Our classroom is out in the barracks. This has pros and cons. We don't have to breath the recycled air in the building and we get windows. When the weather is nice, we open the door and listen to the bells at a nearby church. However, we don't have any wireless out here and access to technology is limited.
When we need computers we have to use a computer lab in the building (which takes extra time to walk to and the temperature in there is often equivalent to a meat freezer). Alternatively, we can bring out a computer rolling cart. This neat little cart has 15 laptops, a printer and an airport allowing internet access. Although we have about 30 kids in each class, 15 laptops isn't bad.
We have been bringing out this rolling cart for the last week. This entails showing up early to get the cart, wheeling it out to our classroom (over the potholes and asphault -it always takes two people) and then waiting for our students to come and help us lift, yes lift, the whole cart up the stairs (usually takes about 4 big guys to do this). We have no ramp to our classroom. So this is all fine and dandy, but at the end of last week a computer slid off and broke. The new decree is no rolling cart in the barracks: its just too dangerous! So this put a damper on my plans for this week. I immediately tried to sign up for a computer lab so my kids could use some computers, but all the labs are booked this week for testing! It is so frustrating that getting teachnology to my kids seems like an uphill battle.
I guess it is a valuable lesson in felxibility. We're still trying to figure out a new plan...
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