K-8 Computer Lab Teachers

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Permalink Reply by Alice Mercer on May 12, 2008 at 7:50pm

I will be and will likely do some live webcasts from Bloggers' Cafe for Ed Tech Talk. Have you all signed up on the Classroom 2.0 live page at http://www.edubloggercon.com/NECC+2008?

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Permalink Reply by Mercy on May 7, 2008 at 12:42pm

Hi All!
I'm new to this site but I was just thrilled to find it! I work in a public school in Alhambra, California. My school has about 1000 students. We are a K-8 school and have a computer lab with 40 new iMacs. K-5th grades visit my lab once a week. K-2nd for 30 minutes and 3rd-5th atleast 50 minutes weekly. Grades 6-8th utilize our 2 mobile labs of 30 laptop MacBooks each, in the classrooms. Each teacher, 47 total, has an iBook laptop assigned to them for use throughout the year.

I want to thank everyone for so many great ideas. This is my 4th year teaching here and I feel like I'm finally starting to make some progress with teachers and students. All our hardwork is starting to pay off!
I look forward to continuing to learn with you all.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Tue on May 10, 2008 at 6:53am

Hello. Image my surprise as I was researching for my Master's that I came across this site. I wish I knew about this site 5 years ago when I first started teaching in the computer lab. I would love to join this group and learn what other computer lab teachers are doing.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on June 2, 2008 at 6:34am

Help!!! I am working on storing classroom computers over the summer. Currently my classroom teachers place the computers in black garbage bags and put them in the closet or on a tv cart in an NON-Air Conditioned classroom which often reaches 90° or above and is excessively humid (I am in Chicago). I have already tried to request that they be kept in an airconditioned room over the summer to no avail. I need ideas or is the garbage bag our best solution??? They have used this because it was believed to keep out moisture and dust, but each year 2-4 computers fry when restarted in the fall.
Thanks!
Desperate,
Chrissy

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Permalink Reply by Carl on June 4, 2008 at 6:47am

My question would be, are the computers being cleaned internally before being used in the fall? My home computer gets blown out 3-4 times a year, most school computers never get cleaned -- dust is a bigger enemy than the storage heat, the dust in the computer attracts the moisture which corrodes connections, etc.

Its not the dust on the computer that causes problems, its what is inside. The bag will not keep out moisture unless there is a drying agent put in the bag and it is sealed airtight.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on June 5, 2008 at 6:24am

Unfortunately I think in the past they have not been blown out. Since this is my first year I was thinking about the internal dust but wasn't sure how it is normally cleaned out. I could use your expertise.

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Permalink Reply by Carl on June 8, 2008 at 5:30pm

If you have never taken the cover off of a computer, its time to learn. Most newer computers have screws w/knobs, (older computers have screws and you will need a cross-head screw driver, sometimes called Phillips), that are easy to take off, then the cover will come off.. some easier than others, I suggest taking one computer cover off and practicing putting it back on so you become familiar with that part of cleaning.

It would be nice if the district supplied you w/canned air for cleaning, but if they don't, just use a vaccum cleaner, (new bag please), and connect the hose to the blowing side, not suction. Then just blow the dust bunnies away from the internal parts.

Warning, this is going to be messy if they have never been cleaned -- buy a dust mask and use it.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on August 5, 2008 at 11:26am

Thanks. Unfortunately my school will not buy more than one canned air because of the dangers to students and that won't come close to cleaning all the computers. Believe it or not I know how to change out most pieces inside the computer but have only used a can to clean it. I will use the vaccum idea thx.

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Permalink Reply by Nita on August 31, 2008 at 3:34pm

Jeremiah
Hats off to you for starting off this discussion joint for technology teachers. I am in my second year of teaching. I was in a Grade 4 classroom last year and this year will be starting off as the computer teacher/network manager for our school. Overwhelmed with apprehensions, I find this site to be an excellent spot for the resolution of a lot of my worries. In fact, I've already started to feel better with some people's ideas. In the state of panic that I'm in, any suggestions/advice would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Nita.

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Permalink Reply by Chrissy on September 26, 2008 at 7:02am

Urgent help: Is anyone using Kidpix in their schools? Our lab is XP and we are using Kidpix deluxe 4 but this summer we changed our users from administrator to poweruser and Kidpix is no longer working properly. Is their any other software or online site you know that might be more capatible with XP but be similiar to this program?

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Permalink Reply by Vicky S on September 26, 2008 at 9:40am

Try Tux Paint if you want to install something on the computers or Kerpoof if you want to use something online.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Lee on September 26, 2008 at 10:43pm

That's odd that modern applications won't run under a standard user account. I run a lab full of kidpix deluxe under power users accounts. In any case, in an pinch, there is a FREEWARE program called STEEL RUN AS that will let you run that program as an administrator while the rest of computer under a regular user or power user account on XP.
http://www.steelsonic.com/steelrunas.htm

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