interactive whiteboards

[Steve Harrell]

Hello all,

A question was posed to our group for which we have no good answer; so I am asking for your feedback.

A local school is using a few Promethean interactive whiteboards and had a demo for eBeam by Luidia Technologies. They are interested in finding out more about the ebeams, but have been unable to locate any schools from which they can get feedback. Anyone out there using ebeams, or can offer a reason for one over the other? All parties concerned are familiar with the Promethean units, and have been satisfied.

Thanks,

--
Steve Harrell

MA Educational Technology 

Google Certified Trainer 

http://www.tripletechtraining.com

P.O. Box 3712

Visalia, CA 93278

559-697-3301

559-967-1993 cell

[Andrew McCormac]

Steve, we currently have two Promethean white boards and have had no problems so far. And we just purchased a TapIt and it is a mobile unit and it is slick.

Andy

 

Andy McCormac, A+

amcc...@sedom.org

Information Technology Dept.

Technical Specialist Lvl. 2

 

www.sedom.org

Special Education District of Mchenry County

1200 Claussen Drive

Woodstock, Il

60098

Help Desk 815-337-2959

 

We need a data network that can easily carry voice, instead of what we have today, a voice network struggling to carry data. 
Reed Hundt 

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[Matthew A. Peskay]

I haven't ever seen one of these in use at a school, but I have seen many demos of different types of IR tracking technology (like the WiiMote).  In my opinion these types of board are much more difficult to use so if you were going to stick with an IWB I'd make sure to stay with the touch-boards like SMART or Promethean.  

HOWEVER, if you really want to think outside the proverbial box - there's been a lot of chat about replacing IWBs with an iPad/AppleTV/Projector-OR-LCDTV.

iPad = $599

Apple TV = $99

Projector or LCDTV = ~$600

Total = ~$1,300

IWB = (start at $2k and go WAY up from there)

Then your iPad becomes a completely untethered interactive tablet that you can walk around and hand off to students.  Saves time (no students getting up and wandering around); saves $$;

Just throwing it out there as another option.  This would definitely be preferable to any of the IR type boards.

All my best,

Matthew

[Matthew A. Peskay]

Great questions - I'll try to address them but forgive me if I miss something.  Also, I haven't put anything like this in a classroom so I'm not sure how it will all work, I'm pontificating.

1)  the AppleTV is what will hookup to the TV and provide wireless audio/video from the iPad via Airplay MIrroring (when iOS 5 comes out)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx_on3pWxvQ

**However, you don't necessary need to do it this way (using the AppleTV).  If you also have an Apple laptop, you could hook the laptop up to the projector and then use an App like Splashtop to remotely control your laptop from the iPad wirelessly.  However in this situation you would only be able to control apps on the Macbook, but you would not be able to show what's happening on the iPad itself if that makes sense.  Seems like you are ready to try that out now.  If you already have the SMART or Promethean toolbox on your computer you can control them in just like you would if you were standing at your computer, but instead you have an iPad as a remote control for your computer and you can just carry that around, hand it to students, etc.

In my opinion you wouldn't need to use the pre-packaged IWB lesson-plans at all, though if you have some good ones I don't see any reason why you couldn't just use them in this situation.  The iPad itself just becomes the 'touch' interface instead of a board at the front of the room.

In summary, with just an iPad an Apple laptop and a projector or TV you could start using your iPad as an untethered interactive device to remotely control (and let students control) your Macbook which is connected to the projector or TV.

With the addition of the AppleTV (and iOS5) you would be able to wirelessly send the signal from the iPad directly through the AppleTV to the projector or TV without the need for a laptop in the middle.

Hope that makes sense - love the questions.  Keep 'em coming!

Here's something very close - this guy is using a MacMini as the 'classroom' computer to add more flexibility, but really you could remove the Mini and just have the iPad->AppleTV->TV

http://speirs.org/blog/2011/3/24/the-next-generation-classroom-av-system.html

All my best,

Matthew

On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 2:11 PM, Terri Marie Reh <tr...@flagstaffacademy.org> wrote:

Hi Matthew,

I hate to ask stupid questions but, well, here I go :)

The Apple set up interests me. I have the iPad and projector so all I'd need is Apple TV.

