Planning on getting Comps for my School

[JonathanJace]

Hey guys, i'm planning on purchasing about 20 new dell dimension 3100 for my school so they can have a technology lab of some sort. ( PLZ no dell flame wars)

The reason i'm going dell is because they offer free flat panels with the computers and i know these comps are not going to get killed with task intensive apps.

My question to you is: What should we do with these computers? Aside from 101 classes, what are some fun ideas for all types of grades K-8? I just dont want the lab going to waste, so i'm hoping you guys can help me out. Thanks

 

[Accipiter22]

pr0n

 

[Accipiter22]

hmmmm honestly....what about some basic programming courses, after you do the 101, and a keyboarding class of course, if that's not covered in 101

 

[JonathanJace]

lol.. oi pr0n, that's what's going to end up happening isnt it? lol

Aside from programming and stuff, how could the lab be used to teach and at the same time have fun... I'm thinking maybe discovery channel HD content...
aiming at more interactive and informational stuff than the original learning we do everyday.

 

[tynopik]

> what are some fun ideas for all types of grades K-8?

computers should never be used with these grades in school

they become either
1) a babysitter
2) a powerpoint clipart fest
3) a way for students to get in trouble
4) an IT nightmare

total of waste of resources, time and classroom space

the only exception is a keyboarding class for 7-8th graders

 

[Pepsi90919]

don't say comps for starters

 

[esun]

Originally posted by: JonathanJace
Hey guys, i'm planning on purchasing about 20 new dell dimension 3100 for my school so they can have a technology lab of some sort. ( PLZ no dell flame wars)

The reason i'm going dell is because they offer free flat panels with the computers and i know these comps are not going to get killed with task intensive apps.

My question to you is: What should we do with these computers? Aside from 101 classes, what are some fun ideas for all types of grades K-8? I just dont want the lab going to waste, so i'm hoping you guys can help me out. Thanks

With the earlier grades, I'd say you're going to be stuck with educational software. There isn't much a 3rd grader can do with a computer besides that. Maybe find some educational websites, install some educational software, and those guys are set.

For the older grades, particularly 7-8th, I would say an HTML course would be feasible. Easy to learn, instant results, and for advanced students, teach basic scripting, which then leads into real programming. If you can set up one of those machines as a server and give kids subdomains or something like that, then I think you could really get some interest going in technology.

EDIT: Oh, and don't make kids take a typing course if they know how to type. I remember "learning" how to type in elementary school after having been taught by my dad, so I just sat around typing 50WPM while kids were still hunt-and-peck typing.