Bank Street College of Education. Laptop computers for students and teachers. News from the Center for Children and Technology and the Center for Technology in Education, p.1-6. The following is excerpted with permission of the authors.
Laptops offer different benefits from desktop computers, but they also have some special needs.
Careful attention to these issues in advance can help to make laptops a flexible, powerful, and convenient tool in classrooms. Ideally, power supplies should be within reach of students' seats so that they can continue to work with their computer plugged in. Power strips should be installed around the perimeter of classrooms. A locked closet or other storage space that is monitored by staff but is easily accessible for students ensures easy access and minimal risk of theft, loss or damage. Laptops work best in a classroom large enough to accommodate such activities.