Classrooms are becoming more reliant on devices such as laptops and tablets. The convenience and efficiency come at the cost of logistics and storage for the hundreds of devices. Charging carts have addressed this problem by providing a portable storage case that can charge devices and keep them safe when not in use. However, what makes a quality charging cart? This article will go over a few considerations as you look for the best cart for your unique situation.
Materials
Assuming you want your cart to last for many years, it’s important to have the materials it’s made of be of high quality. Externally, look for metal carts, as their material will last longer without deteriorating and be durable against bumps and scratches. Make sure the material doesn’t make the cart too heavy, as you might need educators of various statures to push the cart to their classroom. Ensure the wheels are heavy-duty, but also flexible enough to make sharp turns to fit through doorways and around corners. Also, make sure that the hinges and handles are sturdy enough to survive repeated use, as doors may be opened and closed dozens or hundreds of times throughout the school week.
Internally, check that the device can fit all the devices you need without overcrowding. See if the shelves and dividers are adjustable to fit small tablets vs. large laptops. The more flexibility you have, the more you can adjust each year based on the number of students in the class. Take care to also note any sharp edges that may be dangerous for young students to use, or could damage a charging cord or device if brushed against. A respected vendor should have these safety considerations already in place, but it’s good to double-check before deciding on a final purchase.
User Features
Unless your IT director is personally handling all device distribution, you need to consider how the cart will be used practically by teachers and students. Organization will be key. Having color-coded or labeled ports and shelves that correspond to a particular device will make taking and putting away devices that much easier. That's why you’ll want to consider how to store your devices and if the shelves will be able to display their color or label easily.
Some of the most exciting features to have are charging and power management features. A poor charging system could harm your devices. Investing in a smart charging system can stagger charging times, avoiding issues like tripping circuit breakers or causing overheating. Surge protectors will safeguard your devices from any electrical anomalies, potentially saving thousands of dollars if your devices were ever destroyed. Whether you manually set or have AI-tracking capabilities, being energy efficient through stopping the charging once fully charged or reducing charging during non-use times can help save electrical bills in the long run and extend the battery life of your devices.
Security Features
Another consideration is keeping your devices secured from misuse outside of learning times and theft. The metal material will help from blunt-force attacks, but the door to open the devices will need some sort of security. Some ways to lock the cart doors could include a key, a combination lock, or a digital pad code. Keeping the doors secured in this way will also help prevent the doors from swinging open during transit.
To prevent the entire cart from being rolled away, some way to have security anchoring, also known as attaching the cart to an immovable point, will help with this. While you may need to place something on the ground or the wall, having a place to easily hook onto the cart will help greatly in the security process. You may be able to find a cart with custom-built docks that can lock the cart in place during charging, but your cart provider will be able to provide the methods they have to keep your cart safe and secure based on their unique design.
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The idea of a charging cart for schools was just a fantasy 15 or so years ago. Now, it’s a school essential to help keep the focus on the lesson rather than needing to organize and manage a large number of devices. By taking the time to research what cart will fit your needs well, you can provide a great tool for all your district staff as you embrace the new way of teaching and learning.
Check Out Our Vendor Partners!
Bluum
Bluum offers technology solutions to help teacher and student communication, collaboration and learning. Bluum has dedicated personal with degrees and/or previous experience directly in the education field to implement technology that fits the curriculum, staff and budget needs. It’s more than putting tablets in the students’ hands, or installing the latest technology in the classroom. Integrating technology into education begins long before the first piece of hardware is purchased. Bluum experts will help you every step of the way.
CDW-G
When you buy from CDW-G, you get expert advice, superior customer support and extensive product and service offerings. And with AEPA Consortium contract pricing, we make purchase decisions easy for you. For classroom technology solutions, turn to The People Who Get IT — CDW-G.
FortÉ
Together we design your communication and collaboration solution from the ground up. And before it's installed, we validate it by building and testing it at one of our Regional Deployment Centers. With more than 40 locations in the United States, and the ability to operate in 177 international cities in 50 countries, FORTÉ is the largest global communication and collaboration solution provider. You can count on us to deliver.
Howard Technology Solutions
Howard Technology Solutions, known for its cost-effective approach to providing the very latest in reliable, high-quality equipment, manufactures custom desktops, notebooks, servers, and presentation carts that continue to secure market recognition. In addition, established partnerships with other industry leaders enable Howard to offer a rich portfolio of over 250,000 name brand products ranging from projectors, document cameras, and sound amplification systems to interactive technologies and control systems—everything needed to teach 21st Century skills, foster collaboration, and integrate multimedia tools into instruction.
PDS
We offer a boutique approach at a large scale. We don’t offer cookie-cutter engagements.
We offer a breadth of services and capabilities across the entire IT stack. PDS delivers consulting, design, procurement, configuration, life cycle, implementation, repair, project management, staffing, engineering, administration, and support capabilities.
Powergistics
Thank you for taking the time to consider PowerGistics Towers as your next in-class charging solution. We take great pride in our innovative, high-quality product that thousands of schools have chosen as an alternative to the charging cart.
PowerGistics Towers are the only 100% student-managed solution, even for younger students. This unique design returns valuable instructional time to teachers and instills responsibility in students for their Chromebooks, iPads, and other devices, saving schools significant time and money.
Quill
Partnering with CESA Purchasing to save you up to 80% on key Office Supplies for your school! We understand the importance of having a trusted partner who’s always looking out for you. That’s why we dedicate each and every day to providing the best service possible to you, our customer.
Vivacity Tech
Vivacity Tech PBC is a national leader in providing 1:1 Chromebook solutions to K-12 schools. Our unique hybrid manufacturing and reselling approach allows us to deliver the smoothest, most affordable Chromebook deployments anywhere in the nation.
Not only do we manufacture our own complete line of carts, cases, and Chromebook accessories, we don’t outsource any pre- or post-sale services, offering everything from Laser Etching to Asset Management software.