Ask Slashdot: Ideal High School Computer Lab?

First time accepted submitter dmiller1984 writes "I am a high school computer teacher and I've been put in the unique situation of designing my ideal computer lab since our high school will be undergoing a major expansion over the summer. I thought the Slashdot community might have some great ideas to help me out. I've never liked the lecture hall labs that I've seen in some schools, but I would like some way to get natural light in the room without worrying about glare on the computer screens (skylights, perhaps?). What are some of your ideas for a great computer lab for education?"

Make it like the real world...

[stevenfuzz]

If they want to get used to working in a real-world computer environment: 1. Terrible and abrasive neon lights. 2. Cubicles. 3. Every 5 minutes someone in the class needs to bother another student with a stupid question. Focus is a perk not a right. 4. Randomly stand over a students shoulder and demand a demo, and a reason why the project is not done yet. 5. If the students work is not progressing, fail them and outsource a student from India.

Re:So..

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

What is geek paraphernalia? 1980's posters telling you that "Computers don't Byte?" Or a road sign that says " this way to the information super highway!". Ugh, eck. Wrong.

Do it like it was done unto me.

Put some vim posters, and maybe sections of kernel.h printed on ye old'e green and white.

And make the room dark and foreboding. Loop 1980's new wave bands intermixed with psychedelic 60/70's. No natural light, sections of light banks that can be independently turned on and off as to provide just enough light to make out each other and the obstacles around you. Bonus points if more than one tube flickers and sends sparks intermittently.

Develop some rituals for the students, some incantations to the mighty computers. Sell copious amounts of energy drinks and high sugar snacks on the down low to your students to buy better equipment than the school board provides and give them super human coding skills.

Worked well enough for me and my cohorts.

Re:Duh.

[icebike]

Not to be pedantic...but labs don't run operating systems, computers do.

That's true, and pedantry is welcome. This is slashdot after all.

I knew things were off to a rocky start when the story started with this quote:

"I am a high school computer teacher and I've been put in the unique situation of designing my ideal computer lab

To be perfectly pedantic: "computer teachers" probably don't need a lab at all.
Just an ssh connection to each computer, and you can program (teach) the computers what ever you want.

Why build a lab, that invariably attracts students, who always mess things up.
Get a Gorilla rack and put it in the basement somewhere, but what ever you do, keep those pesky kids away.

Re:So..

[Anonymous Coward]

make sure you have nothing but macs in your lab my friend. ok you may pay a lot more for parts and to get moderately powerful machines you'll need to spend a small fortune, but the point is that we need to start training a new generation of brain-dead consumers and that has to take priority.

good luck!