I'm working at a community college and we're looking to upgrade our classroom technology. I'm curious if anyone has recommendations based on their experiences. Right now, we're using a mix of old VGA projectors and outdated smart boards. We're considering switching to interactive flat panels (IFPs), but I'm concerned about mounting them, as it would take up valuable whiteboard space, and I'm not sure how faculty would respond. Alternatively, we might go for HD laser projectors and screens in most rooms, with IFPs only where absolutely necessary. We've set up a couple of hybrid classrooms with Smart IFPs and QSC for connecting peripherals, and we'll continue to use QSC depending on how those setups work out. We're also considering adding IPVO cameras and ceiling-mounted microphones for better accessibility and captioning. Any suggestions or input would be great!
4 Answers
I attended a recent workshop with Netgear AV, and there were some really interesting innovations presented for networking in the A/V sector. Definitely worth checking out if you can.
We recently outfitted all our classrooms with Viewsonic smart TVs, and they've been pretty useful. Plus, you can mount whiteboard side panels on them if you want. Just be cautious about the length of your HDMI cables—anything longer than 10 to 15 meters can cause issues. Honestly, they're a bit pricey for how often they're used, only about 60% of the time as projectors.
Consider using mobile carts instead of mounting your smart panels. In my K-12 experience, they tend to be more flexible, and it avoids some big installation hassles. You don't need the high-end smart boards for typical classroom needs; often just a large secondary screen will do. And definitely hire a team for the installation—it creates a lot of waste, so be prepared for that! Also, if you're looking at document cameras, I’d steer clear of IPEVO. We switched to a brand with a static neck, and it works much better without the issues we had before.
That sounds promising! But how do you connect everything like mics and cameras on those carts?
If you're serious about your upgrade, I recommend spending time observing actual classes. Just sit in for about an hour each day and see how instructors use technology. Avoid math and CS classes though; they tend to be more tech-savvy! This will give you a clearer picture of what teachers really need.
Thanks for the tip! We actually just conducted a survey with faculty about the pros and cons of our current setup, which should help us too.
Good to know! We're leaning towards simpler IFPs to connect our devices, which could save some money.