Are interactive whiteboards destined for nostalgia too?

[kennysarmy]

Has anyone read the article titled "Are interactive whiteboards destined for nostalgia too?" in edition 4, 2014 of the "Education Magazine"?

 

Our Head has asked for my comments....the article appears to have been written by someone who wants to sell LCD touchscreen devices rather than it be a balanced discussion comparing the two technologies!!!

[localzuk]

I'd say that they are, yes. With the advent of interactive projectors and large format touchscreens, combined with interactive devices broadcasting wirelessly (eg. a tablet), I'd say actual "boards" are a dying product.

 

We stopped buying them about 4 years ago.

[sparkeh]

I would agree. Everytime we have bought boards we have compared against other technologies. Last time was a few years ago and it was a close decision but we chose to go with boards again. Next time we think we will go in a different direction.

[kennysarmy]

They are "easier" to use than IWB's

 

They are long lasting? (any more so than an IWB - we have one still working here that is 10 years old)

 

Pupils have difficulty viewing IWB screens.

 

Teachers are without IWB's for a couple of days at least when the projector bulb dies!

 

IWB's are EXPENSIVE to run requiring a SIGNIFICANT amount of energy to use.

 

All of these are claims made in the article...

 

I'm coming from a Secondary school so ease of use by the pupils is probably not a consideration as I'd say 99% of the time it's the teacher using the IWB.

 

I don't believe that viewing our IWB's are an issue for students....teachers have blinds on their windows if necessary.

 

We keep a stock of projectors that still require bulbs in case they go, but on the whole we have moved over to Casio models that don't require bulbs.

 

I also question the IWB's are expensive to run....expensive compared to what? Has anyone got any real life figures on the costs of running a bulb free projector and IWB versus an LCD touchscreen?

[snagrat]

LCD panels are about 50% more efficient than a projector.

 

Why use blinds and sit in the dark when a LCD panel will work in the sunlight?

 

They don't need calibrating which is a big problem with IWBs.

Edited December 12, 2014 by snagrat

[APMerry]

I love the idea of a touch screen TV but until they fall dramatically in price I wont be looking at them. The Interactive Whiteboard for me is a thing of the past, we use Interactive projectors in all classrooms, projecting onto a standard whiteboard so it doesn't cost a fortune every time a teacher uses permanent marker on the whiteboard. The projectors come with a 5 year lamp warranty so we get free replacements, after the warranty runs out, the projector is up for replacement.

[kennysarmy]

Power consumption 84" Clevertouch S Series - <435 W

 

Power consumption Casio Projector XJ-A142-UJ - 155W (eco off)

Power consumption ActivBoard 578 Pro - 290W

Total = 445W

 

 

Wow - massive savings there!

[Norphy]

LCD Screens have so many advantages over whiteboards but as far as I'm concerned, these are the big ones:

 

Only one piece of hardware instead of up to three (Projector, whiteboard, amp&speakers)

It's essentially a television so everyone should understand how it operates

Easier to see in bright conditions

One cable for video and audio

No geometry issues, perfect picture every time

No bulb to blind you if you're not using short-throw projectors

A stable image, it won't shake if someone closes the door too hard.

No calibration required with the model that I've seen.

 

Not to mention that they'll be cheaper to run and much easier to support. Really, they're a no-brainer. If you can afford them, you should be getting them.

[kennysarmy]

LCD panels are about 50% more efficient than a projector.

 

Why use blinds and sit in the dark when a LCD panel will work in the sunlight?

 

They don't need calibrating which is a big problem with IWBs.

 

Why is calibrating a big problem?

 

We have 34 IWB's on site - I can count on one hand the number of times teachers ask us to go to their rooms for a recalibration....perhaps they are doing it themselves....it takes what, all of 20 seconds to do?

 

Maybe I'm just lucky

 

Don't get me wrong I'm not against LCD touch screens per se I'm sure they are grand - but the article just paints a very one sided picture and you know what happens when your Head or SLT read such articles...they get sucked in and the next thing....I'm asked why we don't have any!

[synaesthesia]

I absolutely agree. I would not buy an IWB for love nor money now. OK, maybe if we've just bought a projector and the existing IWB has failed, but even then I'd push to replace it with an interactive screen for all the good reasons given above. Combined cost of a decent projector & IWB isn't much lower than a touchscreen - certainly if it's an ultra shortthrow.

 

CD's and cassette tape.

Edited December 12, 2014 by synaesthesia

[APMerry]

How much do these screens cost? Last i looked it was around 8-10k for a screen with the same size image you can get with a projector.

[kennysarmy]

What about software?

 

Our MFL dept. use Promethean boards and their software.

 

Our Maths dept. use Promethean boards and Hitachi software (we have to purchase their standalone licensed version)

 

Other departments use Smart boards and their software.

