What Interactive Touchscreens are people using?

[CHSGM]

Starting to begin the transition from the dated SMART board to interactive touchscreens but would just like to know what people are using.

 

One of the schools is new and has the new C-Touch boards in, which are brilliant - but will definitely not be paying that much in the others. Price point is realistically < £2000

 

Anybody using the iiyama's by any chance?

 

Cheers

[Disease]

We have some although our Head does not like them.

 

We bought 20 Smart Touch last September a mixture of 65 and 75 inch versions. He is unhappy with the size of the image compared to the old SmartBoard projector combo, so now we are looking at going back to that.

[Andycat]

We have some Ctouch (best of the ones we own), a couple of Promethean (One already been replaced, and not liked) a Philips (Early, but ok) but most all teachers still want a projector.

[supawat1]

I have a few of BenQ 65" and just installed a IIyama 65" yesterday. The overall quality of the screen is very good. If you shop around, you can get the price down to £1,400.

[Disease]

Are you all using Smart Notebook, be interesting as a side note.

[Helen25]

Currently have 15 ActiveTouch 72". Got them when promehean was doing promotions, so cut the cost a bit. Would have been able to cut cost even more if I'd been able to get on 5 year lease instead of 3, as warranty is 5 year replace on site.

[mjk]

We had a trial of the 4K iiyama ( 65" £1380 ) vs the 65" 4k Samsung (£1750)

We opted for Samsung and our justification was that the sound on the Iiyama is too 'tinny' compared to the samsung so we'd need to invest more in providing external speakers and amplifiers.

We also found that the InfraRed sensor is not adjustable as it is on the Samsung and we would need to install relay devices to make it operable at an angle (where the teachers desk is), adding complexity and decreases the reliability of the system.

The installation mount seems to be offset on the Iiyama and we were not sure if the display included mount spacers - increasing the complexity of installation. We have a few Samsung on site so it made sense from a training and support point of view to stick with Samsung despite the £400 price difference.

[TwistedHelixis]

Smart 75 inch TVs in a few schools, Teachers love them. BTW the newer ones are way better than the older ones. I believe the ones coming out in the summer, might have android or Chrome built in, along with the iPad / Android link which is in the older ones.

[christhetech]

We're using Promethean ActivPanels that were purchased through a company called All Office. Promethean aren't the cheapest out there, but they are extremely high quality.

I would possibly look at some of the BenQ panels, if we needed to purchase more.

It might be worth you giving All Office a call to be honest. They have been brilliant with me whenever I've dealt with them.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

We're using Promethean ActivPanels that were purchased through a company called All Office. Promethean aren't the cheapest out there, but they are extremely high quality.

I would possibly look at some of the BenQ panels, if we needed to purchase more.

It might be worth you giving All Office a call to be honest. They have been brilliant with me whenever I've dealt with them.

[Sonic007]

We use Prowise 65" screens. Well built and work really well.

We have them with the PC module slotted in the back.

 

https://www.prowise.com/en/touchscreens/

[FN-GM]

We have 55 Ctouch and around 30 Iiyama in the primary schools. They are about equal in my option. I think the Iiyama seems to have a better display colour wise.

 

Iiyama doesn't have an abvious freeze button on the remote. You press blue so that can be confusing.

 

We are replacing the Ctocuhes next year with Iiyama. They are cheaper and just as good.

[psydii]

Interesting point about image size. When moving from 4:3 to 16:9, to match the image height/size of a 75" 4:3 board you need at 90" panel.

 

I always felt that in some ways the 4:3 75" boards were a step backwards from the massive 8-12' high rolling chalk boards of yore. At 16:9 the 65" panels offer really limited working real-estate.

 

Personally I am tempted(*) to try to do a cheap as possible refresh of 4:3 projectors and run them until supersized 4K panels become affordable.

[SVM]

Anyone have any Avocor screens with Oktopus software for a primary ?

[Jaymate]

Just gone with the new smart mx range. Had a demo and look/feel great. Price not bad too!

[XiJ]

We install a LOT of iiyama. It’s our go to board really. Had one failure where it was replaced without requested on a de install re install.

I will say the positioning of the IT sensor is poor though. However we have a relationship where we can feed back to them on that. It’s pretty cool.

[whs1000]

We install a LOT of iiyama. It’s our go to board really. Had one failure where it was replaced without requested on a de install re install.

I will say the positioning of the IT sensor is poor though. However we have a relationship where we can feed back to them on that. It’s pretty cool.

 

Do the iiyama screens come with any board software (similar to activinspire) ?

[woody]

We currently have 10 year old promethean IWBs and recently bought projectors in one of my Academies, and 7 year old promethean IWBs with projectors the same age in the other. We also have a long standing strategy of providing laptops to teachers rather than fixed PCs in each classroom. Despite several attempts at training and encouragement to use interactivity, only about 15% of staff actually bother with the pen. For everyone else, it's just projecting a powerpoint onto the board.

 

My thinking on this is why replace them all with an interactive panel if staff will not use them interactively. Sure - more probably will use them because of the potential wow factor but even if 50% use them interactively, 50% wastage on a £1500 - £2500 panel is not acceptable. We don't want to go down the road of only putting them in rooms where they will get used because staff do move round, and the Academies are currently growing, meaning not all staff will have the luxury of their own classroom all the time.

 

Therefore, we are looking into a Surface Pro or equivalent device plus a Microsoft wireless adapter when we come round to renewing staff laptops. Whilst costing double, when you offset this against the cost of an interactive panel, it's not that bad. And then when the projectors are EOL, we will replace them with cheaper 65-70" Tvs. With MS Ink, it is much less of a barrier to interactivity so hopefully more will use the pen, and even if they don't they still have a high quality laptop that is getting used albeit not to its full potential.

 

Just need to work in the costs of accidental damage insurance as will certainly be required. We would only supply teaching staff with the surface, but other staff with a stansdard laptop running windows 10 can just as easily connect to the projector / TV using the MS adapter - something we are testing now to make sure it is reliable.

[Blue_Cookeh]

We currently have 10 year old promethean IWBs and recently bought projectors in one of my Academies, and 7 year old promethean IWBs with projectors the same age in the other. We also have a long standing strategy of providing laptops to teachers rather than fixed PCs in each classroom. Despite several attempts at training and encouragement to use interactivity, only about 15% of staff actually bother with the pen. For everyone else, it's just projecting a powerpoint onto the board.

 

My thinking on this is why replace them all with an interactive panel if staff will not use them interactively. Sure - more probably will use them because of the potential wow factor but even if 50% use them interactively, 50% wastage on a £1500 - £2500 panel is not acceptable. We don't want to go down the road of only putting them in rooms where they will get used because staff do move round, and the Academies are currently growing, meaning not all staff will have the luxury of their own classroom all the time.

 

Therefore, we are looking into a Surface Pro or equivalent device plus a Microsoft wireless adapter when we come round to renewing staff laptops. Whilst costing double, when you offset this against the cost of an interactive panel, it's not that bad. And then when the projectors are EOL, we will replace them with cheaper 65-70" Tvs. With MS Ink, it is much less of a barrier to interactivity so hopefully more will use the pen, and even if they don't they still have a high quality laptop that is getting used albeit not to its full potential.

 

Just need to work in the costs of accidental damage insurance as will certainly be required. We would only supply teaching staff with the surface, but other staff with a stansdard laptop running windows 10 can just as easily connect to the projector / TV using the MS adapter - something we are testing now to make sure it is reliable.

 

Have you asked the staff why they aren't using the IWBs? Obviously it differs from school to school but there would be outcry in our school if we took away out interactive SMART displays now.

[woody]

Have you asked the staff why they aren't using the IWBs? Obviously it differs from school to school but there would be outcry in our school if we took away out interactive SMART displays now.

 

It is a combination of many things - laziness / old habits, perceived barriers both technical and operational, lack of time to develop skills, confidence. This opinion is the result of speaking to staff and understanding their current practice. I'm sure a lot of other schools have been there in the past if not present. There have been attempts to train and encourage staff but the climate has never been right (other problems higher up the list to deal with) and historically it has not been a priority of management either. That is changing rapidly though and the Principals at both my Academies are looking to focus more on classroom technology. The issue is, the money isn't there and so we are looking at ways to dip our toes in whilst preparing the climate for change.

 

For instance, one way we could prepare with little up front cost would be to put the MS wireless adaptors in every room with the current set up. Then, we not only test the reliability of the connectivity but also get staff used to connecting in a different way with their current laptop. If it is reliable (here's hoping) then the next step of moving to an interactive device (surface or equivalent) will be much easier.

 

Of course, if you already have a large uptake of staff using interactivity at the front of the classroom, then it makes sense to stick with that and upgrade the front of the room periodically.

[christhetech]

We currently have 10 year old promethean IWBs and recently bought projectors in one of my Academies, and 7 year old promethean IWBs with projectors the same age in the other. We also have a long standing strategy of providing laptops to teachers rather than fixed PCs in each classroom. Despite several attempts at training and encouragement to use interactivity, only about 15% of staff actually bother with the pen. For everyone else, it's just projecting a powerpoint onto the board.

 

My thinking on this is why replace them all with an interactive panel if staff will not use them interactively. Sure - more probably will use them because of the potential wow factor but even if 50% use them interactively, 50% wastage on a £1500 - £2500 panel is not acceptable. We don't want to go down the road of only putting them in rooms where they will get used because staff do move round, and the Academies are currently growing, meaning not all staff will have the luxury of their own classroom all the time.

