Aktuelle Version vom 26. Mai 2009, 11:57 Uhr

Ann-Kathrin Krappmann and Eva Melber

Thursday, 07.05.09

Having a laptop?

We would like to have laptops in class and at home for ourselves because...

• no need for worksheets, pads and folders anymore (lighter school bags)
• you´ve got all your things with you ==> you'll never forget anything and surprises in changing lessons are no problem
• more orderly homework
• chatting with classmate would be much easier
• working on exercises on pc ????

Use of it

• subjects you can use it in well: German, English, Latin, Maths, Biology, History, Geography
• use it for essays (easier to read than handwritings of some pupils) and other homework
• graphs can be drawn very easily ==> easier to imagine their look as just with a few points

Working with it

• Yes, searching the internet is faster and easier than looking up in books and libraries
• No, search-engines give too many websites
• No, information in the internet could be not right, just silly

Problems

• some pupils will defnetly play instead of learning during the lessons
• doing your homework not by yourself would be very easy...
• problems with using the laptop: writing with ten fingers, difficult software, low battery
• pornography and violence videos can be distributed faster among the children

Thirsday, 26.05.09

Testing Critera for a laptop at school:

Design/Durability/Usage/Limitations of Hardware:

• Powering up --> 4 takes too much time
• Typing --> 5 small keyboard
• Screen --> 2 is very good readable, less reflection, but too small
• Battery + Charging (how long does it last, how long does charging take) --> we don't charge it
• Touchpad --> 3 strange feeling(material)
• Lid --> 1- (easy to close or to open)
• Readability of internet pages -->3+ (screen too small --> scrolling a lot to read the whole page)
• "droptest"/durability of case and lid?
• enough RAM / disk-space for new pograms? --> 4 (saving the programsn on usb sticks)

Use in Classroom - Transport in school

• special transport box? --> 2 (you can transport many laptops in one box)
• weight --> 2 (small laptop, little weight)
• easy to charge/link to charging bay? --> we don't know

===Working together - exchanging results/data ....=== no idea

Opportunities/requirements/Limitations of Software:

• free software --> 1 (no costs)
• how to stop distraction/abuse .... --> 5 (pupils are more cleverer than teachers may think...)
• how to protect data and installation

Price/Availability/Service?

• What price - what do you get compared to other netbooks?
• service? how fast/ 24 months guarantee or longer? / battery included in guarantee?

Tuesday, 12.05.09 and Monday,18.05.09

Problems with the "Classmate-Laptop"

• pupils use it to exchange answers in tests
• pupils download pornography
• hack into local business or school administration
• found way around network-security and put how-to into the web
• pc´s break down
• servers break down very often
• pupils don´t ask teachers for help, try to help themselves by using the internet ==> breaking down of system/server/etc due to overload
• PC isn´t helpful in educating students (no effects on test scores)
• abused by pupils (downloading of pornography/illegal websites)
• don´t fit into lesson plans
• logistical, technical problems (e.g. should every pupil get a laptop or just those who come from deprived families?)
• teachers have to know how to use laptops ==> have to be trained ==> costs for seminars
• most of the pupils never used their laptop for learning

Effects/Influence/Use

• no/little use and effect on test scores
• many schools give laptops back again
• no differences between students that used educational software and those who did not
• high costs (buying the laptops/repairing them/ courses for training teachers in teaching with them)