Hardware Suggestions:

Your classroom needs to be a self contained, networked technology work area. You will need at least one computer for every 4 students, a computer for you, the teacher (laptop preferred), a color printer, a presentation system, a video camera, a scanner and have high speed Internet access. You will also need furniture for the computers. Your choice of computing platform (Macintosh or Windows) is a local school decision. We recommend that you choose the platform that can be best supported by you, your school and your vertical team. "All-in-one" desktop computers or laptop computers are best for simple installation and daily operations. Here are several manufacturers for reverence Apple Computers, Gateway Computers, and eMachine Computers

Basic network equipment

For a wired network:

• A 16 port 10/100 Mb ethernet switch
• Patch cables to connect each computer and printer to the switch (order several different lengths of patch cables), (order several extra patch cables for future expansion)
• Raceway so patch cables can safely pass over doorways

  For a wireless network: (IEEE 802.11)

• A wireless "portal"
• A wireless adapter for each computer, at least 11 Mb
• Eight port 10/100 Ethernet switch
• at least 4 Ethernet patch cords (at least 2 patch cords should be 25 feet or longer)
  • to connect "portal" to campus network, printer to network, non-wireless devices

Basic computer equipment:

• Pentium III or G3 processor
• At least 64 Mb RAM
• 4 gig hard drive
• 15" viewable screen
• USB port
• 10/100 Mb ethernet port

For a primary classroom (up to 20 students) you will need at least 5 student stations plus a teachers station. For other classrooms (32 students) you will need at least 8 student stations plus a teachers station.

At least one computer should have video capture capabilities, Firewire® (IEEE #####) preferred (You will be supplied with a Firewire equipped video camera)

Peer-to-peer networking will service a classroom well. No server is required.

These recommendations are for purchase of new equipment. If you intend to incorporate existing into your network each device must have at least a Pentium 200 or Power PC processor,64 Mb ram, ethernet card, microphone, speakers, and an 800 Mb hard drive.

Basic printer equipment:

• Color printer (duty cycle minimum of 5,000 pages per month), inkjets work well
• Direct network connection for your printer
• Ink supplies are expensive, budget for cartridges

Basic presentation system:

• TV set(s) with svideo input
  • the presentation system is for students to present their completed projects to the class, not detailed computer instruction
  • 1" diagonal per student for video/multimedia presentations, 2" diagonal for data presentations (2, 27 inch TVs for a class of 27)
  • normal text must be enlarged to be readable on a TV screen
• mounts for the TV's, wall mounted TV's are the most functional, check with your school for mounting restrictions
• cables, splitters and scan converters to connect each TV to the presenting computer
• An LCD projector is a welcome upgrade for TV's. Ensure the projector has at least 800 lumens output and supports at least SGA input

Scanner:

• USB connection unless you have one already. Ensure that you can plug your existing scanner into one of the computers that you are going to use.

Basic Furniture:

• 1 small table for each computer is adequate (minimum 24" x 24")
• 1 table (minimum 24" x 36") for the scanning and printing station
• many teachers put the computers directly onto the student tables
• lock down device for each desktop device (computer, scanner, printer)
• locked storage cabinet for Laptops

Audrey Criss or Warren Dale