Do the Math

Posted by Kate Olson on May 12th, 2008

25 desktop computers
+ 29 6th graders
+ 1 frustrated but trying-to-be-perky teacher (me)
+ 6 laptops (to fill in the gap)
- 8 nonfunctioning computers (that won’t get fixed until summer)
- 3 nonfunctioning laptops (that will probably never get fixed)
+ 3 additional stopgap laptops
- 2 nonfunctioning stopgap laptops (won’t even ASK to get them fixed this year)
+ 1 online keyboarding program
- enough bandwidth to actually LOAD the program
+ 1 offline keyboarding program
- 8 computers that didn’t get the program loaded at the beginning of the year

= The reason technology classes make most “regular” teachers want to scream

Note - these are ALL Macs, before you Mac-fans jump in and tell me what my problem is!

Honestly, I’m the most devoted technology advocate out there, but seriously, sometimes you just need to know when to throw in the towel. I have 3 students using AlphaSmarts (can you BELIEVE that? archaic) and all the students bring books to read while their computers load because it’s SO SLOW. I’m at the point where I really think these students might be better served by spending their time back in their language arts class. I know, I know - defeatist attitude, but we’re 4 weeks away from the end of the school year and this just isn’t working. To all of you with WORKING technology right now, lean down right now and kiss it - go ahead, do it.

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Darren Draper said,

May 12, 2008 @ 3:30 pm

Looks like the first thing you’ll need to teach your students is how to share - computers, that is.

Darren Drapers last blog post..New Music, 21st Century Style

Cathy Nelson said,

May 12, 2008 @ 4:59 pm

Kate, sounds like a hardware infrastructure problem as well as the downhill slide into who cares b/c summer is upon us.

Cathy Nelsons last blog post..Not on the Test

dkzody said,

May 13, 2008 @ 6:40 pm

I have always said that if a regular classroom teacher had to teach in a computer lab everyday, they would probably quit. I have worked in not one, but up to 3 computer labs a day for 19 years. Right now I have two classes in a PC lab and 2 classes, including yearbook, in my wonderful MAC lab. Give me a lab full of MACs any day.

dkzodys last blog post..Lights, camera, well, you get the picture

Chad L. said,

May 16, 2008 @ 1:27 pm

In our district about 5-8 years ago, the computers went to crap. They were old, not working, and generally useless for anything other than word processing and a few MECC games. Our teacher were frustrated when they tried to take kids and the lab and do anything online. The frustration grew to the point where they said “Forget it!” I agree totally with this post.

A few years ago, our district went through a major hardware upgrade and we have computers that work. However, some people who lost interest in using the technology, haven’t regained their faith.

Chad L.s last blog post..Happiness is a Puppy

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