ICT E-PORTFOLIO
COMPUTER LAB DESIGN
The computer lab remains the Centre for most computing activity in our schools, Technology teachers and administrators face the task of developing a technology plan that makes the most effective and efficient use of the computer hardware available. Classroom teachers also use the lab with their classes for research, or for creating technology-based projects. As a specialist it is very important to ensure that the school laboratory is easily accessible and fulfil its learning purpose. Many schools in South Africa still keep their computer laboratory centres closed simply because there is no teacher who wants to be responsible for teaching computers or the school management does not have any plan for computers hence, they keep them closed. Most of the schools I’ve been doing my Work Integrated Learning (WIL) their laboratory where always open and accessible only to teachers and learners who are doing Computer Applications Technology (C.A.T), that is also an ongoing debate that why school computers be dedicated only to learners enrolled for C.A.T/I.T only while computer literacy in this era we are in is no longer a matter of choice but a skill we all need.
I do not think many schools give little thought to the design and layout of the computer lab classroom. Too often, they simply fill a room with computers and set up the machines any way they fit inside the room. Others simply rely on the technicians who will be installing the lab furniture on how can they best place the computers. However, most of the school i have been into throughout my WIL they use the same design layout which is the classroom computer lab design, which serves as a great instruction room since all learners are faced in one direction of the teacher and they are able to see the projector screen which the teacher is using when teaching C.A.T. The main disadvantage about this layout especially to schools i had been into is that the computers are too close to one another and when learners are having a practical test, they are likely to see the work of the person seated next to them.
