Organised tech charging and storage for uninterrupted learning

Technology like laptops and tablets have become essential tools for learning. 

Keeping classroom tech organised and ready for use, then, is essential. Broken or misplaced devices, and technology that isn’t charged can create disruptions; teachers are taken away from their core business while they sort out problems with technology. 

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE. 

Mark Hodgson, Sales Manager, New Zealand, for  PC Locs understands well the challenges schools can face. He shared his expert insights on the best way to keep devices ready for use, so learning can continue uninterrupted. 

Schools are increasingly reliant on devices for teaching and learning. From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges schools face in managing large numbers of devices day-to-day? 

The biggest challenge we keep hearing about is that device management lands on people who weren’t hired to do it.

Teachers, librarians, and admin staff are the ones charging, distributing, and troubleshooting devices every day. Those tasks sit well outside their core role, and over time that adds up to real workload pressure. 

The sheer volume of devices in 1:1 or shared programmes creates a significant logistical challenge too. Whether a school is using charging carts and cabinets in classrooms or a more centralised setup with individual storage bays, the daily process of getting the right charged device to the right student at the right time takes genuine coordination. 

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Accountability is another persistent issue. In shared-device environments, it can become very hard to identify who’s responsible for a damaged or missing device. That leads to increased replacement costs and, ultimately, disruption to teaching and learning. 

What are the most common mistakes schools make when choosing charging or storage solutions for devices? 

Buying on price alone is the most common one, and it almost always ends up costing more in the long run.

Cheaper solutions tend to have poor cable management, limited durability, and not enough charging output for current or future devices. Schools replace them sooner than expected, and in the meantime, staff are dealing with failed charges and damaged ports. 

A closely related issue is not thinking about futureproofing. Device fleets evolve, and a cabinet or cart that works well today might not support the next generation of devices. 

Another mistake is treating charging and storage as a one-size-fits-all problem. A primary school classroom with 30 shared Chromebooks has very different needs from a secondary school running a BYOD or 1:1 laptop programme. 

Finally, schools often overlook the daily user experience.

A solution that’s cumbersome for students to use, or one that requires significant teacher involvement at every interaction, isn’t really solving the problem. It’s just relocating it. 

Smart lockers are gaining attention in education. How do they differ from traditional charging trolleys, and where do they make the biggest impact? 

Smart lockers are a genuine step forward from traditional charging trolleys, and the difference goes beyond just the hardware. 

Where a trolley charges a batch of devices together, a smart locker assigns a specific compartment to a specific device or user.

Every interaction is logged. Access is controlled via PIN, RFID, or app. That shift in how devices are managed changes quite a bit about how a school operates day to day. 

The biggest difference is automation and accountability. Smart lockers free up staff time by handling device distribution and collection without needing someone physically present.

Students and staff can access devices around the clock, which is really useful in secondary schools with flexible learning schedules or in any school running a loaner programme. 

The tracking is where it gets particularly valuable. Because every access is logged against a specific user, schools get much better visibility over who has what and when.

That helps reduce losses, makes it easier to resolve damage disputes, and gives IT a clear picture of how the fleet is being used.