Visualisers, please help

[EliteCommander]

I have been asked to source visualisers for all of our classrooms, does anyone have experience with these, and can you recommend a good, value-for-money make and model. After looking at some of the cheapest ones, the reviews read something like "I could do better with a webcam and a stick", which actually was my first thought, has anyone gone the DIY route and if so, how successfully ?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

[Joanne]

My experience with visualisers is that they hardly get used. Do staff have iPads? It might be cheaper to buy airserver and use the iPad as a wireless visualiser.

[atcoates]

Depends what staff want to achieve? We use smart notebook app on ipads .

[NikChillin]

We use the HUE hd cam, small usb powered cam. Fine for what they need and doesn't take up half the desk!

[3s-gtech]

Some of our departments heavily use theirs, others not so much. We've found a decent balance of numbers/need, but I strongly suggest moderating the numbers purchased as probably 50% won't get touched if you buy one for every room.

 

We've used Aver units for about 10 years. The most recent we bought were U50s - these are a nice idea but the built quality of the camera head is very poor and can fall apart on first use. Our older ones (like the CP135) are durable and decent, but need more cabling.

[EliteCommander]

Wow, quick and useful responses, thanks. I had thought of ipads and airplay, I'm not sure exactly what is wanted in terms of portability and stability, but maybe a framework of some kind would work. I'll have to have a word with the Head and find out exactly why he has suddenly decided we need them. Thanks again for all the responses so far.

[Joanne]

I found that they were used mostly to show other childrens work and books. With the iPad you can walk around the room and show work on the board without having to take the work away from the kid...

[Novalee]

We have a handful of these - Lumens is a leader in optical products (or similar - can't remember the exact model - but one of this type at least!) - used with the ladibug software.

 

Software is easy to deploy, they are light and easy to move around. Our maths department are the biggest fans of visualisers.

[AJWhite1970]

Experience? Yes. Good experience? No

 

We have one that is now an expensive coffee table that the art department used to use. Now we use AirServer (AirServer - The Most Advanced AirPlay, Miracast and Google Cast receiver for Mac, PC and Xbox One) in each of the classroom PC's which costs about £6 each and the staff walk round with their iPads and mirror it up to the projector if they want to show students work to the class.

[Helen25]

I'd also ask what they're needed for, I've got several that are gathering dust and not used.

[southhamster]

Same here. Across 5 schools I can only think of a handful of teachers that actually used them . Same with flatbed scanners. Loads bought but never used.

Maybe you could get one to see if staff really want to use it? One problem is just the sheer space the bigger units take up on small desks to say nothing of another thing to plug in and cause confusion to supply teachers!

[atcoates]

Yes, as per comments above. We have a lot of dust on a lot of visualisers in some schools!