptops back to the carts during the lunch period.

There are problems inherent in putting the laptops back in the carts for lunch. For example, in one case the homeroom teacher is scheduled to teach on the first floor. As a result, the room is empty. Two days a week I supervise the ISquad, If I am not available, the students are not supervised.

We can not have students lose intruction time and can not be in rooms unsupervised. There are a number of teachers who are willing to help out and others who will not give one minute of their time. In a discussion that I has with the AP on the third floor, he said that the school is only as good as the weakest link. This was in response to my statement that his policy of requiring all teachers to follow a his policy. I argued that his policy discourages the more ambitious teachers.

The teaching schedule does not always meet the needs of the Iteach/Ilearn program.

[Gloria Nelson]

Our students travel with their laptops all day except at lunch. We have a 30 laptop cart in the gym for storage during gym class. Students return their laptops to homeroom before lunch to recharge them. Each class has monitors who assist with taking out and putting the laptops away. So far it is working well because we are a small school and most Middle School classrooms are located on one floor.