Both schools have been part of a pilot study using Compaq laptops and a rechargeable cabinet. Castlehill were in the first phase and St. John’s, Rosyth, in the second phase. Both schools have moved the laptops between their upper primary classes, but have kept them in one class for a term each. Their observations have been invaluable in establishing where laptops add value to the curriculum, to classroom management and to the specification for the new laptops in Fife's framework agreement.

Castlehill Primary

St. John's Primary

Conclusion

Issues Arising

 

 

 

Castlehill Primary

Castlehill is a large primary approaching 700 pupils. Groups of four classrooms share a central area and are linked by a corridor to the rest of the school. The laptop trolley was kept for a term each in two upper primary classes.

 

Quotes from Castlehill

Children have really developed computer skills very quickly and their enthusiasm for working with them is outstanding.
.They were a definite plus in the classroom but they require a lot of teacher time.
The Touch Pad got in the way when using the keyboard for typing.
Children sometimes forget to save onto their disc which makes printing awkward.
The batteries are unreliable (the original batteries were replaced).
I really like the laptops because we use these creative clip arts and writing all the time that makes it much more interesting. (Carrie)
The laptops are fun. The mouse is a lot easier than the Touch Pad and the laptops are annoying at times. (Lisa)
I love the laptops but hate the Touch Pad. (Tony)

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Primary is an open plan school which has no spare accommodation to host an IT suite, therefore a set of 10 laptops and a rechargeable trolley was an ideal way of seeing whether or not laptops were preferable to desktops in these circumstances. The P6 and P7 classes had a term’s use followed by P5 and P6. Unlike Castlehill the battery problems were not as noticeable as, by then, a new set had been installed. However, the Touch Pad issue was a concern and the recent arrival of a set of mice was supported by a technician reconfiguring the laptops to make the Touch Pad inactive.

Quotes from St. John’s

I like the laptop because you can carry it around where you want it. (Amy)
I found out it sometimes doesn’t shut down properly. (David)
There are lots to share and they are portable, but sometimes the Touch Pad jams. (Kelley)
I think the laptop computers are good because people get more fun and it makes more pcs for more children. (Craig)
I like how the laptops are small and you can take them on trips. I don’t like the Touch Pad it is hard to control. (Kathleen)

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion Children prefer using a mouse to the Touch Pad. Note The Fujitsu Siemens laptops in our framework agreement have a longer battery life and the Touch Pad is deactivated automatically as soon as a mouse is attached.

 

 

 

 

 

Issues Arising

Battery life depends on whether or not users are accessing the floppy drive or a CD-ROM. If they do there is a significant reduction in the battery charge.

As soon as a laptop is connected to a mains supply it starts to recharge.

Teachers should expect a maximum of a half a school day’s use on battery, therefore if they are to be used all day be prepared to use them connected to the mains supply.

Should pupils carry the laptops to their desk or should this be a teacher’s responsibility?

How many pupils should work at a laptop? Owing to the screen’s properties the maximum is two with one pupil being the preferred arrangement.

Storage and security is crucial. Investigations are underway as to the range of products on the market offering storage in locked portable cabinets incorporating a rechargeable battery arrangement.

Once networked, printing will be a lot easier, so too will the saving and loading of files.

5 - 14 Focus