visualman

You are right in that their visual impairment is not a tech issue. However as an advisory teacher I am charged with enabling all our VI students to have equal access to the teaching and learning as every other student. In order to achieve that I often have to apply technical solutions. Some are simple but as the pupils move into secondary schools and are faced with different classrooms, greater expectations and a faster pace of learning, the problems become greater. Then there are so many psychological issues attached to being a teenager with sight problems. If I can find a way of using technology to balance the books a little then life becomes easier. I can see the problem with VNC. It probably isn't the way to go. All I need now is an alternative. Thanks for your analysis of the tech side of things. It all helps build the picture.

Thanks Steve, that makes things clearer. At present the VI students either sit up front or use a "portable" cam connected to the laptop but both methods mark them out as being different and are usually rejected by the student. Yes the teachers can save slides but the need is for access to the script being written onto the board "live" by the teacher. It is very frustrating for all concerned and I find it very puzzling that there is no tech solution.

Thanks Glenda. I have been told that it opens up the system to the student. I am at my wits end on this one. My visually impaired students are at a real disdvantage and nobody seems to have a solution.

Do any schools in Dorset use VNC or similar? I would like visually impaired students to be able to see the IWB from any seat in the class instead of having to sit nose to board to see it. My idea is to broadcast the IWB image to a laptop or slate wirelessly. I have been recommended VNC or Impergo. Has anyone any experiences? The usual answer from the network managers in middle schools or high schools is that it is too hard to run or will make the network vulnerable. If one school can make it work I can use their expertise to share with others and life for our VI students would be transformed.

I have being trying for over a year to get a school to use VNC to enable visually impaired pupils at KS3 to receive the IWB image on their laptops. However there is a universal dislike of it down here in sunny Dorset. I am told it is too difficult to install, or too insecure or it will enable the student to corrupt the school network. I am unable to argue the case because I am a guest in the school and have no real authority to insist on it unless I envoke the DDA which is a big hammer and immediately gets backs up. All I want is access to the IWB!

Pooley, why do school techies dislike VNC so much? I can't get one techie in Dorset to try it.

Chris, have you tried Impero?

Thanks Boon. We also use repeater screens in primary schools but that no longer works when the pupils move around the school at KS3 and 4. We really need a mobile solution.

I would like a visually impaired pupil to be able to see the IWB from any seat in the room. Is there a way to connect to the IWB wirelessly so that he can see what is being projected onto the board? I have tried VNC but the network manager/techie will not use it because they say it gives control of the teacher's laptop to the pupil. The school uses promethean but I would also like to use this syetm in smartboard schools, possibly with iPads as well as a laptop for the pupil. Any thoughts? V

Has anyone experience in using HD web cams to enable students to "see" the whiteboard from a distance? I have used them for close work on Skype etc, but I am unsure how they deal with distance work.

Oki 3400 not pulling paper through from tray. Does anyone know of this problem? Many thanks.

Sorry Ben, a bit dense here. Streaming it using vlc?

Did you get the setup info from the website or did you already know how to do this? If the latter, can u mail me a how-to-do?

I am having huge problems getting school network techies to even install and use VNC. They (two schools) say it threatens network security, will slow the system and is too complicated for their teachers to use.

That's useful info. Thanks.