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The Asus Eee PC and me
August 6th, 2008 by misterel
Due to the imminent arrival of my to girls for a couple of weeks and the extremely dodgy weather forecast I decided I needed another web based PC so that the kids could have internet access and also allow me to use the desktop to get on with writing schemes of work. I decided on an Asus for a variety of reasons:
- my dad had just got one and my girls had already used it so I knew they were ok with it
- we’re going to get a version of the Asus for school so it was a way for me to get used to it
- I liked the look of them
- they’d just been reduced by £20.
The verdict so far:
- It’s easy to use. The linux system works well and finds the wireless easily. It also boots up fast and is silent… no moving parts.
- The 701 screen is a tad small. When web browsing you’ll normally need to F11 the screen or get annoyed
- The keyboard is easy to use. I’m not a touch typer but can type reasonably fast and once you get used to the keyboard it works fine
- The touchpad is horrible. This is my only bugbear with the whole thing. The pad itself is fine and works as you’d expect it. However using the pad and the little metal button is bloody fiddly and annoying. I end up using to hands as my thumb doesn’t seem to have the dexterity to work the button properly…that maybe just me though.
- Portability is a great feature. You can just pick it up and start using it… pretty much anywhere.
I know that I can plug in a mouse, a usb keyboard and a screen to alleviate all of the above issues but tht sort of defeats the object of having it.
How will it be used in school?
Our school has PC access issues. The ICT dept is running wild with the number of students opting for courses and the number of courses being run. This has meant that other subject areas have been sidelined. They are not happy…understandably. We have three laptop trolleys in school that MFL, Maths, Science and PSHE use. They have been working well but will soon need replacing. English have no computer access and are desperate for some However their main requirements are research and word processing and the Eee PC’s seem to fit the bill. However, the 701 is too ’small’ so we will probably opt for the 901 or 1001.
We are also getting a completely refurbished Library or ‘learning resource base’. The idea will be to create study space that is multi functional, so pupils/staff can either have a desk space for study or loan an Asus from the librarian. I think that that is a great use of these little beauties.
Posted in Resources, Teaching & Learning | tagged 1001, 701, 901, asus, eee PC, linux | | 0 Comments
ICT and Functional Skills
August 1st, 2008 by misterel
Functional skills are a fantastic idea. The need to pass a functional skills test in order to get a diploma is a great idea. The need to pass level 2 functional skills test in English, Maths and ICT to get a coresponding A*-C at GCSE is quite scary. The premise is (as far as I have worked out) that for a pupil to get a GCSE in any of the three ‘tool’ subjects (Maths, English or ICT) then they must have passed a functional skills test.
I’m not sure on the impact of this on the two core subjects, but for ICT it all depends on what you deliver at KS4 and whether you are offering a Diploma. OCR Nationals & DiDA are not ‘true’ GCSEs so are therefore exempt from the need to have functional skills… Therefore I can foresee a massive increase in the number of schools offering those 2 options and ditching the GCSE.
However, back to my first statement…’Functional skills are a fantastic idea’. I believe this to be the case. The reason being is that our kids are, in general spoon fed. They get help with coursework, how to write exam answers, essays etc… But, when they try to transfer skills from one subject area to another there seems to be issues. Many a time I have seen pupils using PowerPoint inappropriately in an English lesson and I am quite sure that our pupils fail to write ‘persuasively’ in an ICT lesson…
What to do next is my next dilema. Having been on a recent launch for functional skills and seen the amount of money the government is throwing at it, functional skills look like they are here to stay. Having had a few chats with our Deputy Head I reckon our best bet is to get all pupils to take the functional skills test in Yr 9. This will mean that any pupils doing ICT GCSE or a diploma will already have deomonstrated their ICT functionality before starting their new courses. Also think we will go with the Welsh board, have heard good things about their assessment… will trial it next year.
Posted in Teaching & Learning | tagged assessment, English, functional skills, ICT, Maths, spoon feeding, welsh board | | 0 Comments
