Choosing Tablets

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:36:08 GMT

Tablet PC's are much more expensive than an equivalent laptop. So why not just get a load more laptops?

The reason for going for Tablets is that they are the main computer for that member of staff. The teacher can prepare work, simplify the administration, as they can do with a laptop but with a Tablet PC they can use it for a secondary job.

We decided to use the tablet to act as an interactive board (Along with a projector of course). As the teacher writes on the the tablet it appears on the screen. The teacher is not in the way of the projector and the image can be as big as the screen allows. The teacher can bring in video, sound ........ in fact anything that the interactive whiteboard can do a tablet can do as well. With the added advantage of not being limited by the size of a board.

This then makes the total cost (Tablet and Projector) less than the cost of an IWB (Interactive Whiteboard), projector and computer to run it. It also means that the technology much efficiently used. Less time sitting switched off as its used for more than one purpose.

Our next stage is to install wireless projectors. These will then mean that the signal from the tablet will be carried to the projector without a cable. Freeing the teacher to be anywhere in the classroom.

Once the pupils have the UMPC's then anyone's work can be put up on the screen.

A truly interactive, collaborative school?

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A new Frontier

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:31:29 GMT

Well I have finally admitted that I DO need to Blog about what is happening in Islay High School (I think its rapped Andrew)

As a School of Ambition and Excellence we are some way down the route of these 4 strands

1. Developing the leadership potential and capacity of the whole school, Staff and Pupils

2. Introducing Vocational Courses to the curriculum

3. Removing the age and stage restrictions from the certificated courses.

4. Developing the use of ICT to support the curriculum

I am heavily involved with the ICT strand so that is what I will be talking about mainly. Though, of course, the other strands will be brought in as well.

So what are we planning in the ICT Strand?

Every Teacher has a Tablet PC

A wireless network

Wireless Projectors in every teaching area

A presentation space in the Assembly Hall

A Media Server

A Class Server

Existing courses digitised

S1 'Benchmarked' for IC3 Giving them individual curriculum in S1/2

Once these are in place then give every pupil a UMPC computer

All of these are in Partnership with Microsoft and Dell. Maybe more partners in the future

We have just started down this route. I am sure we will have lots of challenges ahead.

I am hoping anyone who reads this will come forward with ideas and suggestions.

So what do you think?............

Ian

Ian's Space: Computers and Internet

Choosing Tablets

A new Frontier