Minimum Computer Standards

NAD TDEC
Minimum Computer Recommendations in Schools
[updated November 2009]

Just as we want our schools to have textbooks and library books that are up-to-date, we need to continually update and replace our computer equipment. Many school boards have spent considerable money in the past to buy computers and software. But as software changes and programs get more complex, computers must also be upgraded to keep up. For this reason we have established guidelines to help you evaluate the effectiveness of current equipment and to use in purchasing new equipment. These are divided into the three levels listed below.

 We recommend one computer for every two students.

COMPUTER INVENTORY: Please do a computer inventory to see what type of equipment you have. If you have equipment that is at or below level one and it is still meeting a need in you school, fine. However, if that is all you have then please develop a plan to upgrade your equipment. Also you should have at least one machine at a Level 2 configuration in each classroom for student use.

If you are going out and buying NEW equipment we would recommend that you consider Level 3 as minimums. If you do not understand the “computer lingo,” then show it to a salesperson for help.

Level 1 — Basic

Every classroom should have at least one computer at or above this level for student use.

• Pentium 4 2.4 GHZ or AMD Athlon 2400+

• 512 MB SDRAM

• 40 GB Hard drive

• DVD/CD-R Combo Drive

• Sound Card with speakers or headsets

• Network Card and/or Modem

• Scroll Mouse

• 17" CRT Monitor/15” LCD

• Windows XP Professional

• Consideration should be given to USB Memory for student use.

Level 2 – Adequate

purchase equipment less than the following recommendations:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor or AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core

• 1G DDR RAM

• 80 - 100 GB Hard drive

• DVD +/- R Combo Drive

• Sound Card with speakers or headsets

• Network Card and/or Modem

• Scroll Mouse

• 15” or 17” LCD Monitor

• Windows XP Professional

• USB Ports-at least 4

• USB Flash memory sticks (for student use)

• Fire Wire/USB 2.0 Port(s) (add-on, optional)

Level 3 — Minimum Recommendation for New Purchases

If you were to go out today to purchase NEW equipment we would suggest you not

purchase equipment less than the following recommendations:

Mac

• Mac G5 2.1 GhZ or higher desktop, 17 inch monitor (1024 X 768 resolution), keyboard and mouse or G4/G5 1.9 GhZ or higher

• iBook/MacBook, min. 512 MB RAM and 40 GB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, USB ports, OS X or higher, Ethernet [Preferably with 80 GB or larger hard drive, firewire port(s), OS 10.4, 1 GB RAM or greater]

Other Technology Recommendations:

All schools should have:

• Networking for sharing of files, printers, and Internet access

• Microsoft Office should be installed as a core toolset on all classroom computers

• At least one digital camera

• At least one scanner

• At least one laser printer (Recommended due to the high operating costs of ink jet printers. When replacing copiers schools should give serious consideration to digital copiers that can also act as a printer.)

• Internet access for student use.

• Internet filtering. (ComSifter is recommended by the NAD for the most secure filtering.)

• At least one DVD-R (Consider an external drive if not included on any of your current computers.)

Each classroom should have:

• A method to display classroom presentations (e.g., TV, large monitor, or LCD projector—appropriate for class size)

Consider the following:

• Explore the use of thin clients instead of PC’s.

• Students’ work should be saved to the network, and on USB Drives, as needed.

• All documents shared from outside the school should be in Microsoft Office standard extensions i.e. xls. dba. doc. ppt.