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I am going to be scanning in the completed chl-100's since you have to keep them for 3yrs and i would much rather take up drive space , not only that I'm in the IT field so i would loose my "IT geek" card if i had paper copies in a file cabinent...


I want to use a portable scanner so that i can scan them on location to my laptop and not have a ton of paper to keep up with...

anyway my question is has anyone else tried this and what model did they use and how did it work out ?

I originally considered a "portable" scanner. But since I also needed a printer for student photos, I went with an all-in-one (HP 6500). It's a bit big for hauling around, but not too bad (especially compared to a portable scanner and a portable printer). The document feeder allows me to interact with the class while the CHL-100s scan instead of feeding one-by-one.

thanks so then i will assume you also print out the passport photos for them. what kind of equipment do you use to take the pics? What brand and model of the all-in-one do you have? I havent had too much good luck with the injet all-in-ones ..............

I use a basic Samsung some-teen mega pixel digital camera.
I crop and print using Passport Photo (http://www.onthegosoft.com/passport_photo.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The geek in me wanted to make a template for Gimp, but the ease of Passport Photo was worth the $10 to buy it.
I print on an HP 6500 all-in-one. It is actually the first model of printer that I ever liked enough to buy a second one. Two photos on 4x6 paper go home with each student.
I scan the CHL-100s after grading the tests. If I feel ambitious, I will also scan the course evaluations (internal form - not DPS) and print/sign/mail the CHL-8s after dismissing the class so I don't have to do it later at home.

As I said earlier, it is a little cumbersome to lug around a full-size printer. And I am sure there are smaller options, but I like this model.

Thanks for the help... Doing the photos the way you talked about make it easy... If you don't mind me asking our you can pm me with how much you charge for the class

For a small portable scanner, look at the Neat Receipts scanner. It's powered over USB and comes with a carrying case. Their digital document management software isn't bad either. I've been using it for some time now to electronically file receipts and other documents.

Brian

I'm an IT geek, too, but scanning takes time. My storage space is cheaper than my time. I use preprinted CHL-100s where they only fill in a couple of blanks. They get two pages; one is watermarked "Instructor's Copy." I keep one and give the other back. My forms are kept in file boxes in an attic storage room.

While I like the idea of scanning and storing electronically, experience has taught me that simple and low-tech is sometimes better. Inevitably, your scanner is going to fail when you need it most, or your laptop hard drive crashes and you didn't back it up.

DoubleActionCHL wrote:simple and low-tech is sometimes better.

Please turn in your geek card.

MasterOfNone wrote:

DoubleActionCHL wrote:simple and low-tech is sometimes better.

Please turn in your geek card.

I can't tell you how many times some bozo changed the wireless key at the range without telling anyone, the printer/scanner died, or the Windows Update that installed automatically the night before screwed up display or printer drivers. When the success of the class depends on it, simple IS sometimes better.

DoubleActionCHL wrote:I'm an IT geek, too, but scanning takes time. My storage space is cheaper than my time. I use preprinted CHL-100s where they only fill in a couple of blanks. They get two pages; one is watermarked "Instructor's Copy." I keep one and give the other back. My forms are kept in file boxes in an attic storage room.

While I like the idea of scanning and storing electronically, experience has taught me that simple and low-tech is sometimes better. Inevitably, your scanner is going to fail when you need it most, or your laptop hard drive crashes and you didn't back it up.

This is how I have been doing mine. I tell my students they are human copy machines and have them sign both copies and fill in the SA/NSA, Renewal/Original, and Date. Now with our new CHL100 requiring the time spent on each section, I wonder if we can pre-print that or are we gonna have to write it out each time on each one????What a PITA

DoubleActionCHL wrote:

MasterOfNone wrote:

DoubleActionCHL wrote:simple and low-tech is sometimes better.

Please turn in your geek card.

I can't tell you how many times some bozo changed the wireless key at the range without telling anyone, the printer/scanner died, or the Windows Update that installed automatically the night before screwed up display or printer drivers. When the success of the class depends on it, simple IS sometimes better.

I use human duplication as my backup backup plan. If my scanner fails, I use the range's copier. If that fails as well, I always have extra forms to go the manual route.

MasterOfNone wrote:I use human duplication as my backup backup plan. If my scanner fails, I use the range's copier. If that fails as well, I always have extra forms to go the manual route.

For me, it saves time and is less work for me to have the students create the duplicate. Unless I or the range have a copier with a sheet feeder (which we don't), the copying wastes a lot of time. My class time is at a premium as it is.

Seabear wrote:

DoubleActionCHL wrote:I'm an IT geek, too, but scanning takes time. My storage space is cheaper than my time. I use preprinted CHL-100s where they only fill in a couple of blanks. They get two pages; one is watermarked "Instructor's Copy." I keep one and give the other back. My forms are kept in file boxes in an attic storage room.

While I like the idea of scanning and storing electronically, experience has taught me that simple and low-tech is sometimes better. Inevitably, your scanner is going to fail when you need it most, or your laptop hard drive crashes and you didn't back it up.

This is how I have been doing mine. I tell my students they are human copy machines and have them sign both copies and fill in the SA/NSA, Renewal/Original, and Date. Now with our new CHL100 requiring the time spent on each section, I wonder if we can pre-print that or are we gonna have to write it out each time on each one????What a PITA

The range where I instruct has something set up to where they can simply type in the info, and print out as many copies as necessary. The only thing that's left to do is have students sign.

I have been using an application called CamScanner on my android phone and tablet. Take a pic of the form and it cleans it up and converts it to a PDF. Free and also available on the iPhone. Very easy, you cant beat the price, and it's not an extra piece of gear to lug around.