Mustek e-Learning

11
Apr

First the problem … then the tool!

The word toolishness is used to describe a fondness of tools that transcends purpose and utility.

How can teachers avoid falling into the trap of toolishness when it comes to digital tools?  Here are a few examples:

When a hammer is your only tool, every problem looks like a nail.

When a teacher takes learners into a computer laboratory but only allows the learners to read information from a screen – which they can read from a textbook – it is toolishness.   Rather use the power of technology to help learners develop fact-gathering, analysis and synthesis skills required for twenty-first century living.

Sophisticated educational software programs may be available in a school – but many of them are never used. These products are often procured because they are imagined to be a solution to the learning needs at the school. Subsequent experience proves that simpler products yield similar or better results. Teachers must be warned about this form of toolishness.

Interactive whiteboards are wonderful teaching tools, but if they are used only to project images, a data projector would have sufficed. Why go to the trouble of acquiring an expensive piece of technology if a simpler tool serves the purpose?

Avoid toolishness by first identifying educational problems and then selecting the most appropriate tools to solve them, rather than by purchasing a tool and then trying to find a problem that can be solved by it.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Education and have No Comments
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03
Apr

Ten things you can do to prevent your laptop from overheating

This is not cool!

Heat is one of the great enemies of laptops. Your machine generates a lot of heat – you can feel it when it is on your lap. Many components are packed into a very small space, which makes it more difficult to cool than a desktop computer.

Laptops are cooled by small fans which suck cool air from the environment through air vents, circulate it to cool down hot components, and then expel the hot air through the air vents.

Give your laptop enough breathing space by adhering to the following guidelines:

  1. Don’t work with a laptop on your lap for long periods. The name “laptop” suggests that the lap is the place where the machine belongs, but this is misleading. The folds of your clothing may hinder a free flow of air.
  2. Don’t use a pillow on your lap, since it prevents hot air from escaping under the laptop and causes parts to overheat. It may be comfortable for your lap, but it kills your machine.
  3. Don’t put the laptop on the bed when you work on it, for the same reason that you should not put it on a pillow. If you must work on your bed, put the laptop on a flat board and make sure that the air can circulate underneath and around it.
  4. Don’t keep the laptop switched on when not in use – a switched-off machine does not generate any heat at all.
  5. Don’t put your laptop in a carry bag while it is switched on – the bag makes it difficult for heat to escape.
  6. Don’t leave the laptop in a very hot room or in your car when it is hot.
  7. Don’t let the laptop lie in direct sunlight.
  8. Don’t use your machine in a dirty environment, since dust clogs around electronic components; this prevents these components from cooling down sufficiently.
  9. Keep the laptop in a well-ventilated, cool environment and make sure that the air vents on the bottom, back, or sides of the machine, are never blocked.
  10. The most important thing you can do to prevent your laptop from overheating is to ensure a free flow of air.

Your laptop’s fan will cool it adequately under normal working conditions, but keep in mind that it is a very small fan and it needs your co-operation to do its work.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Laptops,Maintenance and have Comments (2)
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20
Mar

What is the resale value of a laptop?

Laptops do not have a high resale value.  It will be hard to get a good price for your old laptop if you decide to sell it.  Trading it in is also difficult as few dealers are prepared to accept an old machine as a trade-in.

Since technology advances so rapidly, few people are willing to buy used laptops.  The market is flooded with stolen and with refurbished computers, which could be picked up for next to nothing by those who do not mind using a piece of dated equipment.

Those dealing in refurbished laptops often receive their laptops at no cost from companies who want to do away with their old equipment.  In Africa e-waste legislation is still lacking and some corporate organizations in the developed world discovered that it is cheaper to send containers with used laptops to African refurbishing plants, than to dispose of them in a responsible and legal way in their own countries.  Receiving laptops for nothing and spending a little on sprucing them up makes it possible for refurbishing agents to sell them at low cost and still cream off a profit.

The resale value of a car is an important consideration when you purchase a new one.  It is not so in the case of a laptop.

Why would you think of reselling your laptop?

Perhaps you have a need for a computer with greater processing or storage capacity.  In this case it is cheaper to upgrade your laptop, by adding or replacing some components.

If your machine gives you constant problems, you may be tempted to replace it with a new one.  First explore the warranty conditions – it is possible that your supplier could resolve your problems.  If you find yourself outside of the warranty period you may still be able to get your laptop fixed.  If not, and you are sitting with an old, malfunctioning machine, can you expect anyone to take it off your hands, and give you cash for it?  Make peace with the fact that the time has come to invest in a new one.

