I don't really care, but feel like I should stop them. Arghh. Hate it. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions or advice?

make sure they have something that challenges them to do in the lab

(here I go again): Cattle Prod!!!

if you are the manager of the lab, who is responsible for the content/scope of the students work / assignments?

it mostly hardware pranks, or poor decision-making about what they are DOING? Different strategies...

lizbdavis can you change the rules so they can be allowed to do some of the cool stuff?

Or r they doin 'bad' stuff like renaming window folders "Poopy Pants" or worse!

I am VERY strict in the lab. The minute they are not doing what they are supose to I take them off the computer and they do book work.

Kind of harsh but they are on task the next time. It only takes 1 kid as an example to get them on track usually.

The second time they are off the computers for good. Never had a student get that far.

Keep it up, otherwise they get to high school and think computer lab= recess.

Remote desktop is a cool tool. I used to send messages like, "Get back to work!", funny to watch surprised faces

I work in a 7-12th grade all boys school. The problems don't occur during class time, but during their free time in the lab.

The lab is basically unattended, but I come in just before I teach my class and kids are often doing things they aren't supposed to do.

nnorris and holaolah the librarians are like that with the kids, they keep track and kick kids off if they are messing around.

wonders why you have students in a lab with no supervision. That's trouble waiting to happen.

kwhobbes Yes but it is either that or close the lab.

we need to let the children and young adults be creative AND be supervised. Most schools have the wrong staffing for the 21st century

We pay teachers during their "plan time" (agreed at beginning of year, for a stipend) to monitor.

I hate having rules that really can't be enforced. It is better to not have the rules at all.

Plus I understand the boys wanting to mess around online during a free block. It isn't like they are looking at porn.

I'd close the lab before I'd let students in there unsupervised. Do the school have a cyber safety curriculum in place?

Rules are good as is teaching kids how to self-manage behavior and accept consequences. Try setting up a "3 strikes policy"

Or maybe try using the open lab as a privilege they must earn - "Show me you can be trusted and I'll give you a pass that gets you in"

sounds like a policy change is needed.

If it is software...DeepFreeze

we r struggling with how to have library and lab available for 'indoor recess' days

-there is no one on staff that is available and parent volunteers need to undergo the full background check, fingerprint route etc.

I know we have to do something about it. It will definitely be a further topic of conversation with my IT colleague.