Title: More in Store: The Latest Educational Technology Organizers Can Tackle Just about Any Budgetary, Storage, or Environmental Concern on a School's List
Abstract: NOT TOO LONG AGO, organizational solutions for educational technology were a way to, well, get organized. Now, with recent advances in technology itself, plus an onslaught of federal funding and environmental considerations, tech storage solutions for schools are addressing a whole new constellation of educational requirements. Because of current finance and funding crunches, says Mike Briggs, president of Bretford, a tech storage manufacturer, new mobile solutions simply have to enable schools to 'do more with less,' which is what schools have been charged to do. That means that educators should be looking not just for affordability in their tech storage, but for everything from laptop carts with advanced power management features to mobile laboratories capable of securely housing and economically storing all mobile technology devices in use. Flexibility is also a key consideration when budgets are tight, since new storage units cannot be purchased every time devices change. Cash-strapped schools seeking long-term investments should look for mobile storage units that have the ability to quickly adapt to store various types of devices. For classrooms and schools with limited space, educators might want storage units that can fit into tight places such as existing closet space, or even to find solutions that are so furniture-like they can reside in classroom or administrative space without creating an eyesore. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eco-conscious educators (especially in those schools committed to earning LEED certification) cite the need for units with smaller footprints, noise-reducing properties, and marked power-saving capability. What criteria are on your wish list? Below is the latest sampling of educational technology organization and storage solutions designed to help you meet just about any budgetary, storage, or environmental concern you may have. An All-in-One STEM Solution EarthWalk Voyager Mobile Science Lab (earthwalk.com) The demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based education is soaring, but many schools lack the resources for a fully equipped laboratory, especially for the younger grades. The solution may lie in EarthWalk's Voyager mobile science lab, a self-contained unit that includes a 10-bay laptop charging and storage compartment, a chemical-resistant sink, and an optional self-contained gas line and water pump--all powered via a single plug to a standard outlet. (Four back-panel outlets are included to accommodate additional technologies like a projector or document camera.) Storage drawers are fitted with foam inserts to protect equipment and glassware, and can be customized to incorporate hundreds of premade experiment kits. The portable laboratory, unveiled at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in March, was designed for schools looking to save on infrastructure and lab equipment costs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Multimedia at Your Fingertips Bretford PAL Presenter's Assistant for Learning (bretford.com) By incorporating multimedia in the classroom, teachers can engage students and help them visualize difficult academic concepts; but if the technology isn't readily accessible, it won't be utilized. The Bretford PAL presentation cart sets out to solve this problem by storing and supporting all of the multimedia presentation equipment that schools use today: a data projector, a document camera, a DVD player, an MP3 player--even a gaming console. It also includes rails for 19-inch rack-mounted electronics, power units, and computer equipment, as well as room for a speaker system. An additional pull-out shelf at standing height makes it easy for teachers to plug in and use a laptop. Since PAL is compact and on casters, it can easily be moved from classroom to classroom, allowing schools to maximize their technology investment. …
Publication Year: 2011
Publication Date: 2011-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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