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EdTech is a great asset to help accommodate students with special needs. Between common devices with accessibility features and purpose-built software, education is becoming more inclusive than ever. Because of advanced technology and awareness students with specialized needs can be given the best education for them. With the right application of EdTech, you can truly break down barriers in truly astounding ways.Continue reading to learn 5 more benefits for students receiving special education, or check out ViewSonic’s inclusive classroom solution so that you can make the change today!
School can be tough for any child. For students with special needs in the classroom, the challenges can be amplified. The common school-day struggles like social interactions, workload, and unknown faces can be massive for students with special needs. EdTech helps in that it can create accommodations and modifications for a wide range of students.
Because each student is different in not just their capabilities but their personality, defining where students may struggle is very important. Whether it be a student with a learning deficit, physical impairment, or other needs, making sure you understand their need is important.
Once you have understood that, you can begin choosing the appropriate EdTech accommodations to ensure their success!
Teaching is a demanding profession. Teaching students with certain needs can quickly multiplies the job’s challenges if teachers are not given the proper support. Some difficulties teacher may have to navigate when teaching students with special needs include:
Students themselves often face a crisis of confidence in addition to the challenges of their unique needs. This can lead to low motivation and poor learning outcomes.
Thankfully, many special education teachers can now implement what is called assistive technology(AT).
Defined by the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, AT is “any item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”
This includes just about anything a resourceful teacher has in his or her toolbox. From highlighters to colored overlays, pencil grips, adapted paper, and spelling aids all assist with writing.
The term “EdTech” encompasses a narrower scope of assistive technology tools. Which by no means suggests there’s a narrow range of assistive EdTech tools out there! Increasingly, EdTech means technology that finds its way into the classroom. Think iPads, interactive whiteboards, and lots and lots of apps.
These everyday tech tools help students with special needs not only progress on their own level, but be placed in general classroom settings. They have the potential to improve accessibility. To enhance communication. And help students develop strong learning and life skills.
Well-deployed EdTech helps students overcome many obstacles. In fact, in today’s classrooms, EdTech can be an amazing equalizer.
Public policy governing special education supports the inclusion of students with special needs in general education classrooms. Introduced in 1975 and now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this law is like the “Bill of Rights” for students with special needs. It guarantees access to a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to every child.
By all indications, these laws are working. Between 1976 and 2010 there was a 90% increase in the time students with certain needs spent in general education classrooms. Today, more than 62% of children with special needs are in general education classrooms for 80% or more of their school day.
That’s a good thing. Studies show inclusion creates well-rounded individuals and strong learning environments for everyone. Without the appropriate supports, however, students with certain needs in general education classrooms can end up frustrated and lacking motivation.
Not to mention they can fall behind academically. Educational technology can decrease frustration and increase success in just about every learning area. It can be a vital part of enabling equal learning spaces, engaging with teachers, develop confidence, and build academic understanding.
The best EdTech gives students a level academic playing field. The key, of course, is matching the right tech to the right students.
Among the many great things about assistive technology (AT) today is how easy it can be for schools, teachers, and parents to get their hands on. For one thing, traditional AT has merged with consumer technologies. For another, lots of the best EdTech has become common in today’s classrooms.
Many schools offer 1:1 computing. In 2017 half of all teachers said that their students each had a computing device. Today, the percentage of students with an iPad, laptop or Chromebook is clearly higher. And over 70% of U.S. classrooms were expected to have an interactive display by 2019.
These common tech teaching devices offer access to a treasure trove of assistive learning tools. Many come included with the device and ready to use out-of-the-box. The iPad, for example, is pre-loaded with amazing features for special needs students. Plus, they work with anything a student does on their iPad. These include:
Many other accessibility tools are app-based for easy download onto a Chromebook, Android-based interactive display, iPad or other computing devices.
For students with mobility or other physical impairments, aspects of the physical world that many of us take for granted can be daunting. Students who use wheelchairs, walkers, braces, or other mobility aids face many access challenges. Throughout their day, these students encounter barriers like stairs, narrow walkways, and heavy doors.
In the classroom, these students may find it difficult or impossible to use an important EdTech equalizer – the interactive display. It may be difficult to reach due to height or their reach may be blocked.
Interactive displays, or interactive whiteboards, are the hub of today’s K-12 classrooms. Those equipped with easy access to a browser, apps, and audio and video record functions, an interactive whiteboard offers many ways to adapt lessons for students with special needs.
