Netbooks+and+laptops

=Netbook and laptop carts at Tahoma Junior High School= This year there are nearly 700 wireless netbooks and laptops available at TJH, providing students greater daily computer access than ever before. In addition there are 35 desktop computers in the library and additional computers available in several classrooms. This brings many benefits as well as challenges. Netooks and laptops work well to support word processing, Internet searching, and access to various programs used for student collaboration and checking for understanding. But knowing that the equipment, as well as network and online programs we sometimes rely upon for lessons, have glitches (to put it nicely) and that not all students have easy access to technology at home, it is important that we remain flexible and consider contingency plans in our use. Using technolgy in the classroom also involves teaching students best practices in maintaining and troubleshooting equipment and consideration of how to manage and monitor student use at the junior high level.

For those that have netbooks assigned to their classrooms (English, social studies and most special education classes), periodic review of the netbook best practices is recommended. When there are problems with the netbooks, have students do some initial troubleshooting (rebooting up to three times, checking that wireless system is turned on) and if unsuccessful, submit a technology repair request w/as much information about the problem as you can (noting error messages is helpful). For those that would like to use class sets of computers, but do not already have them assigned to their classroom, we have four carts available for check out. If you haven't ever used the netbooks with students, we ask that you contact Loretta Baker for a brief training and then you will be assigned a netbook key. You can sign up for computers for the duration of a unit (up to two or three weeks at a time). Sign up using the TJ netbook calendars in the public folders of Outlook. Here is a short video on how to do that: [|Signing up for netbooks using Outlook calendars]

There's a wide variety of ways staff are using technology in the classroom. Here are a few sites that might be useful for checking for understanding:
 * [|Socrative] – Socrative is a student response system that allows teachers to engage classrooms in a variety of questions—true/false, multiple choice, short answer, etc. via smartphones, and laptops. You can give a question orally (or write it on the board) and then open up the poll for immediate responses. TJ English teachers have used this site w/good success.
 * [|Poll Everywhere]- Free online polls—multiple choice and more that students can respond to using cell phones, twitter or web browser
 * [|Quizlet] A great site for reviewing and checking vocabulary. Quizlet generates flash cards and provides several options for studying vocabulary, including competitive games.

**‍Netbook and laptop carts access at Tahoma Junior High (2011-2012 school year)‍**
**__Desktop Computers__**
 * Library (Rm 401)-35 desktop computers, 2 scanners- Contact Loretta Baker to sign up (Library Calendar posted in Outlook Calendars)

**__Netbook and Laptop Carts for check out__** *Must complete netbook training before using w/students
 *  A1 and A2- Library-Sign up through Outlook Calendar (40 netbooks in set)
 *  B1 and B2- Library-Sign up through Outlook Calendar (36 netbooks in set)
 * R1 and R2- Library-Sign up through Outlook Calendar (36 netbooks in set)
 * S1 and S2(36 multimedia laptops)-Library-Sign up through Outlook Calendar (36 laptops)

**__Netbook Carts Assigned to Rooms__**
 * C1 and C2-Rm 502
 * D1 and D2-Rm 705
 *  E1 and E2-Portable 4B
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">F1 and F2- Portable 1
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">G1 and G2-Portable 4A
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">H1 and H2-Rm 706
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">I1 and I2-Rm 402
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">J1 and J2-Rm 801
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">K1 and K2-Rm 802
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">L1 and L2-Rm 803
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">M1 and M2-Rm 804
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">N1 and N2-Rm 805
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">O1 and 02-Rm 806
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">P1 and P2-Rm 807
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Q1 and Q2- Special Ed (see Bev Kesselring for room assignments)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">T1 (11 laptops)-Room 303