1. Ceiling-mounted projector + Smart Board I HATE fluorescent lights! I use floor lamps in each corner + one in the middle of the lab + white Christmas lights tucked in the wall edge of the ceiling panels.
2. Lab rules are posted where everyone looks often – next to the SMART Board! 3D keyboard: styrofoam take-out boxes hot-glued to wall Don’t have a wall big enough for the whole keyboard – so divided into left/right hand keys!
3. Student workstation Headphones hang on side of monitor. Accessible, but out of the way. A folder for each student at this computer is stored here. Folders contain printouts which go home at the end of the year. Clipboard is used for storyboarding, tests, jotting notes, etc. Folders + clipboard stay in place with a library book end. This side of the computer has no air vents to be blocked. Students find their computer nametag as their computer is logging in. Each class has a different color – I can tell at a glance if the name is correct.
4. Computer nametags Students make their own the 2nd day of class Different color for each class. Nametags contain: Computer # Classroom teacher Digital picture of student taken 1 st day of lab WordArt name
5. Plastic copy holders Use on top of monitor to hold nametags. I hot-glued these to the monitor – works like a charm! Similar holders available at amazon.com called Crystal Page Ups
6. Hooks from Home Depot glue to side of monitor We have a headphone jack in the front of the computer, but I use the one in back. Helps to keep the cord out of the way of the keyboard.
7. Each student has a folder to keep printouts. Folders are color coded by grade: 5 th blue 6 th green Printouts go home at end of year, but folders are recycled for next year: 6 th blue 5 th green Easy-to-make labels from Excel spreadsheet with student info. Labels contain computer #, teacher name & student name I use old library bookends to hold everything in place. Our librarian had lots of extras!