Can you explain where the interactive content (Like SMART lessons) would come from?

I have not used a IWB but your idea seems pretty easy. From what I understand, you can find

lessons for SMART boards online and download them. 

What purpose does the Apple TV serve. I read a little and see you have access to Youtube, NetFlix etc.

But those are not what I'd want. 

Can you explain a little more?

Terri Reh
Third Grade Teacher/Technology Transfer Team
Flagstaff Academy Charter School
2040 Miller Drive
Longmont, CO
(303) 651-7900 Ext. 222

Blog: http://rehfsa.blogspot.com/

Web Page:

https://sites.google.com/a/flagstaffacademy.org/terrirehthirdgrade/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ThirdGradeTerri

[Robert Pronovost]

My school/district uses eBeams thanks to a partnership I forged with them... I also use the Doceri app for the ipad in my room so I am happy to provide feedback about both.

I'll write more later, but here is the breakdown between the ebeam and promethean:

Promethean

Pros: comes with projector, lots of lessons that have been created and can be adapted

Cons: expensive, not as portable

Ebeam:

Pros: portable (I can store in my laptop bag for the night or just carry over next door, cheap ($700-1000), can use with smart notebook if you already have the software, free Scrapbook software can be used on any computer

Cons: while the software had lots of images and teacher tool backgrounds there is no database of lessons like for smart or promethean, need to buy projector in addition

Doceri:

Pros: really cheap if you already have an ipad, students don't see teacher tools, can walk around room

Cons: no library of images or lessons, teacher not at board (if you like that), need projector in addition.

I have video of using the ebeam I can share and can answer any other questions.

Hope that helps!

Robert Pronovost

Second Grade Teacher

MOUSE Squad Coordinator

East Palo Alto, CA

@teach24_7

[Jeanne Eng]

My schools are considering the Mimo system.  Does anyone have any feedback on mimo vs ebeam?

 

Thanks,

Jeanne

 

 

Jeanne Eng

Technology Director

New Visions for Public Schools

320 West 13th Street NY NY 10014

646 486-8124 | je...@newvisions.org | www.newvisions.org

[Robert Pronovost]

Personally, I see them as very similar (MimioTeach and eBeam edge). eBeam has a partnership with encyclopedia brittanica and a list of IWB resources found on the web. Mimio has a site for sharing teacher lesson plans (http://www.mimioconnect.com/).

So even though I've worked with Luidia (eBeam) before and think they are kind great people in the company, if thinking about collaboration beyond your schools I might consider the Mimio.

Then again, iPads have so many applications to the classroom beyond iwb (thinking Doceri and Splashtop) that I'd strongly consider looking at that option.

Good luck!

Robert

Robert Pronovost

Second Grade Teacher

MOUSE Squad Coordinator

East Palo Alto, CA

@teach24_7

[Auten Jennifer]

I have a Mimio, as does my husband, and we both love them. I teach 2nd, he teaches high school math. He also has a MimioPad. I can't really comment on ebeam, but Mimio is easy to use, very intuitive, and there is a lot of content available on their website to download. Their tutorials are very helpful. There are some quick less than 5 min videos to watch on demand about specific topics as well as webinars that are scheduled pretty regularly.

Jennifer

On 7/8/11 9:31 AM, "Jeanne Eng" <je...@newvisions.org> wrote:

My schools are considering the Mimo system. Does anyone have any feedback on mimo vs ebeam?

Thanks,
Jeanne

Jeanne Eng
Technology Director

New Visions for Public Schools
320 West 13th Street NY NY 10014

646 486-8124 | je...@newvisions.org <mailto:gdegai...@newvisions.org><mailto:gdegai...@newvisions.org> | www.newvisions.org

[Jeff Liwag]

I favor IWB implements such as the MimioTeach or devices such as the Toshiba StarBoard WT-1 because there is no lock-in as with the iPad. Sure, if you already have iPads you can justify the cost by utilizing it to its maximum potential. Moreover, if you have iPad 2s they are fully capable of mirroring to HDMI or VGA, so there's no need to buy Apple TVs and risk further lock-in.

