Computer Lab Design Project

Matthew Miller

EDTC 625

Dr. Michael Ruffini

11/3/15
Design Layout

Notes:

Each workstation, represented by the blue faces, includes a computer, keyboard, mouse, headset,
and chair. Each group of tables has a surge protector and Ethernet jack. The teacher’s desk
includes a computer and document camera.
Instructional Purpose

In a school with 400 students in 19 classrooms, about a 22 student average class size, a
computer lab must be versatile. Odds are it will be used daily for regular classes, technology
classes, and testing. With its current setup, this newly designed computer lab will be able to be
used in all of those situations.

Holding a technology based class such as keyboarding or programming will be very easy
for this computer lab. Desks and computers are arranged in five groups of six allowing thirty
students to use the lab. These workstations are ideal for both individual and group work. The
teacher can choose to teach via the Promethean board or through each student’s computer using
instructional software.

If the lab needed to be used for a regular class, the transition would be easy. Again, the
arrangement of the tables allows for individual or group work to take place. Since the computers
are “All in One”, visibility of tablemates and the front screen is less limited than if there were a
monitor and PC tower at each workstation. Wireless keyboards and mice can be easily moved to
create more desk space for students to work.

Inevitably, the computer lab will be needed for testing. The computers and layout meet
the recommended standards for PARCC testing. According to the Technology Guidelines for
PARCC Assessments document, Windows PC’s should be running Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10,
have more than 1GB of RAM, be able to be connected to the internet wirelessly or through
network, have a 9.5 inch screen size or larger, and have headphone availability (PARRC, 2015).
The Lenovo All-in-One computers purchased meet or exceed all of those requirements as they
run Windows 10, have 8GB of RAM, are internet ready, have a 21.5 inch screen, and
headphones have been purchased. In its current state, the lab would only be able to test fifteen
students because PARCC recommends that the ideal testing environment has students either in
every other seat, monitors are arranged back to back, students are seated back to back, students
are seated in a semicircle, or students are seated in widely spaced rows (2015). However, by
simply placing a barrier on each table between monitors, such as a tri-fold poster board, the lab
would be able to test thirty students.

Desktop Computers and Peripherals

Considering the necessary flexible nature of the computer lab, I decided to stock it with
Lenovo B40 All in One computers. Some of the features of the computers are a 21.5” HD touch
screen, Windows 10, 8 GB of RAM, a 1 TB hard drive, Bluetooth, and a built in webcam. In
addition to the USB mouse and keyboard that come with the computer, wireless mice and
keyboards were purchased also. These computers and peripherals combine the power,
versatility, and space needed for the lab.
 The specs of the B40 All in One provide what is necessary and then some when it comes
to student computers. Traditionally in education, computers have been used for word processing
and internet. These computers have enough power to allow students to take advantage of the
large widescreen in order to multitask with various programs at the same time. It also has the
capability of handling the various media resources that teachers and students are using today.
Even with all of that computing power, the B40 All in One is light on energy. “The All-in-One
PCs save money by cutting electricity consumption nearly 70 percent using Lenovo Power
Manager software,” (Lenovo, 2011).

The All in One style computer has the versatility of a laptop and tablet rolled into a PC.
The touch screen allows users to interact with apps like they would on a tablet or their phone.
This makes for a more engaging environment where students can physically interact with what
they are learning. The built in webcam is a powerful feature of the computer. It unlocks
possibilities such as distance learning, video recording, and video chat when partnered with the
Bluetooth headset.

Perhaps the biggest reason to stock a computer lab with All in One computers is the fact
that they are All in One computers. Think of a typical workstation at an old style computer lab.
There is a bulky PC tower, a separate monitor, keyboard, mouse, and wires galore including two
power cables, VGA cords, USB cords, and Ethernet cable. At a minimum, a workstation at this
computer lab has a single power cable. Though, I would recommend hardwiring internet rather
than having 31 computers drawing from WiFi at the same time. There is no separate monitor
and the keyboard, mouse, and headset are all connected wirelessly. This makes for a clean
looking workspace that is not a jungle of electronics and wires.

Server Hardware

The main server for Baltimore County Public Schools is offsite. Each student and
teacher has an account which gives them access to their personal network drive, their school’s
public student network drive, and teachers have a school teacher’s drive as well. BCPS is rolling
out a print management program that tracks how much each student and teacher is printing.
However, the printer in the lab would probably not be a part of that system so students and
teachers would be okay to print freely.

Networking

The BCPS network includes wired and wireless capabilities. At this point, the
recommendation is to keep all computers wired to the internet until the wireless bandwidth is
increased enough to withstand a large amount of users at the same time. When that happens, the
computers are wireless ready so that transition would be seamless. Regardless of how a device is
connected to the internet, it will be filtered, allowing visits to sites deemed educationally
appropriate.

Budget

The proposed budget for the computer lab is below.

Item Product Quantity Price Total Price

Computer Tables Corelle 6' Computer Table 16 $244.75 $3,916.00
Chairs Virco 4300 Rolling Chair 31 $176.45 $5,469.95
Lenovo B40 All in One with
Computers Wireless Keyboard and 31 $825.47 $25,589.57
Mouse
Headphones Etekcity Headset 3-pack 11 $31.99 $351.89
Document Camera IPEVO HD Document Camera 1 $94.00 $94.00
Promethean ABFS378PDST
Promethean Board ActivBoard 378 Pro Fixed 1 $4,859.00 $4,859.00
System
Printer Brother HL-L8250CDN 1 $299.99 $299.99

Surge Protector Belkin BE112230-08 12- 7 $17.99 $125.93

Outlet Surge Protector

Ethernet Cable GearIt 16-Pack, Cat5e 2 $37.49 $74.98

Ethernet Patch Cable 10 Feet
Total $40,781.31

These expenditures fall below the $45,000 budget restriction. The excess money can be used as
emergency money for equipment failures, be invested into professional development for teachers
on how to incorporate the lab into their teaching, or repurposed in another area for the school.

Staffing for Maintenance and Security

The technology liaison for the school (me) would be in charge of the computer lab.
Responsibilities would include jobs such as inventory, maintenance of equipment, and
scheduling for the lab. Before setting up the lab, the computers would have to be outfitted with
BCPS licensed software. After setup, users would not be able to download new programs
without an administrator password. Most updates and fixes would be done remotely, all at the
same time. Computers would be running behind BCPS’s firewall and virus protection.
 Resources

Lenovo. 2011. All-in-one PCs: Three Top Reasons to Want Them for Your Schools. Retrieved
from http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/PDFs/lenovo_all_in_one_desktops_schools.pdf

PARCC. 2015. Test Admninstrator Manual for Computer Based Testing. Retrieved from
http://avocet.pearson.com/PARCC/Documents/GetFile?documentId=4884

PARCC. 2015. Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments. Retrieved from

http://www.parcconline.org/index.php?option=com_dropfiles&format=&task=frontfile.d
ownload&catid=72&id=389&Itemid=1000000000000