When you have a computer lab or technology class to decorate, you have limited choices when it comes to ready-made gear. My theory on this is that the way computers look changes so frequently that manufacturers couldn’t get their money’s worth out of a design before people were giggling at it because it looked so out of date.
North Star’s [amazon_textlink asin=’B01BH7XJKM’ text=’Surfing Cutouts’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2c128f22-3fe3-11e8-a647-576a24b12b45′] seems to us like a great option, if a little bit metaphorical. You get 25 surfboards for student names or for ceating a word wall of tech terms. Surfing Nameplates give more space for either of these uses. Add the Tropical Trees Bulletin Board Set for a complete classroom look. Scholastic Teacher’s Friend Tropical Paradise Bulletin Board also has some surfing going on.
TCR’s Keyboards Bulletin Board Display Set is one ready-made option that’s about computers, not surfing.
Trend’s Computer Skills Learning Chart set has five informative posters showing the parts of a keyboard, tips on internet safety, etc. Trend also makes a Computer Bulletin Board Set, but it has a distinctly retro look. If your computer lab also has a retro look, this could be a plus.
If you have some old computer parts hanging around (we sure do!), you can take them apart and hang a garland of them around the room, create sculptures with them, and otherwise use them for display. Here’s what’s inside your old keyboards, and how to make a hall pass with some of the bits:
Use the rest of the bits to decorate. The hard plastic sheets can be cut into letters or shapes.The edges of monitors can frame announcements printed out in a font reminiscent of old computer letters — try “Homemade Robot,” a free download.
If you’re a risk-taker, you can microwave old CD-ROMs for a few seconds and turn them into amazing sculptures that you can hang around the room. Put a cup of water into the microwave along with them, use a well ventilated space (like an old microwave you no longer use for food, out in the garage), and don’t tell anyone that we told you to do this. Also tell the students not to do this at home. We don’t want to get in trouble.
Then scrounge around the building for everyone’s leftover ones and zeros from their bulletin board letter packages. Run these around the bulletin board, or around the wall at the top where it meets the ceiling to simulate binary code.
If this idea doesn’t inspire you, you can use any theme and give yourself a tech slogan:
A robot theme or retrofuture theme can be especially appropriate.
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