Steps to Create Your Own Computer Lab With Used Equipment

 

Brandi Caldwell (caldwellteach@charter.net & www.TeachActLearn.com )

Brett Stanley (brett@stanleybusinessservices.com & www.stanleybusinessservices.com )

 

 

  1. Talk to your Principal to see if there are any monies in the General Fund or Technology Fund to help buy small items like cables, disk drives, switches, or printer cartridges.

 

  1. Talk to your Library Media Specialist, Technology Coordinator, and School Secretary about what you want.  All of these people have something to do with who gets new computers, where the old ones are stored, and what happens to computers that break down.

 

 

  1. Let people know your equipment needs.  Parents and community members are always selling old computers and giving them to charity.  Put your needs in a newsletter or on the school web page.

 

  1. Post your needs on a free computer site that gives to non-profit organizations.  You might get lucky.

·        http://sharetechnology.org/reuse/scroll.asp

·        http://www.iloveschools.com/process_map.php

·        http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2comptec.htm

 

  1. As you accumulate equipment, enlist help.  Start a Tech Team with students who have some expertise with computers.  Many of them already know how to install a CD-Rom drive, replace a hard drive, or install a network card.

 

  1. Enlist the experts.  Find someone (at school, from church, or a friend) who has advanced knowledge about operating systems and networking.  Also search the many tech sites online that answer your questions.

·        http://www.webtechgeek.com

·        http://www.cyberwalker.net/index.html

·        http://netsquirrel.com/

·        http://www.webdiner.com/

 

  1. Run the Weekly Fab Five from netsquirrel.com on each new machine.  Familiarize yourself with the machine.  Don’t be afraid to open it up and see what is in there.  Go to My Computer and check out the System icon.  This tells you what devices and hardware are included on this machine.

 

  1. If you cannot get everything donated, there are very inexpensive online stores where you can get equipment.  Also, check Ebay.com.  I got a PC that had Adobe Photoshop and a CD burner for $85. 

·        http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx

·        http://www.discountpc.net/

 

  1. Learn about open source software where you can get free software that often works better than Windows-based software and will work on Windows and Macintosh.

·        http://www.openoffice.org/

·        http://www.apache.org/

·        http://directory.fsf.org/

 

  1. Never turn down free equipment and send thank-you notes!

 

Consult the website for other information on Linux and open source software!