The "next new thing" just jumped out and bit me - the SMART LightRaise 40 wi Interactive Projector! While looking for interactive math lessons on the Smart Exchange website, there it was - a projector that does everything a SMART Board does, only you don't need a SMART Board! Technically there might not be a downside, since it costs about the same as a wide-screen interactive whiteboard, namely about $1600. This would indeed be "just the ticket" for meeting spaces like libraries and larger lecture areas and it claims to have the same "active-interactive" capabilities. Plus for organizations that are interested in getting quick implementation you wouldn't have to wait for the maintenance trio of electrician, carpenter and network technician to show up synchronously or asynchronously to install it.
Of course it is what you do with the technology you have that provides quality learning experiences, but it is great when the technology end of the equation is reliable and non-intrusive.
http://smarttech.com/lightraise
While I concur, I also know that these type of technologies only become powerful when accompanied by strong authentic, inquiry-based tasks accompanied with a diverse array of instructional strategies that conform to learners. That I believe is our real challenge. How do make learning our focus?
ReplyDeleteInteresting - although every time I see the sign for the Smart Exemplary Teachers conference here on campus I can't help but think that a Smartboard often just jazzes up the presentation of the sage on the stage, discouraging the sort of inquiry based learning we have been encouraged to explore, reinforcing a 21st century instructionism.
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