Sometimes the desire for a new laptop is sparked by an itch to obtain new technology.  Weigh up the advantages of a new machine with the cost.  If the new computer wins, donate your old one to a worthy family member or friend.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Laptops and have No Comments
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09
Mar

What is a Sequel Server?

Are you sometimes confused with all the technical jargon that is creeping into daily conversations?  Let’s look at the term Sequel Server – what are we talking about?

Although we pronounce it as sequel server when we speak, the exact term is the acronym SQL Server.  This refers to Microsoft’s relational database management system (RDBMS) and the full name for that software product is Microsoft SQL Server.

This brings us to the next question: what is an RDBMS?  Put simply, it is a program that serves databases on the web or on other computers, and manages these databases using a relational model.  This may sound complicated, but relational only means that the database is made up of tables of data that are interconnected – or related – to each other.

All databases need a language (or set of instructions) to talk to it – to manage the data and to access it.  And that is where SQL fits into the picture.  It stands for Structured Query Language – this is the language you would use to manage and access the data in an RDBMS.  (A bit of useless historical information: originally the word SEQUEL was used by IBM as an acronym for Structured English QUEry Language.)

Microsoft SQL Server is a popular RDBMS, owned by Microsoft.  It can interact closely with other Microsoft tools to create databases on computers, networks and even on the web.

It should be noted that the SQL Server is not an operating system.  You still need a full Windows Server Operating System, to which you then add your SQL Server RDBMS.

Other competitors of the Microsoft SQL Server include MySQL and Oracle.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Software and have No Comments
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02
Mar

Teachers, don’t lose your data!

Don’t let this happen to you!

Once you start working with technology in the classroom you’ll soon be accumulating lesson plans, lesson presentations, worksheets, pictures, learner score sheets and other information that you’ll use and re-use.  After a while, when you add up all the hours you’ve spent on creating these things, and allocate a monetary value to each hour spent, you’ll be surprised to find that the value of the information you created exceeds the amount you’ve paid for your hardware and software.

If you lose your equipment, you will be able to recover it by means of your insurance policy.  But what happens if you lose your data?

“Lose my data!” you may gasp.

Yes, many things can cause you to lose your data:

When your computer is stolen you lose your data with your machine – you will be able to replace your computer but there is no way of getting the data back.

A virus attack frequently wipes out all the data on the computer, or leaves it in such a state that it is of no use to you.

An accident – dropping a computer or knocking it off a table or spilling a cup of coffee on it – may damage the hard drive of the computer to such an extent that the data on it can’t be recovered.

At times the hard disk of your computer crashes unexpectedly – though no fault of your own.  If that happens you are at risk of losing all your hard work.

A sudden power surge may corrupt all the data stored on your computer.

It makes sense to protect the investment you’ve made in your data.  The only way to do this is through a backup: a copy of all the data you’ve created and accumulated.

Once you’ve made a backup your data is safe.  It doesn’t matter what happens to the computer.  The loss of a computer does not mean you’ve lost your data.  You simply load the copied data onto a repaired or new computer and carry on working as before.

A backup is your insurance policy – a very cheap one – that will protect you in case you lose your data.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Security and have No Comments
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24
Feb

Factors to consider when selecting a venue for a computer room

Even though some people question the value of computer rooms in schools, enough reasons exist why schools will still consider these facilities at times.  Bear the following factors in mind when selecting a suitable classroom that you plan to convert into a computer room:

Size: for a computer room which holds 25 learner workstations, a server and peripherals, you need a venue of at least 60 sq m.

Capacity: if classrooms are limited, don’t do away with a library – rather consider a combined media centre.

Orientation: select a north-facing room (in the Southern Hemisphere) – it reduces sunlight glare and aircon costs.

Security: select a room with a concrete ceiling as a security measure against criminals.

Location: a room on the outer periphery of the school building is less secure than one on the inside, thus less suitable as an ICT venue.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Infrastructure and have Comment (1)
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16
Feb

What you must NOT do when you clean your laptop’s screen

The screen of a laptop can be damaged easily.  Many screens have been inadvertently scratched in the process of being cleaned.

When you clean the screen, remember the things you must not do:

Don’t use paper towels or tissues – even though they appear soft they could scratch the screen.

A soft cloth will not damage your laptop’s screen

Don’t use an abrasive cloth that has the potential to cause scratches – for best results use a piece of cloth cut from an old T-shirt.

Don’t use household cleaning fluids with an ammonium base (look on the label of the cleaning fluid) – ammonium will dissolve part of the protective top layer of the screen, leaving a dull, smudged effect.

