Technology is continuing to have a dramatic effect on the classroom, not just in terms of the devices that students are using to learn but also in how the classroom is designed and furnished to accommodate device storage and charging. What does it mean for your school and its approach to device management? Here’s a closer look.
When it comes to technology in the classroom, schools run the gamut. Depending on available technology budgets, a school may have BYOD, 1:1, classroom sets of devices, or a combination of all three. Wherever there are more devices, there must also be more power—more outlets, more charging cords, more spaces and places to plug in. Cable-free charging may eventually take hold, but even if it finds its way into the classroom, the charger itself will still need to be plugged in and proprietary products will likely persist.
Flexible work spaces that can accommodate individual work, collaborative sessions, and whole group instruction are now the standard, and this trend is reflected in a new generation of classroom furniture that can be easily reconfigured for multiple uses. With students and teachers always in motion, classroom furniture, including store and charge carts and stations, is also expected to be move to suit changing arrangements. Mobility is also key within districts where budgets are tight because it allows tech resources to be easily shared among classrooms.
Laptops, tablets, iPads, Chromebooks, cellphones, headsets, earbuds, VR glasses—the more devices and peripherals that come into the classroom, the more opportunity there is to learn and to individualize how the learning occurs for each student. IT professionals and technology coaches are finding it increasingly important to keep all of these devices and related equipment organized, charged, and secured within a cart, station, or locker, so these resources are readily available and deployment doesn’t eat up valuable instructional time.
Technology comes in many shapes and sizes, so before you make any decisions about storing and charging for your classrooms, get a complete inventory of the kinds and number of devices that will be used. The right solution will address your needs for power and mobility and will also be adaptable or reconfigurable for more than one device size. This adaptability will make it much less stressful when the next new device walks in the door.
