A Modern Presentation System

By Rolland Kornblau

For some time now, I have been struggling with projectors, document cameras,  and laptops in the classroom when used as a presentation system. The total cost of said items can exceed $6,000 for hardware, and more when you factor in the cost of mounting the hardware and running the wires. Not to mention the trip hazard of connecting wires or hardware falling off of tables.  All that and you still need some sort of hardware for sound.  Maintenance of said equipment can also raise the cost. 

Some of the issues my district is experiencing;

1)  Installation of new hardware and running cables is expensive.

2)  Projectors need bulbs, filters and cleaning at least once a year, sometimes twice.

3)  Smartboards need periodic calibration or the control boards go bad.

4)   Document cameras fail or fall from tables due to cables getting pulled. 

There has to be a better solution.  There is.

My district will move forward with a 60-inch LCD TV, Apple TV and iPad.  Now, before you say that everyone will be watching television in the classrooms, let me explain. We selected an LCD TV that is a 60-inch model, which is of reasonable cost considering current classroom screens are only 48 inches. It is larger, yet remains under $1,200, including a mounting bracket and mounting consists of four bolts in the wall. The location in the front of all of our classrooms has power, so there is nothing more to install. I didn’t have to go through DSA for a ceiling mount, nor am I worried about anything falling onto our students.  We have eliminated the need to work before or after school hours to maintain the hardware as some projectors need to be removed from their mounts for cleaning or bulb and filter replacement. Televisions also have the benefit of built in sound. 

Today’s LCD TVs have more than enough connections; Coax, DVI, HDMI and VGA to connect a computer or tablet, but we decided to go wireless. For about $100, an Apple TV is a great way to bridge the connection from a computer or iOS device wirelessly to the TV.  Other than connecting the Apple TV to the LCD via an HDMI cable and both to power, there are no additional wires needed.  I do like to connect the Apple TV to our network via an Ethernet cable, but it is not necessary as the Apple TV has Wifi built in. In addition, if the students have an iPad or new Apple laptop, they can also mirror their hardware to the LCD screen via the Apple TV.

For computer hardware, we selected the iPad.  While the iPad is not a direct replacement for a computer and was originally created for consumption, creation is becoming more prevalent in iOS with apps. The iPad is a very versatile piece of hardware that can be used for Internet, email attendance, pictures, and many other uses that expand daily. The use that closed the deal for this device was the built in camera when I realized that it could be used as a wireless document camera. Place the iPad on a stand (or dish rack for that matter) with anything underneath and you have an auto focusing stationary document camera or you can walk around the room, even outside, while broadcasting images wirelessly.  

Talk about flipping the classroom. Anyone in the room can simply showcase what they have done without relocating (or having to navigate) to the front of the classroom so the teacher is no longer the only presenter. The hardware wirelessly mirrors the device to the LCD.  We have removed much of the maintenance, replaceable parts requirements and labor of doing so and all this for less than one-third of the cost.  An added benefit is that this system can also grow in versatility as new software apps are added to the iPad. There are different solutions out there, but the ROI (return on investment) of these products working together is great.

About the Author:

Rolland Kornblau is the Director of Technology for the Whittier City School District in Whittier, California. He has been in Educational Technology for over 15 years and holds an MPA. He is a CCTO, ACSA and TechSETS Advisory Committee member.  A proud founding member of the Whittier Area Technology Leaders (WATL), he can be reached at rolland@whittiercity.net.

What Emerging Technologies Do Adolescents/College Students Need to be Exposed to?

By Henry Danielson

“For some, new technologies have been such a defining feature in the lives of younger generations that they predict a fundamental change in the way young people communicate, socialize, create and learn. They argue that this shift has profound implications for education.” (e.g. Prensky, 2001a; Rainie, 2006; Gibbons, 2007; Underwood, 2007). Adapted from Helsper, E., and Eynon, R. (2010). Digital Natives: Where Is the Evidence?

Our students thrive in a world of technology, and it seems counter intuitive to instruct them in an environment without it. My role in teaching technology to college students has been paralleled with my experience as a technology director enhancing technology in a small school district in California.

K-12 education needs to prepare students to become digital content creators and consumers. The use of mobile devices create anytime anywhere learning that extends the educational setting beyond the classroom. Student learners leverage the power of technology through the use of mobile computing.

College students need full-throttle instruction on how to augment technology in education. My class at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo explores research and theory on how children and adolescents use digital technologies, and its influences on cognitive, social and identity development. The college students I work with value current technologies to help them in career choices and pursuing higher education.

I use myriad technology competencies to facilitate learning at Cal Poly and Coast Unified School District. Some areas covered are computer-science programming, robotics, web design, augmented reality, app development, Photoshop skills, video production and research-based technology. Useful emerging technologies for adolescents and college students include:

• Understanding Creative Commons and social sites like Twitter.
• Basic computer programming (10 of the best online programming tools for students)
• Computing with mobile devices such as an iPad and the mobile operating system.
• Leveraging Kickstarter to create your own business.
• Using modern, cloud-based web design such as Squarespace.
• Creating Apps for mobile devices. One such resource is Buzztouch. 
• Editing and using video as a vehicle for learning and creating content. Khan Academy is one proven example.
• Promoting computer coding with Code Academy—Why your eight-year-old student should be coding article.

The structure of technology in the 21st century is fast paced and we must help students adapt. The surging culture of innovation in communities and schools can enhance student learning. We can prepare our students/future teachers for a world that is creating jobs and enhancing workforce strategies through technology.

About The Author

Henry Danielson is a lecturer/technology lab instructor at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, and the director of technology at Coast Unified School District in Cambria, Calif. He can be reached @ hdanielson@coastusd.org or @hdanielson on Twitter.