Wall-mounted displays can present challenges for some students with special needs.
An ADA-compliant lift or trolley can offer many ways to meet student access needs. Top-of-the-line accessibility features to look for include:
ViewSonic® offers a range of ADA-certified mobile carts and lifts to meet a range of budgets and accessibility needs. EdTech solutions can help enable access for students unable to directly touch the screen.
Tools like a wireless rollerball or joystick can be essential. Wireless switches let students execute mouse clicks from a distance. Wireless keyboards enable remote text entry. Most offer also features to accommodate students with visual impairments as well.
Sharing thoughts, discussing opinions and creating meaning together are keys to today’s constructivist learning. Some impairments can make communication difficult. For these students, advances in EdTech can make debating, discussing and creating with their peers possible.
Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) uses pictures, photos and drawings, and symbols like sign language, to help students communicate. They’re helpful for students with developmental disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, and other potentially speech-limiting impairments.
These technologies evolved from picture boards to specialized voice output devices. Today there are many apps that enable students with special needs to more quickly communicate their thoughts.
The ability to turn text into sound is another modern EdTech superpower. Text-to-speech (TTS) tools help children who have difficulties reading standard print.
Not long ago, these students had to rely on cumbersome solutions like listening to a book on CD or using specialized software. The synthesized voices were unnatural and grating. Students often missed out on regular classroom activities.
Today, app-based tools let these students join their peers side-by-side in the classroom. Devices like iPads come with built-in tools like Speak Screen, Speak Selection, and VoiceOver. (See details above.)
Touchscreens with robust handwriting recognition help students with fine motor skill challenges more legibly share their ideas on the classroom display. Other great EdTech communication tools for students with certain needs include:
Like most other areas of our lives, when it comes to special education needs, there’s usually an app for it. The appification of assisted learning technology is a massive step forward in the effort to achieve inclusion for students with special needs.
From the Co:Writer® app for writing assistance to Learn with Rufus, an app that helps students understand social cues. Students with certain needs today have more ways than ever to be empowered. And for more suggested apps, Common Sense Media offers a big list of vetted options to get you started.
A business projector can make meetings run more smoothly, presentations jump off the screen, and even dull stats vibrant and engaging. But choosing the right projector for you involves looking at both your needs and the right technical capabilities to fit those needs. In our in-depth guide below, we go over how to assess your projector needs and then identify the best ways to choose the perfect device for your business.
Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about business projectors. Or learn more about our business projector solutions here.
Choosing the right business projector could be the difference between having a great meeting or a total disaster. We all know that projectors offer a cost-effective way to enhance business meetings, and knowing display requirements is the most helpful way to ensure a good fit. A quality light source, providing lasting performance, will improve your ability to effectively deliver business presentations for years to come.
Offering numerous benefits, including durability, space savings, and wide-angle viewing, many projectors have what you need. Filter-free designs and extended lamp life provide an even better total cost of ownership (TCO) – enabling your businesses to further extend its’ technology budget.
Image quality is better than ever and projection options are available to meet any business need. Choosing from among the many options, however, can be daunting. Understanding the technologies most useful for the needs of a business, along with key specifications affecting image quality, is a helpful starting point.
Before considering the equipment itself, take a step back to assess your needs and installation conditions. This helps to ensure the best-fit projector solution for any given business application. Consider room size, number of attendees, lighting conditions, multiple projectors, presenter needs, etc.
You also need to think about the type of content to be displayed, interactivity goals, and the desire to avoid distracting shadows need to be considered. Each of these needs is addressed by a specific projection characteristic. Buying a projector that meets your needs offers the best projector solution.
Ultra-short throw projectors do the most to minimize shadows. Networkable projectors deliver time-saving centralized control. Interactive projection technology delivers the added collaboration shown to improve learning outcomes.
There is, of course, a great deal of overlap among these categories. For example, most interactive projectors include networking capabilities and are short or ultra-short throw. In addition, regardless of which of these broad categories best fits your needs, you will also want to consider some key specifications which affect projection quality, including:
Finally, you will also want to assess connectivity features and ease of use. Before delving into each of the categories and specs above, we’ll first take a look at why projection continues to present an ideal business display solution.
The use of large-screen LED displays in a business environment is a relatively recent trend, fueled largely by the increasing availability and decreasing cost of interactive display systems. Both projectors and large-screen LED displays can offer an effective office viewing experience and each offers different features and benefits.
