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Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Improving the Student:Computer Ratio
When Greg Young, technology director at the Dallas, Texas-area Rylie Family Faith Academies, began working at the school, he had an enormous challenge. He had to figure out how to buy enough computers to serve every student.
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
CDI Computer Dealers Helps Virginia School District
From RedOrbit.com
CDI Computer Dealers Helps Virginia School District Provide Technology Resources for 4,700 Students Adoption of 300 Refurbished Computers Provides $230,000 in Savings to Louisa County Public Schools and Enables 2:1 Ratio of Students to PCs

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Friday, March 28, 2008
CDI Doubles Capacity for Recycling and Reselling Information Technology
CDI Doubles Capacity for Recycling and Reselling Information Technology Markham, Ontario, March 25, 2008 – CDI Computer Dealers, Inc. (CDI), one of the largest independent re-marketers of IT equipment in North America, today announced the opening of a new, 64,000-square foot processing facility in Toronto that more than doubles its capacity to recycle and remarket technology assets.
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Poll
What prevents you from reaching all your technology goals for the year?  





Results

Question #7 - Netbooks

7. Please share any thoughts you have about adopting netbooks into your schools.

 
1 Great alternative for special classroom projects but the small display can be a problem for Internet browsing. If they provide a full page display of a website it would make them for user friendly. Battery life/ replacement is also another important factor.
2 Not appropriate for my students and have no need at this time.
3 We are already using MAC E books in the High School on a limited basis of 40.
4 Netbooks would not be what we would be looking for simply because they can walk too easily.
5 Being a Windows based environment, it is imperative to us to make sure the computers have a Windows compatible environment. We are slowly adopting more portables into our classrooms, but haven't been completely sold on the netbooks yet. Of course as the technology advances, I'm sure this is something we will look at in a year or two.
6 In our district we are planning for a one-to-one implementation at the secondary student level. We are in the planning stages and are looking at possible vendors. The netbook line fits the bill for this type of implementation based on price and functionality. We anticipate a small pilot occurring in the next school year.
7 Cost to fix them is more, if they are not under warranty. Most times you have to send them back.
8 Great idea. probably will move to these instead of full size laptops as we continue our 1-to-1 programs.
9 Would not do so until we had evaluated their functionality and identified a target for implementation.
10 Perhaps we'd look at them if we had the funds.
11 We are looking at pricing now for a notebook mobile lab.
12 I wish I could sell all the technology I have and provide a netbook for each student.
13 My thoughts about this are negative. I have several students with vision problems and I have one student with a medical condition that requires a certain type monitor so I fell that the netbooks would be inappropriate for some students. And unfortunately, in a school setting, if someone's computer is drastically different, that's the computer that every student would want to use!
14 I would consider it if they are built very strong.
15 We're actually trying out three types of notebooks (HP, Dell, Acer) to see if they meet our districts needs. We're targeting all students in grades K-8 with special consideration for SPED students.
16 We try to avoid purchasing notebooks.
17 Nice idea for younger learners and 'teaching moments'. Not really useable at higher grades. Difficult working in a domain environment. Pushes wireless connectivity advancement and that can be a costly investment.
18 Must be durable, cost-effective; at least 1 Gig of Ram or higher; average processor in comparison to today's speed of computers; at least 80 gigs of Hard drive space.
19 Would love to adopt but school budget will not alow a larger purchase of this nature.
20 I think they are a much more viable option than Neo's or AlphaSmarts.
21 We haven't given these much consideration (yet).
22 Need to test some out before making a decision about adopting. I like tiny, ruggedized, and cheap - but need to know their capabilities and/or their limitations. Will it meet our needs?
23 Our school is considering a 1 to 1 initiative. The smaller notebooks would be our choice with plenty of hard drive space to load all of a student's electronic tectbooks and wireless of course. Battery length would be crucial too.
24 We already use them - Dell and MAc full size. We are currently evaluating the smaller units
25 -Schools seem to want this type of thing more and more and it does allow for the option of not having to sit in a computer lab that may not be available when needed. -Most schools are not designed for desktop computers and therefore take alot of work to bring them up to what is required for those desktops. -limited for being able to upgrade as compared with desktops -more expense to fix typically -portable devices tend to break more from handling -smaller/portable computers are the future
26 We've looked at some and may think about using these in a 1 to 1 ratio scenario. A lot of thought needs to be given as to what the main use for the laptop will be to see if the hardware is adequate.
27 The overwhelming concern we have with netbooks is BATTERY LIFE. It is pointless to have a smaller footprint; lesser performance; no CD/DVD; small or non existent hard drive;etc...if the battery won't last longer than full-sized units. Otherwise we may as well go with a standard-size laptop.
28 We have been evaluating them, but have found that there are serious limitations still to be conquered. - battery life - windows xp home vs windows XP pro (ability to join a domain) - Solid State Drives - not big enough for our software images However, there is great potential for one-to-one computing....
