Hang in There

With so many classrooms created from small rooms never intended for instruction, the question arises: where does the teacher’s desk go? With Anthro’s eNook you probably don’t need one. eNook is a place for a computer along with a work surface that folds out of a wall and can be locked up when not in use. There’s room for a desktop or notebook computer and places to stash the wires. It costs between $1,129 and $1,199

 

 

A Revolution in Computer Furniture

Now you see it, now you don’t. The latest computer desk from Versatables has a pair of flip-open panels for notebooks that can be folded flat for other work. The Revolution furniture has a steel frame, laminate surfaces and measures 72-inches; there’s also a 48-inch version for one student. It’s available in gray or black legs and four surface colors, sells for $939 or $750 (depending on size) and has a lifetime warranty.

 

ISTE 2011: Connection City

With computers, tablets, projectors and all sorts of digital teaching gear, it’s a wonder that we can walk around any classroom without tripping over power cords network connections and all the other cables that seem to grow every year. Bretford’s Edu 2.0 line of furniture has strategically located fold open places for connecting a slew of notebooks or desktops.  There will soon be tables that have the PowerMat electrical pad built in for charging digital equipment. Just put the device on the inductive pad and it gets charged. See it all at booth 2725.

 

The Creative Classroom

Need to outfit a digital classroom, but traditional school furniture doesn’t make the right connections? Smith System’s I~O Post is a standalone unit that can sit at the end of a work table or where several meet and provide access to 8 power outlets as well as 8 LAN or modem jacks. This way everyone will stay charged and online.

 

Junior Workstation

After seeing the Little Tikes Young Explorer desk I have to say that I’m mightily jealous that they don’t make one of these for grownups. The plastic workstation is perfect for those up to 7-years old, has a flat desk big enough for a keyboard and mouse and wrap-around wings so that adjacent kiddie workstations don’t bother each other.

It measures 47- by 34- by 43-inches and has a bench that’s big enough to accommodate two kids sharing the screen. Its seat flips up to reveal a storage area for everything from Crayons to software. I really like that there are no exposed wires and the computer has its own ventilated cabinet that can be locked shut.

Inside is a Lenovo ThinkCentre PC with 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, a pair of speakers and a DVD drive. There’s a 19-inch flat screen and a very colorful matching keyboard and mouse. It comes with early learning programs like Millie's Math House, Sammy's Science House, Bailey's Book House, Trudy's Time and Place and Thinkin' Things. With Windows and a 1-year warranty, the Young Explorer desk sells for $2,600.

Three-Sided Desks

Once you see Smith System’sInterchange Wing Desk, rectangular desks will seem so 20-th century. The Interchange Wing Desk has an open front, a 30- by 30-inch desktop and can be adjusted from 21.5- to 31.5-inches tall. Because its workspace is shaped like an equilateral triangle, a classroom of them can produce dozens of combinations – from neat rows all pointed forward to groups of four. Made with a high-pressure laminate work surface, the desk is available in 18 colors. The desk costs $154 on its own or $161 with a built-in book box.

The Desk is the Computer

We’ve spent a generation putting computers onto and next to school desks, but what if the desk was the computer. That’s the idea behind Portugal-based Displax’s Crayon. The interactive table has a touch-screen display mounted flush with the surface so that small kids can work directly with the built-in painting and drawing software without a physical computer, keyboard or mouse getting in the way. There are lessons on recycling and healthy eating habits. No word on availability, price or how often you’ll need to clean the glass.

Computers on the Go

Few schools have the money to get computers for each and every room used for instruction, so having several multi-purpose systems on carts is a great way to cover the territory. Regardless of whether it’s a classroom’s worth of notebooks or a single desktop PC, a cart can not only put the systems where they’re needed but often power them as well.

Global Industrial’s Audio Visual Workstation is great for a single notebook or desktop PC. It has a 18- by 24-inch work surface, two shelves as well as a pull-out keyboard drawer with a mouse pad. The $149 carts are available in black, blue, green, red or yellow, and can be adjusted in 4-inch increments between 24- and 42-inches tall. It comes with a five-year warranty and there’s an optional computer holder for $30.

A Bretford Antimicrobial Laptop Cart can help calm fears among parents and children about spreading germs by sharing notebooks. All the surfaces are coated with a finish that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and fungus so they don’t become a school reservoir for disease. There are versions with room for 15-, 18-, 24-, 30-, or 32-notebooks with power to charge them all when not being used. Pricing ranges from $1,800 to $3,366.

Teachers have to teach where they can these days, including the cafeteria, library and even repurposed closets. Comfort House’s CartDesk lets you take it all with you and doubles as a fold-open desk on the go. It can be wheeled from room to room and can support up to a 17-inch notebook along with 20-pounds of papers and coffee. CartDesk costs $130.

By contrast, The Portifina Computer Cart is a bargain at $40. It can be a movable home for a desktop PC with minimalist styling. Made of steel with a brushed champagne finish, the cart has a 26.5 by 19 inch glass tabletop as well as a shelf for a keyboard and mouse and a base that can hold the computer. It’s available at Target stores or online, but requires assembly.

Sit Still

Learning requires a comfortable class and Smith System’s Flavors seating family let kids settle down in class. The chairs are available in 14 colors, have flexible high density polypropylene seats with a curved back so they can accommodate a variety of different kids. There are versions that are stackable as well as those on wheels and with an integrated desk. Each design is available in several sizes and pricing ranges from $82 for the stackable desk chair to $372 for the adjustable stool.

A PC Wheelie

Is traditional computer furniture too constricting for students or staff in wheelchairs? Think about making the computer furniture adapt to the user and not the other way around. The ADAS Infinity 6030 table is not only adjustable up and down from 27 to 39 inches to accommodate any wheel chair but it is powered by a silent motor. The table top is available in either plastic laminate or wood veneer and has sturdy edge banding as well as locking casters and a variety of optional add-ons. The table measures 60- by 30-inches and costs $1,497.