Laptops on Carts

The Department of Education has two sets of laptops on carts: one with Dell laptops running Windows XP Professional, and one with Asus Eee PC laptops running Windows XP.

• There are 15 Dells on one cart and 12 Asus laptops on the other. Inside each cart is a sheet that shows how many laptops are on the cart at a given time, as laptops are occasionally out for repair.
• Individual laptops should not be removed from the carts during the fall or spring semester, so instructors will have enough laptops for their classes.
• The Dells run at a speed of 2.0 GHz.
• The Asus run at a speed of 1.6 GHz.

Reservations

Carts are reserved and signed out on the calendars at the front desk in EduE 150. There is one for each cart. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Faculty are asked to continue to cooperate to resolve potential scheduling conflicts.

Network Connection and Authentication

• All laptops on carts connect to the Internet wirelessly.
• Users must authenticate (log in) to connect to the UMD network in order to get online.
  • To authenticate, use either Virtual Private Network or a web browser (see next bullet).
  • Web browsers are automatically directed to UMD's login page.
  • At the login page, enter your UMD user name and email password.

Tech Support

• There is a clipboard on each cart for noting problems or needed repairs
• For tech support during class, call or send a student the Audio Visual office, 165 Kirby Plaza (726-6222). Schedule:
  • Fall and Spring semesters:
    • 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and
    • 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
  • Summer sessions: 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Peripherals and Accessories

Each laptop cart includes a box with a zip drive, Ethernet cables, two power strips (surge protectors) and two long extension cords.

Instructor Responsibilities

• Sign the cart out.
• Ensure that all laptops are returned to the cart, and that the cart is neat and organized.
• Return the cart to the Tech room in EduE 104.
• Plug the laptops into the cart outlets, and the carts into the wall outlets:
  • The Asus cart has one plug.
  • The Dell cart has two plugs; users are advised to turn the power switch on each side of the PC cart off, temporarily, while plugging the cart in, to minimize sparking.

Batteries and Power Supplies

• Even when plugged in overnight, laptops are sometimes used all day long, and the batteries become depleted.
• Students can sit around the edges of Montague 121/151 to get power. Better, yet, you can use the extension cords and power strips on the carts to let them work anywhere in the room:
  • Each carts has multiple outlets and one or two long extension cords
  • Each cart has, additionally, two surge protectors and two long extension cords.
    

Software

1. Carts

Word Processing

• Microsoft Office 2007

Math

• Geometers Sketchpad 4.07
• Microworlds Pro
• TI Software: Class Analysis, Connect, Learning Check, Navigator and Network Manager
• Tinkerplots

Special Education/Accessibility

• Boardmaker SD Pro
• Co-Writer 4000
• IBM Viavoice
• Lexis Comprehensive Reading Test, Phonics, Reading, SDS and more
• What's Best for Matthew
• Wynn Wizard 3.5
• Write Out Loud 3
• Writing with Symbols 2000

Web Development Software

• Contribute 3.11
• Dreamweaver MX (use with Virtual Private Network [VPN] software)
• Web Album Generator

Other

• Classroom Performance System (CPS)
• Create Together
• Inspiration 8
• [InspireDate: coming soon]
• Kidspiration 2
• [Kidspiration 3: coming soon]
• Mulberry
• Quicktime