The primary advantage of LED displays is the reduced maintenance and cost related to the lack of bulbs and filters associated with projectors. Projectors, on the other hand, offer a host of advantages that can’t be matched by digital displays. The advantages projectors provide to businesses include:
With so many benefits to offer, it’s not surprising that projection technology has proliferated across the gamut of professions, industries, and home use categories. Today’s projectors include tiny, ultra-light portable models, high-end devices for use in commercial theaters, and everything in between. For businesses, the field can be narrowed to the three projector categories most commonly used to address the needs of this environment:
Fortunately, the advent of networkable projection solutions has reduced the time and cost burden of managing multiple projectors across multiple locations. Networkable business projectors enable more efficient and cost-effective management of projection assets. The result is improved overall projector TCO and greater projector availability.
Connected to a wireless or wired local area network (LAN), projectors with networking capabilities can be installed across any size office or corporation, then remotely operated and monitored. These expanded operating capabilities allow presenters to deliver their content to one or more projectors from any location with network access.
In a large enterprise or training environment, this enables a single presenter to transmit the same presentation simultaneously to several offices or meeting rooms. The possibilities for cost-effectively extending presentation or training opportunities are limitless.
The remote management capabilities enable IT staff to monitor and control the functionality of all projectors from a single PC, eliminating the need for actual physical contact with each projector to perform routine maintenance tasks. Real-time email alerts provide updates on everything from power status, lamp life, and unit presence.
Room size – along with any other space constraints – must be taken into consideration along with the desired size of the projected image. For all projectors, the further they are from the screen, the larger the projected image and the larger the projection screen needed.
Projectors differ, however, in the distance they must be from the screen to project the same size image. Projectors are classified as regular-, short-, and ultra-short throw. For example, if a room has an 80” projection screen, a standard throw projector will need to be at least 7- 8 feet from the screen. A short-throw projector will need to be 3-3.5 feet. An ultra-short throw projector can be as close as 2-2.5 feet from the screen.
In general, a regular throw ratio is 1.1 and above, short-throw projector ratios are from 0.6 to 0.8, and ultra-short-throw ratios are anything less than 0.5. In many rooms, it can be difficult to properly project a reasonably-sized image with a standard throw projector.
In smaller rooms, the projector will need to be placed close to the screen – resulting in a smaller projected image size less easily seen by the entire room of attendees. Even in larger rooms, standard throw projectors placed behind attendees can present problems by introducing distracting lights and shadows.
Because of these constraints and concerns, projectors with a shorter throw distance offer an ideal solution for businesses by enabling the projection distance to be reduced by more than half. Projectors equipped with a high-quality short throw lens enable stunning, big-screen results. Short throw lenses additionally reduce shadowing and spare attendees from the distraction of blinding lights.
Ultra-short throw projectors build upon the advantages offered by their short-throw predecessors, further enhancing the conference room environment through an ultra-close installation that eliminates shadows, glare, hotspots, and reflection.
Interactive technology is one of the fastest-growing projector categories and numerous studies have demonstrated improved engagement and meeting outcomes when it is employed. While the interactive whiteboard (IWB) is the most well-known of these technologies, interactive projectors have been offering a more cost-effective option since their introduction in 2009.
Interactive projectors integrate technology that was once only available in an IWB. With these projectors, virtually any flat surface can become interactive, enabling users to write, draw, and annotate directly onto the projected image with interactive pens.
Interactive software, which varies by manufacturer, can enable multiple users to simultaneously annotate, write, or draw on the projected image to interact with the content and share ideas. Other features may include background templates, copy-saving capabilities, and a reveal curtain or spotlight to highlight content. Typically, interactive pens can also be used as a wireless mouse to conveniently drag or open files.
Interactive projector solutions offer several advantages over traditional interactive whiteboards, not the least of which is a lower initial cost to implement. They can also be easily integrated with many existing IWB systems, for a cost-effective means of upgrading to more advanced projection capabilities.
Whether looking for an interactive, short-throw, or networkable projector – or one that combines all three of these popular functions – several additional key features impact a projector’s overall picture quality, which tends to parallel cost.
Most projectors are based on one of two technologies: DLP projectors (digital light processing) or LCD (liquid crystal display). DLP is the most commonly used projector technology for all types of applications, from basic to the most advanced. DLP also is generally the best value, offering an outstanding long-term TCO thanks to filter-free designs that eliminate the need to clean and replace filters. Plus, a rarity of light engine failures more common to other technologies.
