Many thanks to all those who replied to my
IWB vs projector query.
Here is a brief summary of the responses
For projectors
- Much of what you've
said there strikes a chord with me but it does sometimes feel like heresy
to speak out against new technology!
- (at first I) was
constantly amazed by the potential of what could be done and constantly
frustrated by it breaking down and having no time to develop any
resources.
- In our Museums we
have two Whiteboards but these usually act as projector screens, rarely
used in any truly interactive way.
- I see the
interaction with real objects at a museum as much more important as
children can't do this at school and as you say, museum education sessions
are interactive by their nature.
- No one is really asking the
question, 'what for?' My feeling is that technology should be introduced
as an answer or solution to a problem, not as the question. Otherwise you
end up purchasing the PDAs or iPads or IWBs because you feel you've got to
'keep up' but then you're left wondering what to do with them. I know of a
number of organisations who have drawers full of handheld devices etc but
they've never been used in a program.
- In addition kids seem to be so
surrounded by technology at home and school that old - school materials
seem to have a retro charm about them. And in my opinion nothing beats a
live presenter. I'd say ditch the IWB unless you have a program in mind
where the IWB is the best tool to deliver it.
- we have found the use of
conventional laptop projector to be fine when images and presentations are
what is required
- This type of equipment is best
in school I feel, the uniqueness of our museums and their objects is what
visitors/schools want.
- My view as an ex teacher is
that the whole interactive thing was over played when they first came out.
Most schools use them simply for writing stuff and to be quite honest you
are better off with a whiteboard and pen or an old blackboard. I
would deffo go down the cheaper route.
- We had an interactive
whiteboard installed about four years ago. I don’t think it has ever been
used as a whiteboard since, only as a projector and screen. We had a bit
of training on how to put together WB interactives in teaching but, to be
honest, I don’t think any of us has had the time or inclination to use it
to its full potential.
- However, there is a lot that
can be done with a PC and projector by way of making interesting and
interactive (slightly) presentations. For example, PowerPoint is actually
a much more flexible and innovative tool than its usual use of boring
people to death with putting a few words on a screen. Website techniques
are another way of doing interesting presentations and the software today
isn’t too demanding to get your head around. We have connected up digital
cameras (just simple ones, on a tripod) to the PC to show e.g. minibeasts
enlarged a thousand times on the screen and so on. Never have we felt the
need for what a WB can offer.
- So my advice would be to go for
the projector, make sure it has sound capability and if you have some
change left over, buy some peripherals such as a camera or even pay
someone to construct good presentations for you (especially if they are to
be used on more than one occasion)
For IWBs (kind of)
- I have an interactive 'star'
board which does the same job as a conventional IWB - it is a panel type
and is used projected on a conventional white board. The
panel is about the size of a laptop and the presenter stands alongside it,
with a stylus, as you would with a laptop powerpoint
presentation. It is supposed to be top of the range, but, it
is complicated even for my trained class room teachers. To be
honest, I don't think I would bother unless you have a large
budget.
- Saying all of this
IWBs do have a lot of potential and it would be a shame if you had to get
rid of yours only to need it later - the use of this sort of equipment is
only going to grow. I say keep it if you can afford the move but if not
then use a projector and stick the whiteboard into storage until such
times as the e-learning funding returns…
For a Friday fight
- I like whiteboards but I also
like projectors. But which one is best? There’s only one way to find
out...FIGHT!
So after weighing up
the options we are going to get rid of the IWB and stick with a projector and
peripherals. For those of you who asked why we don’t use the interactive part
of the board it is because we never have the time to develop properly
interactive resources as the time is spent developing hands-on interactive
resources. Also the software to develop the interactive element is only on a
couple of people’s computers and finally as mentioned above the interactive
element always seems to break when you least want it to.
Thanks for all the
advice and if anyone knows how you can get a whiteboard and projector to fight
please can they reply directly to Essex!
Laura
From:
List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Travis, Laura
Sent: 09 June 2011 17:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Whiteboards vs projectors
We are in the process of redeveloping one of our learning spaces.
It currently has an interactive whiteboard in it but it will need to be moved
to accommodate cupboards (it isn’t in a very good position for teaching
anyway). We need to decide whether we move the IWB (costly) or if we go for a
projector and screen option (cheaper).
A few questions we are pondering are
- As we don’t actually use the
interactive element of the board at the moment (and haven’t done really
since our e-learning person was made redundant some time ago) so is it
worth going down the more expensive route?
- The board has to be set at a
height that is suitable for giving adult talks and so isn’t low enough for
the majority of children to reach so can we achieve the same amount of
interactivity using a tablet and stylus? (this might not be the right name
for this equipment but basically a laptop that you can ‘write’ on the
screen
- Our sessions are interactive by
their very nature and use interacting with objects and art works as
opposed to interacting with a large computer screen so do we need an IWB?
- If we get rid of it now will we
make the future, in terms of keeping up with technology, more difficult?
Do any Gemmers out there have any advice? If so please reply
off list
Many thanks in advance
Laura
Laura Travis
Formal Learning Manager
Museums Sheffield
Weston Park, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10
2TP
0114 278 2657
0784 157 1031
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