Jeff Liwag

Campus Instructional Technologist

Oppe Coastal Studies Campus

2915 81st St., Galveston, TX 77551

--

[Roger Jagoda]

Rob et al,

This is a really good "thumbnail" review of the top four players in IWB technology:

  http://www.smartboardsreviews.com/

The winner there is eBeam. We have used both Smart and Promethean. Promethean has a real wealth of pre-tested and teacher -provided content. That's a real plus. The downside is that once they're installed, it's really REALLY hard to move them. The same can be said of SMART. 

My own thinking is that "built-in" solutions are just not as helpful as the mobile technologies. It's not like you'd move them every day, but you might move them on a rotating basis to classes working in units that need them (maybe every other month). That's just not practical with Promethean or SMART. You'll be buying more of them and watching them sit idle sometimes.

-- R

====================================
Roger Jagoda
rbj...@gmail.com
==================================================

[Eric Krebill]

We use the Hitachi StarBoard brand here and in my opinion, any review that doesn’t mix them into the comparison is trying to hide something. 

 

The eBeam and most of the others on that site are pen based.  Why would you want to be tied to the pen and provide batteries when you can use the StarBoard and just use your finger?  I have 2 different ones, the Starboard FxTrio 88” and the StarBoard Link.  The Link is portable and magnetic, so any board that has magnetic backing it can just stick to and plug in.  Both the FxTrio and the Link are multitouch, so you can have multiple students at the board writing at the same time.

 

It’s about $50 more expensive than the eBeam, but again, you never have to feed it batteries and you never have to replace a broken or missing pen.

 

The only downside that we’ve found for the StarBoard is the lack of content, so we solved that by purchasing the rmEasiTeach software.

--

[Chris Franzen]

When considering such a purchase also keep in mind support of the product and how long it will need to last.  Products such as Promethean or Smart smartboards have been around a while and tested over time.  They also have a vault of edu related software available to use.  New products such as the Apple solution mentioned are not as time tested or EDU friendly.  Always keep in mind the big picture of what you are trying to accomplish and not the shininess of a new toy.

Chris Franzen
Technology Coordinator
Nokomis School District
511 Oberle St.
Nokomis, IL  62075

QR

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

[Neils Clemenson]

The original message was asking about EBeam vs. the Promethean so this
is off topic.

However, if you have the time and desire it's not too difficult to use
the Wiimote mounted with power to save your district money. We have
19 of them installed at our school. About 1/3 of them are used daily
for the interactive piece. The other 2/3 are used daily as projectors
with the document camera.

We have one Smartboard and it was not a permanent mounted type. The
teacher using that asked for the mounted Wiimote setup.

18 of the rooms use PCs and 1 uses a Mac.

If you have any questions, ask,

Neils Clemenson
Technology Coordinator
Maurice River Township Elementary School
3593 Rt 47
Port Elizabeth, NJ 08348



On Jul 12, 9:09 am, Chris Franzen <chrisfran...@nokomis.k12.il.us>
wrote:

> When considering such a purchase also keep in mind support of the product
> and how long it will need to last.  Products such as Promethean or Smart
> smartboards have been around a while and tested over time.  They also have a
> vault of edu related software available to use.  New products such as the
> Apple solution mentioned are not as time tested or EDU friendly.  Always
> keep in mind the big picture of what you are trying to accomplish and not
> the shininess of a new toy.
>
> Chris Franzen
> Technology Coordinator
> Nokomis School District
> 511 Oberle St.
> Nokomis, IL  62075
>

> QR <http://goo.gl/ncg7J>

>
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 1:44 PM, Steve Harrell
> <st...@tripletechtraining.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hello all,
>
> > A question was posed to our group for which we have no good answer; so I am
> > asking for your feedback.
>
> > A local school is using a few Promethean interactive whiteboards and had a
> > demo for eBeam by Luidia Technologies. They are interested in finding out
> > more about the ebeams, but have been unable to locate any schools from which
> > they can get feedback. Anyone out there using ebeams, or can offer a reason
> > for one over the other? All parties concerned are familiar with the
> > Promethean units, and have been satisfied.
>
> > Thanks,
> > --
> > Steve Harrell
> > MA Educational Technology
> > Google Certified Trainer
> >http://www.tripletechtraining.com
> > P.O. Box 3712
> > Visalia, CA 93278
> > 559-697-3301
> > 559-967-1993 cell
>