29 At this time, I still prefer a traditional computer. Notebooks or netbooks are easily stolen, dropped, hidden etc.
30 I would like to know what the connectivity properties are. It would be important that they could connect to the Internet and our network printers.
31 Very interested
32 No plans to purchase netbooks.
33 We are looking at notebooks for our older kids. Currently we use NEO's for our younger kids. The biggest problem we see with laptops is battery life and then issues with how to charge them during the day.
34 We are considering this route with our K - 2 building. Concern is that will they run the current windows software and still provide an efficient network atmosphere.
35 I am interested in implementing them in my school, but need more data and user opinions before I would roll them out. If a quality netbook can be made with the correct hardware configurations at a reasonable price, I see these being used in the K-6
36 I like notebooks, but I don't like the fragility off them. They get dropped, knocked off of desks, and the keys on the keyboards aren't as durable as I'd like.
37 We have no need for these types of laptops. Ours are already used to normal sized laptops, and they would just complain about the size.
38 The biggest hurdle here is cost. I feel that issuing netbooks to all stundents levels the playing field as far as everyone has the same tool to create projects or take notes. I just wish your company sold Macs
39 Typically these systems are too small or underpowered for our use. However, we have a couple of the 10" ASUS systems and are very pleased.
40 At this point we do not have the funds, and the kids are too hard on the laptops that we do have.
41 This would be a great thing to implement if we were in a budget condition to expand and add MORE computers. We are not currently able to do this.
42 We have looked at the netbooks but don't like the smaller screen size. We are trying to reduce maintenance and management overhead due to reduced technology staffing. That is why we are currently looking at Thin-Client Laptops. They still have the standard screen size. The battery will last almost twice as long as a standard latop battery. The software is installed once and everything is managed at the Terminal Server.
43 At this time I don't see us making a purchase in this area. Economic situation has cut our teck budget to near nothing. Hopefully in an improved economy these type units could be considered.
44 We are replacing our desktops with notebooks... the notebook can be charged over night. They can be transported from class to class as needed. We have purchased 3 Computer Carts with about 96 laptops from CDI and we are very pleased
45 We have a few already being used in the Math Department, excellent idea
46 We have been considering netbooks due to the ablility to swap them out with little trouble if they are damaged and also the low cost of machines.
47 Have been part of a one-to-one laptop program for sixth graders over the last few years. Small, fast, and cheap would certainly be a bonus. 9" screens may be a bit too small for anyone to stare at for an extended perioid of time though.
48 We have purchased about 50 laptops in the past year, however I think we would rather have a used full featured laptop as opposed to a new smaller device.
49 We would be in a position to buy 2 classroom sets of 25 and the docking station, portability cart.
50 9" screen to small - too easy to steal. I would never buy them.
51 We do not have any Netbooks as of yet. We are concerned about security with them and we are still in the process of getting rid of all of our 98 machines.
52 Notebooks would be a nice feature, but not one that I would consider extremely important. I believe that mobile carts with laptops would spend much idle time in the school. Fully equipped labs with desktops are, in my opinion, much better utilization of resources. Unless we can get to the point of a laptop for every student, I don't see laptops being as effective as stationary desktops.
53 Would not be practical at the high school level.
54 I think that these netbooks are a good solution to the classroom computer issue.
55 keyboard and screen size would be an issue -
56 am considering purchasing for elementary
57 I think with the smaller keyboard you lose alot of the typing skills that will be needed later in the job market.
58 I think they are benefical to the school environment
59 We are interested but unsure how to apply them in our classrooms at this point
60 We would not consider this in our school. We have computer labs set up for any student PK-6 and the netbooks do not have enough memory for what our kids need.
61 We are piloting use with Special Education students to replace Alphasmart devices.
62 I would love to have laptops for my students to use and since cost is a factor, I would welcome these.
63 I do not believe the higher ups are interested at this time in getting portable units in the younger student's hands. They are worried about damage.
64 The keys are to easily removed. This is a major problem with laptops.
65 As the cost continues to come down we will be looking into netbooks, especially in the earlier grades. One concern is how sturdy they are built as the primary use would be with yonger children.
66 At this time PC's are the preference.
67 I think that the screen is too small. The younger kids have a problem with regualr size keyboards much less reducing the size of them.
68 The cost per student would be too high - most classes have 20+ students and small schools are on a fixed budget.
69 I do not know enough about them for quality input. Initial response would be sceptical at best.
70 none at this time
71 Strong possibilities
72 For our school, being a technical school these would not be of use.
73 They seem too small for any other level than elementary. The price point still seems a bit high compared to a full sized laptop.
74 We are planning a 1 to 1 project utilizing netbooks or laptops
75 I think it would be great.
76 yes I would use these in the classroom
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