1:1 Portable PC Labsin K-6 Schools

by Stu Hasic – September 2010

Case study video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-UR8nSuEs

Getting the Netbooks• http://tinyurl.com/derpurchase• Model No. 3507-A21• Cost (currently) $480.19 ex GST• Order directly from Lenovo via email– (pcanzord_au@lenovo.com)

Getting the Trolley• http://tinyurl.com/deraccesories • Model: PCLocs Revolution 16• Part No. 78Y5275• Cost (currently) $1,744.05 ex GST• Order directly from Lenovo– (pcanzord_au@lenovo.com)

Getting Wireless Access Points(one per trolley purchased)

• http://tinyurl.com/hpmsm410ww• Model: HP Procurve MSM410ww with One

Port Power Injector (Supported by Sydney Region ITSU)

• Part No. J9427B + J9407A• Cost (currently) $458 ex GST• Order directly from MatrixCNI– (Andrew Ratcliffe – 1300 850 400)

Getting USB Mice(one per netbook purchased - OPTIONAL)

• http://tinyurl.com/dermouse (one example)

• Part No. Tecom SF-8167 • Cost (currently) $8 inc GST (consumable item)

• Order directly from AnyPC.com.au• NOTE: Lenovo have USB mice

for $16.71 ex GST

Doing the Sums (one trolley)• One trolley fully kitted out:– PCLocs Revolution 16 Trolley– 15 Lenovo DER Netbooks (half a class)– HP Wireless Access– 15 USB Mice (approximate price)

• $1744 + $7203 + $458 + $115• Total = $9,520 ex GST (x2 for full class)

Important Preparations• Optimally condition every battery!– Fully charge & drain each battery 3 times

• Organise a class booking schedule• ALLOCATE each student the same laptop

each time• Have a process for reporting problems

with individual netbooks

Important Preparations• Name each netbook appropriately– xxxxNETBOOK001 (where xxxx is school code)

– Label each bay in the trolley according to each netbook name

– Mark a Netbook number against each student on the class roll

– Have a contingency plan for PC failures

Important Preparations• Setup Wireless Security on your WAPs– WPA2 with Pre-Shared Key– Use Sydney Region IT Services to get

Supportable standards• Mount your WAP and Power Injector on

a board for easy connection and setup• Label everything!

Important Preparations• Buy a Power Timer for each trolley– Don’t just plug them into power all night

every night!– Only charge for about 4 hours– Don’t charge if the trolley was

not used at all that day– This will extend battery life

Set Rules and Guidelines• All teachers and students need to

understand how the Portable PC Lab works and how it should be used– Provide clear instructions and rules

• Sample Classroom Netbook Use Procedures

For What Purpose?• Why do you want a portable PC Lab?• Where will trolleys be stored?• What can netbooks reasonably do?• How long will a session be?• What will the clear goals be for each

netbook session?

Software? Sharing? Printing?• Beyond the pre-installed software,

what else do you need? And Why?• Is access to the school’s server needed?• Is printing required? – If yes, to which printer? Who manages

printing when 30 students in a class print at the same time?

Factor in the Future!

• These netbooks have 2 years’ warranty. How long do you hope they’ll last?– Buying into 1:1 is not a one-off cost– Is there a replacement budget?– Batteries are consumables - $75 each!– Evaluate, assess and reposition!

Questions?

• Of course. Who’s going to spend $20,000 or more without asking questions?