Ashley wrote:
Sorry to be off-topic, but I was hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction (if I remember correctly, some of the people on the list have experience with educational institutions).
I only speak for the school whose sixth form I'm currently attending in Lincolnshire...
I have recently got involved in the creation of a CDROM presentation to be placed inside schools (high schools and sixth form). In order to do this, I need to get a grasp on the specs for the machines I am deploying on.
I discussed this with Norfolk County Council and was told the following was recommended locally:
- Windows 98 or XP
- 1.7Ghz / 80Gb / 256 Ram
- All students had Internet access on their desktops
* We run Windows 2000 with a few NT machines dotted around still - haven't made the jump to XP or server 2003 as we've yet to get them to work together well in testing. * Since the latest upgrade nothing below a PIII processor/Athlon (except my linux boxen :) ) - mostly betwen 1 - 2 Ghz with 128 - 256 Mb RAM and hard disks between 8 and 40Gb * There are around 200 PCs currently on the network - all with internet access (2 meg) through a proxy to a service run by a group of muppets in Lincoln. * Most have CD-ROM drives. The CD-ROM drive cannot be seen in My Computer by students, but it's pretty easy to get round by making a shortcut to d:\ in a home directory * There are two laptops and projectors in the IT department and one that is lent out to other departments
We got rid of all our RM kit a long time ago.
This only covers Norfolk of course and is only a recommendation I was wondering if a national minimum standard of computer technology exists, or whether each school sets their own standard? Please email me onlist, or directly if you can help.
I would think there is a massive range of specifications. Whilst I think we are very fortunate with our IT equipment, being a Grammar School IT is very much seen as a second rate subject. Schools are generally having a hard time financially at the moment. Depending on the area and the ethos of the school there is probably a large range. I'm not sure but I think it's down the the school to keep its IT equipment up to date using its budget - there are probably some guidelines I don't know about though.
Ben "tola" Francis