Wendy Walker Head Teacher at the Chipping Hill Primary School provided Cablers with a Glowing testimonial for their part in the PCP project.

Dear Murray,

Installation of network, telephone and AV into Chipping Hill Primary School

Once again, Murray I would like to thank you and Kevin, and your engineers for coming to my rescue.  We certainly would not have got this far with our installation without all your support.

You have at all times been professional in your approach to this project.  Everything has been completed on time and to a very high standard.  Any concerns I have voiced have been dealt with immediately and remedied.  All your engineers have been mindful that they are working within  a school environment and have made sure that they conduct themselves appropriately at all times and have worked around the school/staff timetable with due diligence.

Your engineers have gone the extra mile in providing me with extras that we have suddenly decided we need or provided us with pieces of kit needed to make us operational.  My staff are very grateful.  I am very pleased because it has meant that a good level of IT morale has been maintained through this transition period into the new school premises.  This has meant that the children have benefited from a confident staff using a fully functioning IT system.

I am also grateful for all your advice and ‘holding my hand’ through some tricky conversations with RM over the projector and with Essex Services over the necessary electrics to the projector.

In addition I would like to say that I am very pleased with our new telephone system which you installed.  Please extend my sincere gratitude to Kevin who has spent hours here helping us get set up and supported us through all the major problems we had with our new lines.

I would not hesitate in recommending you for other projects and I would be only too pleased to speak on your behalf for any projects you are tendering for.

Yours sincerely,

Wendy Walker

Mrs. Wendy Walker
Headteacher

Managing and controlling the iPad is important, but using the iPad in an innovative way is what using the iPad is all about. Cablers decided to approach Laura Harker, currently a Trainee Teacher on the GTP, to produce a lesson on the iPad for them.

Puppet Pals Teacher Challenge – Retell a Traditional Tale

Cablers chose the app Puppet Pals and gave Laura the freedom to choose any subject. Laura chose Literacy and retell a traditional tale, The Little Red Hen. Using a royalty free website Laura found some cartoon pictures of some animals and props. Laura also needed some backgrounds, but as we were going to put the finished article on the web these needed to be original. Those of you who have been through the GTP training will know how precious time is, so Murray Thorpe Director of Cablers drew the backgrounds on her behalf. Laura then created the puppets selected the backgrounds and narrated the story.

The result of this challenge exceeded all of our expectations. It is clear that there are many imaginative and creative ways the iPad can be used in teaching. Laura has said that making The Little Red Hen would have made an enjoyable project for the children by getting them to create the puppets and backgrounds. The children could then have put the put show together as a class and joined in with the narration.

Stand up for the Challenge?

We are now looking to challenge more Teachers to create a lesson like The Little Red Hen, if you would like to be our volunteer please get in touch.

If you have been inspired by Laura’s lesson and would like to offer her a permanent placement we would be happy to pass on your schools details.

Tel 01621 859384
Email sales@cablers.co.uk
Twitter @cablersltd

Keeping Ahead

Despite a struggling economy over the past few years, Cablers organic growth has continued strengthening their position in the market.

Cablers dynamic attitude towards new technologies enables them to offer the latest products and ensure their customers are keeping ahead of the times.

Grasping New Technology

When it comes to new technology, Apple have continued to develop innovative products which have changed the way we all work and play worldwide. It’s these new technologies and ways of interaction that fit well with Cablers as a wireless, communications and AV solutions specialist.

Murray Thorpe, Managing Director of Cablers Ltd sees this as a great opportunity to expand his services and strengthen his team. Andrew Turner joined the team late last year, to explore and develop solutions for iPads and their integration into SME’s and the educational sector. Andrew has spent 15 years in the ISP industry and during its explosive growth, obtained an interesting skill set in addition to a multitude of networking skills, in-depth knowledge of windows and linux servers providing an excellent foundation for his new position.

Time for Change

Andrew said “It’s a great opportunity to join a company with the same outlook as mine. The world is changing rapidly and it’s important to embrace change positively, especially when it comes to education. Our children rely on us to ensure they receive a sound education in school, so we have a responsibility to deliver. Technology advances at an alarming rate and many children are more aware of these new technologies than we are”.

Despite the fact that many tasks can be accomplished without modern technology, children are drawn to innovation. It’s essential to use these new technologies and encourage their use in education. Andrew is passionate about the benefits that mobile devices can bring to the classroom, but says that “we must learn to think outside the box and develop new ways of teaching with them”. It’s no secret that head teachers are keen to invest in iPads for Schools, so it’s critical for both the children and the tax payer that these are implemented responsibly and used to their full potential.

File and Save – time to move on

When asked what the biggest hurdle for deploying iPads in schools is, Andrew stated, “file and save!” I have lost count of how many times we have been asked “How am I supposed to save a file?” There’s no file and save on the iPad, there’s simply no need for it, the iPad does not work that way. The key to a successful iPad deployment is understanding and management!”

Integrating the iPad

Andrew feels integration is not just about connecting networks together, be they Microsoft, Apple, Novell or any other platform. If Steve Jobs ever wanted the iPad to connect seamlessly to other Platforms, he would have designed it that way. So I leave you with this, if the iPad wasn’t supposed to integrate in the traditional ways, how should we be using it? Differently I believe, break away from convention and free your mind… all will be clear!

If your looking to implement iPads or other iOS devices in your School or Business and looking for some answers or support please contact us.

Next: Managed Wireless Solutions in Schools

The quality of our installs can be assured following thorough site surveys and the production of heat maps, enabling us to provide cost effective solutions without compromising on performance.

Over the last few years wireless devices have become common place, this often extends to more than one device per person requiring wireless connectivity. Wireless installations in Schools are now demanding as much as a 1:1 ratio especially with deployments of iPads now being common place.

Cablers will carry out a thorough site survey, testing absorption rates and signal strengths through the fabric of the building, and collating details of the existing network infrastructure. A full report is then created by our skilled engineers to produce a wireless solution designed to deliver unbeatable performance. New cabling is installed as required and will be tested and certified. Power is supplied to the wireless access points using power over ethernet (PoE), this removes the requirement for unsightly power adapters and high level sockets, making for a tidier installation.

Our design will provide a Managed Wireless Network for your school that meets you requirements and exceeds your expectations, and at a competitive price that meets your budget. Never settle for less, contact Cablers today for a quote. (References available)

Cablers install Ruckus Managed Wireless Solutions.

Features include:

• Unbeatable Performance
• Advanced Security
• Seamless Interoperability
• Simple Scalability
• Robust Management
• Legacy Device Support
• Proxy Configuration Support

Patented Smart Wi-Fi antenna array technology: BeamFlex, which provides extended range and adaptive signal steering, for the most reliable Wi-Fi

Ruckus provide one of the best hardware solutions for Managed Wireless Network Solutions, and with their patented technologies continue to provide a first class solution. Not only are they a leader in the market with outstanding performance, their prices remain far more competitive than similar offerings.

Next: iPads in Schools