Don’t spray liquid directly onto the screen, as some of the spray may penetrate the machine.

Don’t apply too much pressure when cleaning the screen – it could be damaged in the process.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Laptops and have No Comments
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07
Feb

Is it difficult to learn to use a laptop?

With laptops becoming available to teachers, this is a burning question in the minds of those who have never used a laptop before. The answer to this question could be “yes” and it could be “no”. It depends on four factors.

The first one is your level of understanding of technology in general. If you have mastered the use of a cell phone, a DVD player, video camera or other electronic gadgets, you are just a short step away from mastering your laptop.

Secondly, your technology aptitude determines, to some extent, how difficult it will be for you to learn to use your new machine. Some people take to technology like a duck to water. How difficult was it for you to learn to use your cell phone when you first got it? If you are one of those people who quickly figures out how to use appliances, learning to use your laptop will be a breeze. If you usually leave technology up to others in the home, you will have to work somewhat harder.

With a little effort and the right attitude you can avoid laptop frustration

A third factor is the amount of effort you are prepared to put into exploring your laptop. You will need to spend time learning its many functions. One of the best ways to learn is to do and the more time you spend practising the things you learn, the quicker you will get on top of them.

The fourth, and perhaps the most important factor, is your attitude. Do you really want to learn to use a laptop? What is your motivation? Do you feel it is an unnecessary burden, or do you believe that it would be to your advantage to be a competent laptop user?

The extent to which you measure up to these four factors determines how difficult it will be for you to learn to use your laptop. If you discover that some of these factors are not in your favour, don’t despair. Just look around and see how many people – including fellow teachers – have managed to learn to use a laptop … and few of them are smarter than you.

If you really want to learn to use a laptop, you will succeed.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Laptops and have No Comments
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31
Jan

Mustek leads the way in the Teacher Laptop Initiative

It took forever to dot each i and to cross the last t but at long last the Teacher Laptop Initiative (TLI) is underway.

Announced in the Government Gazette 32207 of May 2009, the TLI took many twists and turns as it tried to surface through bundles of bureaucratic red tape.  Many teachers thought the programme would never come off the ground, but they will be happy to know that all obstacles have been removed and that the TLI is now a reality.

Mustek has been appointed by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) as an “approved supplier” to supply a choice of three different packages to teachers – each containing a different Mecer laptop model.  These packages differ with regards to processing capacity of and data bundles for internet access, but they all come with a warranty, comprehensive insurance and pre-loaded software to the value of nearly R40 000.

Full-time government teachers qualify for an allowance of R130 over a five year period (total of R7 800).  Teachers who are employed by School Governing Bodies and private schools may also purchase these superb packages, but unfortunately they do not qualify for the allowance.

Teachers should consider the total value of the packages offered by Mustek before they think of buying a cheap laptop from an electronics supermarket.  These packages are good, comprehensive deals and are difficult to beat.

With a laptop in their hands teachers will be able to cross the digital divide, bringing us a step closer to an e-learning reality in our schools.

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Laptops and have No Comments
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24
Jan

Does a software package add value or volume?

Volume does not always equate to value

Many excellent software packages in support of education are available commercially.  Some of these products are content-rich – of great use to teachers who lack resources.  Others are content-free, used by innovative teachers to create exciting learning experiences for their learners.

Each educational software product has a specific focus and could be a useful tool when used in the correct context.  It is no wonder that teachers become so excited about them when attending software demonstrations at trade shows or vendor presentations.

The principal has the difficult task to determine whether the school should invest in a particular product or not.  There are so many of them.  Which one must you choose?  Should you go on the recommendation of an enthusiastic teacher?  You may have a persistent vendor knocking on your door.  Perhaps you already have many unused software products and may wonder if it is worth your while to buy yet another one.

You need to ask yourself, and your teaching staff  only one question:  Will this product add volume or value?

There is no merit in having a great volume of products if they are not used.  The only justification for purchasing the product would be if it has the promise of adding value.

The following questions will help you to determine whether a particular product will add volume or value:

Does this product fill an educational need?  Can you name the need?

How do you intend using the product?

How many teachers are likely to use it?

Do the teachers have the necessary competencies to use the product?

How much training is required, and how will the teachers be trained?  Do they have time to be trained?  Are they willing to be trained?

Is it a product you’re buying, or a service?

The last point is important.  Software vendors can be valuable partners of the school of they offer training and acsupport service as part of the deal.

When confronted with the decision to buy a software product, pause and ask:

Will it add volume or value?

posted by Kobus van Wyk in Education,Software and have Comment (1)
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