High density labs are really good for learning about computer software and hardware in Information Technology and related subjects. This generally helps students in their technical competencies with computers. However, many other subject areas have limited use to the lab space and therefore greater limitations in the ability of the teacher to incorporate computer usage in their sessions. The ability for students to practice individual study is also impacted since they can only access the lab during specific lab sessions geared towards their IT classes, or if lucky, get to use the lab at the discretion of the lab tech/IT teacher occasionally. Scheduling can be a tremendous challenge for teachers hoping to use the lab since there classes may well clash with an IT session taking place in the lab at the same time.
Even with these limitations, high density labs afford greater levels of monitoring by teachers/techs. Labs are often outfitted with specialist software for this purpose and also to restrict the online usage of the computers (such as blocking specific websites/content). They also support greater hardware management since the lab techs can monitor and maintain software and hardware issues quite easily.
These labs serve a specific purpose, one that I dont believe takes full advantage of the possibilities of ICT integration. 1-to-1 computing offers the opportunity to embrace the possibilities more, however, that too comes with its own parameters and issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment