eLearning Hardware?

[gshaw]

We've just got a grant for some elearning hardware and so far I've thought of the following...

 

- document visualizer

- SMART Airliner (remote smartboard control)

- Senteo voting kit

- Logitech presenter (for PowerPoint etc)

 

We've already got SMARTBoards, hooked up with high spec PCs, Belkin card readers and DiNovo wireless peripherals - is there anything else that anyone uses and rates highly?

[Sylv3r]

dataloggers - science

weather station - geography, science, maths

[Jacques]

I vote for document virtualizer as well! We don't have one but we did have a demo on one - can see a few applications with projecting manuel pages directly, as well as 3D objects.

[KarlGoddard]

another vote for a visualiser

 

we've got 4 aver media ones which we use in Science dept and Technology dept they were about £300 each and well worth the money - flexible, easy to use and easy to install and set up

 

and we've got a more full featured visualiser (can't remember the name but its got a corny name like PowerMax 2000 ) that was about £700 and is used for graphics / design lessons. the Aver media ones can't keep up with the speed of the hand movement if the teacher is sketching etc

 

but yep get some visualisers!

[BaccyNet]

We've currently started buying in Gyro-mice (the ones that work like a Nintendo Wii controller) The staff seem to like them as do the kids.

Think the price is about £50 each although I didnt buy them so cant tell exactly.

[gaz350]

i would probably go for something toatally out side of the box.

If the grant was big enough perhaps go down the route of a set of DS's with brain trainer and run some crazy project to see if getting a group of kids to uses them for 15 mins in the morning can help improve their concentration/progress etc. Aim for those middle of the road kids in the D/E bracket who could easily get a C at GCSE!

[KarlGoddard]

i would probably go for something toatally out side of the box.

If the grant was big enough perhaps go down the route of a set of DS's with brain trainer and run some crazy project to see if getting a group of kids to uses them for 15 mins in the morning can help improve their concentration/progress etc. Aim for those middle of the road kids in the D/E bracket who could easily get a C at GCSE!

 

I think Learning and Teaching Scotland undertook a project, the 'Consolarium' blog has full details I think, that did this on quite a large scale. If I remember right academic grades didn't really increase significantly (if at all?) over the control set but what did improve was the social binding of the kids - being part of a group project boosted the confidence and 'team spirit' of the kids.

 

The other issue is would teaching staff have the nous to design activities using DS's (my experience tells me that's a no, I'm sad to say).

 

I love the idea of using DS's though... I'm playing around with the DS 100 Classic Books Collection hopefully for English revision use

 

We also use a Wii for use with kids with developing motor-skills

 

god, I love this kinda ed-tech

[dhicks]

document visualizer

 

It's a webcam. Ona stick.

 

SMART Airliner (remote smartboard control)

 

Get a tablet PC, connect up with wireless to your network, use VNC to control desktop machine connected to projector.

 

Senteo voting kit

 

Not been that impressed with voting kits - better getting some cheap netbooks.

 

Logitech presenter (for PowerPoint etc)

 

As with the previous post, I'd go for the Gyration mice - actually, I'd get the mouse-and-keyboard sets, good value for money.

 

--

David Hicks

[gshaw]

It's a webcam. Ona stick.

David Hicks

 

I know Tis good for showing items to the class though, for our Photography classes etc

 

Get a tablet PC, connect up with wireless to your network, use VNC to control desktop machine connected to projector.

 

Bit clunky for the average tutor though and besides there's no wireless here yet

 

Not been that impressed with voting kits - better getting some cheap netbooks.

Still not sure on these yet, can get a free 30 day demo though so worth a try. Might not be suitable for our learners (adult education) and NetSupport has a similar feature but worth trying out anyway

 

As with the previous post, I'd go for the Gyration mice - actually, I'd get the mouse-and-keyboard sets, good value for money.

They do sound pretty good, might get one to try out

 

Are these the ones?

 

http://www.gyration.com/?l=uk#productOverview/miceKeyboards

Edited January 27, 2009 by gshaw