Keeping students engaged in class is one of your greatest challenges, especially with dry and uninspiring subjects.
However, the problem is rarely the subject matter itself, but the delivery method and how you deliver information to students.
Visualisers have an overhead camera that captures video and feeds it to a connected display, such as a monitor or television.
Data projectors, meanwhile, project a computer output onto a solid surface with inputs for legacy and modern equipment.
So, are visualisers and data projectors worth it for classrooms? You bet!
Here’s why:
Visualisers in class
Visualisers are simple devices; they have a mounted camera that displays an image of whatever is under it. The image is fed to a display that the whole class can see, usually over HDMI at full HD resolution (1080p).
First-hand views
Visualisers have a camera system that points downwards; this unlocks the ability to do things on the desk and show them to the class in real-time.
You could be tying a knot, wiring a circuit, mixing chemicals, sketching a vanishing point or dissecting a frog; the visualiser will catch it all. Students can also share work, enabling peer review and self-assessment.
Zoomed perspective
Visualisers can zoom in on objects with optical zoom and digital zoom, letting you showcase the detail and intricacy of anything on the table.
Teachers often use visualisers in science to zoom in on materials when they react and show their interesting physical changes.
Recording lessons
Visualisers don’t just display images; they record them too! This means you can record lessons and sessions. You might like to use these to improve your course delivery or make video coursework records for students.
In addition to video, you can also capture photos with visualisers, letting you document lessons and deliver repeat material to other students.
Data projectors in class
Data projectors take a digital input and output content as an image through a projector system. Interactive models are particularly popular in classrooms because they track hands, enabling interaction with images in real-time.
Dynamic content
The simplest digital projectors output whatever digital content you feed in, so you have full control over what is displayed. Anything that can be stored digitally can be projected, be it a photo, video, presentation or documents.
The ability to share information, charts, images, animations, audio and video by plugging into a storage device is handy in the classroom.
Interactive content
Interactive data projectors take things further with motion sensors that detect certain hand movements. For example, you can swipe left and right to flick between pages in a PDF and zoom in on content by opening your hand.
Although they are more expensive, interactive data projects bring a new dimension to the content you create for your students.
Suitable for any space
Short throw and ultra-short throw digital projectors are extremely effective in confined spaces and small classrooms. You can use ultra-short-throw projectors less than 4ft from the wall, pushing them pretty close without losing perspective.
Because digital projectors are relatively small and inconspicuous, they are also handy when you need to maximise usable desk space.
When paired together, visualisers and digital projectors provide a complete toolkit for teachers; visualisers can show demos and content in real-time, while digital projectors can display planned material like videos and animations.
Overall, you should definitely consider both visualisers and data projectors for your school to engage students. The results are worth it!
If you have any questions about visualisers, data projectors or projector screens, call our installation team on 01924 423 111 or email info@KPMS.co.uk.
