Media Bays

Media Bays

Media bays, or data suites are clusters of perhaps four desktop computers, a scanner and a printer.

Though self-sufficient in terms of peripherals, they would be connected to the main school network and have Internet access. This is one reason why they would be best sited in public areas around the school.

These suites would be used by students in small groups or individually and could accommodate task-oriented activities and self-directed learning.
Advantages are easy access to staff and students alike, Utilise areas of school without losing classrooms Public supervision

Disadvantages are Open access means security issues must be addressed .

Fig 3a: Movable or mobile Media Bays

Laptop and data-projector (Ref Fig 3b)
A combination of laptop and data-projector is a highly effective teaching model where a teacher wants to provide the whole class with visual or multimedia content . It can be used in conjunction with an existing LAN point in the room for best effect.Fig 3b: Movable or mobile Laptop PC with Digital Projector

Wireless LAN (Ref Fig 3c)

This scenario has the capability to connect multiple computers to the school LAN without providing direct LAN connections. No LAN cabling is required for the classroom; instead all computers are radio linked to the LAN. Wireless LAN technology is relatively new and generally more expensive and more limited than cabled LANs. There is the potential, however, to save on extensive cabling work with this option.

Wireless connections allow a region to be connected to a network by radiowaves, which link a wireless card in the computer to a wireless access point. One should remember that the access point itself must be connected by cable to the main network.

Advantages

• Flexibility of machines - usually laptops - linked even if students break into small workgroups in different parts of room.
• Wireless networking means that large common areas such as canteens or libraries can be easily connected to the network.
• Less unplugging of cables into sockets reduces wear and tear
  

Disadvantages

• Wireless networking may prove much more expensive if wiring large numbers of machines close together.
• Wireless hubs data rates (typically 11Mbps) are considerably less at present than their cable equivalent. Thus is unsuitable for high data volumes such as multimedia access by large numbers of machines.
• Manufacturers stated ranges of 100 - 300 metres is wildly optimistic. Ranges of less than 18 metres are not uncommon, Data rates drop off as distance increases.