Wednesday
May212008
Classroom technology infrastructure: what's needed?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 09:40AM 
I've been playing around with the best way to present to the architect the information/technology infrastructure needed in our new elementary school's learning spaces, especially the classrooms. The diagram above (larger tiff file here) represents my thinking to date, but it seems less than visionary.
Here are some questions I have...
- Do we need a standard classroom floor plan because of technology? In other words, does the teacher's desk, the front of the room, the IWB, etc. need to be in the same location more or less permanently in each classroom?
- Do we consider equipment like document cameras, student response systems, and remote slates add-ons, or infrastructure? In other words, does the design of the classroom need to take these soon to be ubiquitous tools into consideration?
- Do we need an electrical grid in floor? While students and teachers may be using wireless internet access and laptop computers, to date, the batteries do not last the length of a school day. CAN WE ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR EXTENSION CORDS WITH A LITTLE FORESIGHT?
- Do we need computer network drops on all walls? Yes, we will be putting in wireless, but at what point in the future will wireless offer the robustness, bandwidth and security needed for things like online testing or online photo/video editing, and video streaming? How many of these drops need to be homeruns back to switches in closets? Can we somehow eliminate in-room dumb hubs?
- Can ALL the wires coming into the classroom be Ethernet? Can voice, data and video converge into a single set of wires? What happens if the "one" wire connection is lost? Do we need some kind of redundancy?
- Can we use a single amplifier and set of speakers for all sound sources - teacher voice, student voice, video, telephone, computer, etc.? Do we need both a TV set and an data projector? Where and how do we place a television receiver so channels can be selected? Do the cost of LCD projector lamps make having a TV and projector still economically wise?
- How sophisticated does the video output from the classroom need to be? Will a built-in camera using Skype meet most needs or will a small, separate CODEC and camera be needed?
Reader Comments (8)
Hi Doug,
The high school where I work as a Tech Support Rep was recently renovated and equipped with "standard classroom equipment" including a ceiling mounted projector, Audio Enhancement sound system, DVD/VCR combo player with TV tuner, built-in teacher computer desk with wall connections for cable TV and video inputs for the projector. The district has since updated the specification for "standard classroom equipment" to include a document camera, which I think would be very useful for the majority of teachers.
The only electronic white boards we have are not used as intended, although there are only a few and are three to eight years old.
Timing is everything. In our case, it was five years from planning to completion and the ceiling mounted projectors were not in the original plan. In most rooms it worked out ok, but in some, the lighting or air conditioning occupies the optimal location for the projector, so it is off center and/or too close to the wall. That said, it is wonderful to have the wiring in the ceiling.
The built-in teacher desk needs to be carefully considered. In some rooms, it ended up as a triangular desk facing the corner. That is not the optimal position for the teacher who wants to see what is going on in the classroom and exposes the computer screen to the students which is inadvisable when entering grades. We accomodate most of these poorly positioned desks by placing a regular teacher desk at an angle and moving the computer over to that desk. Wiring stretches a little, but it is better than having your back to the class. This does not work in a few science classrooms that have numerous wall mounted items like emergency showers, gas cutoff valves, power cutoff switches, and fire blankets.
I would recommend putting network drops in every room, even if you think it will be a closet. You never know when that closet may become someone's office. (Oh, and do remember to put power outlets in the closets, especially the ones that will house network equipment!! Oops.)
The DVD/VCR combo with TV tuner eliminates the need for a TV and the picture on the 60" wide pull down screen beats a TV hands down except in the classrooms with 12' high south-facing windows. These are art rooms and the natural light is great for working, but not great for viewing the projector image. (Curtains anyone?)
We did get the DVD/VCR combos a few years ago for under $100 each. With the new digital tuners, the cost is higher if you can find one with a tuner. In time the price and availability will improve.
A more recent purchase was two wireless laptop carts. We eliminated the short battery life problem by purchasing an extra external battery that also has the unintended benefit of tilting the laptop into a much more comfortable typing position. For the time being, the carts have a wireless access point on top that have to be plugged in to power and network on the wall.
The teachers really like the new technology and adjusted to it fairly quickly. Now they can't imagine doing without it. We still have a good number of teachers who use the old style overhead projectors, but I hope to get them onto tablets in the future.
Hope your planning goes well and the new building sets the new standard for technology.
PS - I was hired AFTER all the planning was done and after the renovation had begun. I just want to be clear that I wouldn't have put the teacher desks in the corner or forgotten power in the network closets. Also didn't specify the classroom with six bulletin boards and no white boards, or the construction tech classroom with computers and saws in the same room.
Sweat the details now, so you're not swearing about them later.
Hi Doug —
Regarding your question about amplifying all sound sources, the likely answer is yes, you can use a single system.Here's a guide which you might find helpful: Integration Tips. It's written for our product (FrontRow Pro Digital) but should apply in principle to most sound systems — the major exception being making temporary connections through the teacher mic aux-in. Sounds like a great project — have fun!
