Kent ICT Blog

We've never had an ICT suite. The original reason for this was because we didn't have a spare room in which to have one.

However, having had wireless laptops for many years, we love the flexibility... we book out the trolley of machines as and when we need them and are able to use them within any curriculum subject in our rooms. They're used for discrete ICT as well as to support work in other lessons.

Personally, I'm glad that we don't have a suite. I wouldn't like to be tied to visiting the suite at only fixed times of the day / week.

The vision for many schools I'm working with now is 1:1 personal access for all pupils, both at home and at school.

This '21st Century pencil case' is achievable by leading the way as a school in providing an opportunity for all pupils to have a portable device to aid their learning.  This is usually funded through regular parental voluntary donations, and we help schools manage provision for those on low incomes. Our charity provides advice, support, services and often grant funding - see www.e-learningfoundation.com

We have 348 schools running projects with us, and they all report that the flexibility of portable devices is a key part of what they're achieving - enabling more personalised learning, and using ICT smoothly throughout the curriculum.  Some schools are still keeping their ICT suites for more specialist work (usually more memory/software intensive uses, such as design packages).  I hope that helps!

Good question! Where do we get help with solution and route forward? Every school seems to have its own circumstances that means there will be lots of different answers to this.

Our solution is mix and match:

We are now upgrading from RM CC3 to CC4. We have also brought into the existing 16 PC suite, 16 laptops that were being used elsewhere - but with some failing batteries - it seemed a good move to put them in the ICT suite where they can be permanently plugged in to the mains. It also meant the suite can now be used by on 1:1 child/computer ratio.

Then we have gone for netbooks (160gb, 6 cell battery, 10" screens) which the replacement laptop battery costs have funded over 1/3 of the  cost of each machine. These are being used as non-network machines (which will increase updating workload) but they avoid cost of more network licences.

Overall we are making a significant impact on improving the pupil:computer ratios. This will help as we bring more children onto the VLE.

We have also worked on improving existing network stations by increasing their ram - a relatively cheap route to make best use of existing equipment in the suite, assuming it works!

If all of this works - the suite will have an improved value and the decision about retaining it or changing its use can be avoided for another year or two (until we need to replace the work stations).

The answer seems to be as elusive as 'Which IWB should we buy?'

We have had 2 suites for about 7 years but very soon realised that we could not manage the needs of curriculum suport only in the suites. They are now used and timetabled for ICT skills teaching and the rest of the time we have banks of laptops and an IWB in each classroom. At present we have 6 laptops per class, but I would like to bring the number up to at least one between two! However, with 364 pupils this does represent quite an investment. We have loaned the laptops and can reinstate the loan every 4 years to update, but it is a massive amount to find!