[K12OSN] Re: Room Layout

Daniel Howard dhhoward at comcast.net
Wed Oct 25 22:01:06 UTC 2006


I've been pondering the classroom layout for sometime, especially when 
K12LTSP allows us finally to move to a 2:1 ratio.  The issues are space, 
cabling, classroom non-PC use, and cost.

I've found there are three basic layouts:

1) Standard tables around the perimeter, either long side against the 
wall to save classroom interior space, or short side against the wall so 
you can put three LCDs and small thin clients on each long side of the 
table for 6 clients per table.  Short keyboards help a lot in the latter 
configuration for 6' tables.  Many of our teachers prefer to use the 
half disk or semicircle tables against the walls so that students can't 
easily look onto a neighbor's work, but you can also put divider slabs 
between each station (a piece of hardboard perpendicularly stuck in a 
block of hardwood would work).

2) Tables in parallel rows, short sides against one wall for aisle and 
teacher desk on opposite wall, or V configuration with aisle in the 
middle.  Common for computer labs, but leaves no interior space for 
non-PC activities.

3) Clusters of 4-6 standard student desks in the interior of the room, 
often preferred in normal classrooms.  Whereas cabling/power are 
straightforward for options 1) and 2), for the cluster option, unless 
you have power outlets imbedded in the floors throughout the rooms, it's 
a major issue; even with rugs, the kids will also trip on them because 
they refuse to lift their feet when walking.

Some new wrinkles I've thought of:

1) For the tables on the perimeter, long side against the wall, if you 
use LCD monitors with new, small thin clients, standard 6' computer 
tables are twice as wide as they need to be.  Use half-width tables 
instead, and you'll save interior space.  We're also going to use half 
width tables in the more narrow hallways for our remaining 'hallway 
laptop carts' which in this case are fixed tables since we've noticed 
the existing carts aren't being moved.

3) In addition to the cabling issue with clustering, solutions like the 
  Bretford Connections SmartDeck Work Center are very pricey ($600+) and 
don't include a place to put books, pencils, etc like standard student 
desks.  A cheaper solution is to use standard desks already in the 
classroom and find a solution to getting a network and power cable to 
them, hopefully w/o tripping.  Is there a solution other than the rubber 
humped strip/ductape on the floor approach to getting power and network 
cable to clusters of desks in the middle of a classroom?

Regards,
Daniel

-- 
Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Georgia Open Source Education Foundation




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