 

Therefore, we are looking into a Surface Pro or equivalent device plus a Microsoft wireless adapter when we come round to renewing staff laptops. Whilst costing double, when you offset this against the cost of an interactive panel, it's not that bad. And then when the projectors are EOL, we will replace them with cheaper 65-70" Tvs. With MS Ink, it is much less of a barrier to interactivity so hopefully more will use the pen, and even if they don't they still have a high quality laptop that is getting used albeit not to its full potential.

 

Just need to work in the costs of accidental damage insurance as will certainly be required. We would only supply teaching staff with the surface, but other staff with a stansdard laptop running windows 10 can just as easily connect to the projector / TV using the MS adapter - something we are testing now to make sure it is reliable.

 

Would the school not consider getting the staff some training in the use of Interactive screens? It seems pretty crazy to have the means to deliver an interactive experience to the classroom and not bother using it. There are plenty of companies out there who can deliver sufficient training to at least get the teaching staff on board with the concept of using the boards to their full potential. In terms of cost, it's a no brainer.

[woody]

Would the school not consider getting the staff some training in the use of Interactive screens? It seems pretty crazy to have the means to deliver an interactive experience to the classroom and not bother using it. There are plenty of companies out there who can deliver sufficient training to at least get the teaching staff on board with the concept of using the boards to their full potential. In terms of cost, it's a no brainer.

 

The point is, we don't have interactive screens, we have interactive boards, and they are coming to the end of their life - particularly the 10 year old ones where we cannot buy new pens. In the other Academy, the projectors as well as staff laptops are needing to be replaced soon although the boards probably have a few years left in them. So we have a decision to make. Either way, we will need to provide training, but I feel bringing the interactivity to the teacher device rather than the board offers better value for money over time (for us), fits in with the strategy for where we want to go, and has less of a training need since the jump from using Office -> using Office with a pen requires much less of a learning curve.

[mjk]

@woody The problem with your strategy is that all of the commercial quality displays have touch built in. To get a TV without touch you'll pay less but it will also be a domestic TV and not designed to run 8hrs per day. Getting touch screen devices is great (all our teachers and students have touch-enabled chromebooks) but we still need interactive displays.

[nicholab]

My view is with IWB replacement is if you can standardize on software not constrained to one board maker and make that migration free up your large format display chooses. The future is going to be devices in learners hands zapping content to the board. So why are we still putting an interactive board on a wall when I could give staff a laptop or a touchscreen at their desk. An interim solution a quite like the Casio low maintenance projector offing to keep the IWB's going. Interactive display do not make sense it the current funding world that most school find then selves in. If I can buy a new projector and flip laptop for a staff member to me that make more sense.

[PrimaryNetMan]

We currently have 10 year old promethean IWBs and recently bought projectors in one of my Academies, and 7 year old promethean IWBs with projectors the same age in the other. We also have a long standing strategy of providing laptops to teachers rather than fixed PCs in each classroom. Despite several attempts at training and encouragement to use interactivity, only about 15% of staff actually bother with the pen. For everyone else, it's just projecting a powerpoint onto the board.

 

My thinking on this is why replace them all with an interactive panel if staff will not use them interactively. Sure - more probably will use them because of the potential wow factor but even if 50% use them interactively, 50% wastage on a £1500 - £2500 panel is not acceptable. We don't want to go down the road of only putting them in rooms where they will get used because staff do move round, and the Academies are currently growing, meaning not all staff will have the luxury of their own classroom all the time.

 

Therefore, we are looking into a Surface Pro or equivalent device plus a Microsoft wireless adapter when we come round to renewing staff laptops. Whilst costing double, when you offset this against the cost of an interactive panel, it's not that bad. And then when the projectors are EOL, we will replace them with cheaper 65-70" Tvs. With MS Ink, it is much less of a barrier to interactivity so hopefully more will use the pen, and even if they don't they still have a high quality laptop that is getting used albeit not to its full potential.

 

Just need to work in the costs of accidental damage insurance as will certainly be required. We would only supply teaching staff with the surface, but other staff with a standard laptop running windows 10 can just as easily connect to the projector / TV using the MS adapter - something we are testing now to make sure it is reliable.

Currently going the same route. Rather than 1 interactive screen have 2 TVs with Chromecasts. Still using Windows laptops at the moment but down the line these will be replaced with new style 2-1 Chromebooks. Will mean the Teacher isn't stuck at the front of the class. Much for flexibility and better for pupil engagement.

[hallb15]

For us, the software determined which IFP to go for. We are 100% SMART notebook in school and so, after testing several other hardware brands, we've decided to go with SMART hardware. The Iiyama was a close second, but it just isn't 100% compatible with SMART Notebook and the teaching staff who tested it got too frustrated with it not working reliably. Nothing wrong with the hardware, just not compatible with Notebook.