 

What do you do when moving to Touchscreens?

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

How much do these screens cost? Last i looked it was around 8-10k for a screen with the same size image you can get with a projector.

 

We've recently been deploying the IWB model ABV578PRO to both Maths and MFL.

This board is 78" in diagonal size and costs £1,535

 

The Clevertouch Plus LED 70" 6-point touch with AG Glass is around £3,600

&

Clevertouch Plus LED 84" 6-point touch with AG Glass is around £5,890

[APMerry]

The Clevertouch Plus LED 70" 6-point touch with AG Glass is around £3,600

&

Clevertouch Plus LED 84" 6-point touch with AG Glass is around £5,890

 

They're coming down then, still more than double the cost of a projector, personally I dont think the benefits mentioned are huge and don't justify that extra expense. It would add up quickly doing it in just a few classrooms.

[sted]

i think long term they are. Even smart can see this their new boards are terrible and they now just want to rent you their software

[synaesthesia]

As above. That 70" clevertouch is 3k from most places. Don't forget to add the cost of the projector to that IWB cost before comparing.

[kennysarmy]

As above. That 70" clevertouch is 3k from most places. Don't forget to add the cost of the projector to that IWB cost before comparing.

 

bulb free Casio XJ-A142-UJ Projectors recently @ £715

 

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

What about software?

 

Our MFL dept. use Promethean boards and their software.

 

Our Maths dept. use Promethean boards and Hitachi software (we have to purchase their standalone licensed version)

 

Other departments use Smart boards and their software.

 

What do you do when moving to Touchscreens?

 

I'm most interested in some replies to this....cheers....

[synaesthesia]

Still... Each to their own with this but people relying on IWB's are behind the times.

One of my schools runs Promethean touchscreens, and therefore they use activinspire. We don't make use of that sort of software here, but would probably go for the SMART software if they sort themselves out.

That same school is replacing Casio projectors and older Promethean boards with those touchscreens (admittedly though, they do seem to have an abundance of cash)

[kennysarmy]

Still... Each to their own with this but people relying on IWB's are behind the times.

One of my schools runs Promethean touchscreens, and therefore they use activinspire. We don't make use of that sort of software here, but would probably go for the SMART software if they sort themselves out.

That same school is replacing Casio projectors and older Promethean boards with those touchscreens (admittedly though, they do seem to have an abundance of cash)

 

Lucky them.

I've been told my budget next year might be slashed by £100,000! - #signofthetimes

[Sagima]

We've been having that discussion here for the last 18 months. The Head is rather set against the Interactive TVs for the classrooms for years 7-13 but we are getting them for the younger pupils classrooms (years 3-6). Most of the school is against IWB but I have spent maybe 3 hours in discussions and demonstrations with Modern Languages and they will not give their boards up for anything. It's finally been decided that we will replace them all in the next 12 months but they are going to be the only IWBs in the school.

 

Our Head isn't convinced that either boards or TVs are worth the money in general - he quite happy with staff/students just projecting their tablets onto the whiteboards. He has an aspiration where people will swipe their work on and off the projection like they do in CSI

[synaesthesia]

Lucky them.

I've been told my budget next year might be slashed by £100,000! - #signofthetimes

 

SLASHED BY?

 

Our budget has only ever been 1/3rd of what you're is being slashed by!

[LeMarchand]

SLASHED BY?

 

Our budget has only ever been 1/3rd of what you're is being slashed by!

 

What is this "budget" of which you speak?

[CamelMan]

I had this discussion recently with my supplier -

 

Interactive SB fitted with Projector ~ £1.5K

Interactive TV ~£3K+

 

Yes TV's are better technology and there are benefits but the cost negate some of these.

 

Plus some of them are double edged - i.e. no projector - OK no bulb to go wrong, but if bulb goes its £149 and you back in business, if projector dies £300 and your back in - if the TV dies then its another 3K+.

 

I'll be looking at a full refit of all rooms next year - I cant see TVs being cost effective at the moment.

Edited December 12, 2014 by CamelMan

[maark]

How many staff use the interactive features at all - a lot of staff just seem to project and never use the interactive bits.

In that case a TV from richer sounds might be better.

Or you could use a gyro mouse or tablet to walk around the classroom linked to your laptop/PC - interacting without having to stand in front of the screen and blocking the view.

[crc-ict]

Teachers are without IWB's for a couple of days at least when the projector bulb dies!

 

Wow, what suppliers are they using? Never heard of Next Day delivery?!

 

It's not that the situation is any better with interactive screens - it's just taken us 3 weeks to get one swapped out under warranty.

[synaesthesia]

Heh - our last load of projectors came with a spare bulb each. We're sorted for another 5 years here I reckon before we need to worry, by which time touchscreens will be the norm!