John
Hi Doug,
Your planning is right on target. We just built a new HS 2 years ago and have full multimedia systems integrated in every classroom. IWBs are in all Science, Math, and Business classrooms - but I am wondering if slates will get the others up to speed? We do not use TV's since we have our cable feed plugged into the DVD/VCR. All tv broadcasts are run through our projectors.
Our building is completely wireless, but I still have Ethernet and power jacks on every wall. The more power, the better! We are just beginning to dabble in video conferencing and Codecs are important for quality of service. This summer our teachers will be getting new laptops and every laptop will have a web cam built into it. So, if there isnt a codec in the classroom, skype and a web cam is a nice alternative. We do not have built in teacher stations but all inputs, voice amps, dvd/vcr are in "front" of the classroom. This works well since our Teachers have laptops. Some have moved their desks to the front of the classroom, some haven't. That choice is theirs.
One thing I wished I would have known early in planning is how OLL/ITV is starting to take place in our HS's. I feel our HS is a 21st Century building - but am wondering how accuracy of the following report will affect our classrooms?
Report: Half of High School Classes Could Be Online by 2019
If anything, I would plan for a few classrooms to be Hybrid ready - meaning ITV (Send/Receive) along with laptops or desktops to be used in online learning. I see this is an elementary building project so I am not sure how OLL will affect your students. But for staff development, it might be nice to have a premier training room. I do know that virtual fieldtrips are starting to be integrated more and more and with $4/gal gas, our kids will need other alternatives.
Since you will be coming my way in August(Byron, MN), I would be happy to show you a few of our classrooms. If I can offer you any advice. Do not solely rely on the engineers and architects to make the best decsion for you. This was a daunting process that required follow-up, follow-up, and more follow-up. Good Luck!
Hi Doug
I am a computer professional and I have been running computer networks in public High Schools for about 12 years. Were a big school system with many schools and lots and lots of computers. There is no question that advance planning helps when it comes to computer technology. I would also caution you to step back and remember that the hot items of today are trash tomorrow (please don’t tell me your computers still have floppy disks). We have had computers and internet in every classroom here for over a decade and I have installed and thrown out all sorts of stuff that was supposed to be “the wave of the future”.
I have to chuckle when I read some of the posts because some of the things they talk about and are so enamored with we have already tried and discarded. Here are a few points to ponder.
I don’t know why people are so in love with laptops. They are more expensive to purchase and support. You can buy all the batteries you want but if your going to use them all day your going to have to plug them in at some point to use them. I could go on but I’ll just “drop it”
I don’t like any equipment that is installed permanently in the room. I know that sometimes you can’t avoid it but I have whole multi media workstations with LCD projectors mounted to them that roll to any place you need them. I think flexibility is the key to getting it all to work. So give yourself some options and don’t paint yourself into a corner.
Computers are not always the answer. I thought we were here to teach the students and not use technology for technologies’ sake. Its getting to be a common problem, teachers are told they have to use the technology weather or not it improves the lesson or the students’ education. I’m sorry but using $3,500 of computer crap to replace a $60 overhead projector is just plain stupid.
The definition of paperless is: “print whenever you want…”. Printing is out of control. The more computers you have the more paper you will use, its just to easy to click that mouse.
Computers need furniture. Computer furniture is expensive. Swallow hard and buy the good furniture. Classroom workstations should be on wheels and computer labs should have 1 computer table (no wheels) for each computer (36”w x 30”d) with good wire management. Get chairs that are light weight on wheels and height adjustable. Computer labs get moved and rearranged. Good furniture will outlast many computer installations and computers that are not set up correctly on the correct furniture are generally less reliable and under utilized.
Finally, you will never have enough computers. Its not a question of need but one of convenience. When you need to do everything on a computer then you need a computer for everyone wherever they go. At some point you have to say NO and not try to put more computers where there is no more room for them. Computers cost money and they need space, furniture, electric, and network. I can’t tell you how many times I have had explain this stuff to people.
Robert
What would the dream classroom technology look like your new school? And what will the building look like that can accommodate it?
With tools like Skype, Moodle, blogs, wikis, Ning, Internet2, etc. and fuel prices being as they are I think there is no longer a necessity to build new schools as we have conventionally thought of them. Maybe it is time to go back to the one room schoolhouse. We could build one in every neighborhood and connect them digitally so students can have access to teachers across the school network (not school building). What would you do with the transportation budget if you could spend it on education? These schools could also serve as wireless hubs for the neighborhoods they are located in giving free internet access to the community they serve. For me this school looks a lot like a house.
The definition of paperless is: “print whenever you want…”. Printing is out of control. The more computers you have the more paper you will use, its just to easy to click that mouse.
Hi Seema,
I am afraid you may be correct! We are working on a way to determine how much printing each user actually does and hopefully hold everyone more accountable.
Doug