You can also learn more about different types of projectors here: Lamp or Lamp-free Projectors? 7 Factors to Consider
Most projectors will include some type of technology designed to enhance color performance. One of the better-known, BrlliantColor™ by Texas Instruments, is integrated into many projector brands. Some individual projector manufacturers offer proprietary technology designed to expand upon the familiar benefits of BrilliantColor, including ViewSonic’s unique SuperColor™ color wheel design, which delivers higher brightness levels and a wider range of true-to-life colors for an immersive viewing experience in any lighting conditions.
Among the benefits to look in for an advanced color processing technology are:
Consistent color performance in both bright and dark environments
The term “native resolution” (typically shortened to just “resolution”) refers to the number of pixels a projector has available to create an image. The first number represents the number of pixels in each horizontal row; the second is the number of pixels in each vertical column. Multiplying the two delivers the total number of pixels the projector can display; therefore, the higher the resolution, the more pixels.
Higher resolution projectors can display a greater degree of detail and will reduce or eliminate visible pixelation, which delivers crisper viewing at a closer range; they also offer better compatibility with high-definition source content. For the most part, as resolution increases, so does cost. In general, for conference room use, a super-high resolution is not necessary for the type of material viewed; exceptions may include specialized business applications or industries with a heavy focus on media or highly detailed content.
A related spec is a projector’s “maximum resolution.” Native resolution refers to the total physical number of pixels displayed by a given resolution. Maximum resolution refers to which content signal resolutions the projector is able to display. Because content is available in many different signals, each projector is programmed to recognize and process a number of these signals. Maximum resolution is the highest signal resolution that the projector is programmed to process and display.
The process of converting signal resolutions that differ from a projector’s native resolution is referred to as “scaling.” When a projector receives a signal that has a higher resolution than its native resolution, the image will be compressed into fewer pixels. When a signal with a lower resolution is received the projector must expand the signal in order to display a full-frame image.
When the source material is scaled there will always be a loss of signal quality, resulting in a somewhat softer image when compared to the same material displayed at its native resolution. This is particularly an issue with data projection, such as text, Internet content, or spreadsheets, which suffers the most from being scaled.
It is important to be aware that the resolution capabilities of any projector will be constrained by the native resolution of your source material. Low-quality signals will result in lower-quality images, regardless of the projector’s native resolution. The larger the screen, the more noticeable this will be. The best possible image quality will always be achieved when the projector’s native resolution is matched to the native resolution of your source material.
When it comes to scaling video images, today’s technology can produce images nearly as crisp and clear as they would be displayed in native format. For the display of data content, it is more critical to match a projector’s native resolution with the resolution of the source content.
Contrast ratio is a measure of the difference between an image’s white and black components. For example, a contrast ratio of 1000:1 indicates that the black levels will be 1000 times darker than the white. Therefore, the larger a projector’s contrast ratio, the greater the difference between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks it can display. In general, as contrast ratios increase, so does a projector’s ability to create greater depth of image.
An important specification for home theater projectors and other high-end use, a high contrast ratio is less critical to the needs of a typical conference room, since the benefits of high contrast ratios will only be noticeable in highly light-controlled, pitch-black rooms. For the typical multi-use office setting, where the projector will typically be used with some degree of ambient light, contrast ratios in the range of 4,000:1 – 10,000:1 will be more than sufficient to deliver a satisfying visual experience.
Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens (or simply, lumens), with brightness ranging from a lumens output of anywhere from 500 – 10,000. While it may seem counterintuitive, brighter is not always better. For one thing, brighter also means more cost. Also, most environments do not require an ultra-bright projector to achieve satisfying results. Factors to consider when determining your brightness needs include:
This is the most critical factor to consider in determining the appropriate projector brightness level for your needs. The more light you have (or want) during viewing, the higher the brightness you’ll need to deliver a sharp, clear image.
For most conference rooms, presenters will want a moderate level of lighting during projection, to allow for eye contact, interaction and movement around the room. In these cases, a projector with a mid-range brightness level of 2,000-3,000 lumens will offer the flexibility to use the projector in a range of lighting conditions.
However, if the room will always be darkened, or always be lit, you’ll want to choose a projector on either end of the brightness spectrum. Keep in mind that a projector bright enough to shine through a great deal of ambient light will be hard on the eyes in a dark room, whereas a low level of brightness will look washed out in a room with lots of ambient light.
The larger the projected image, the lower the perceived brightness of any projector, due to the distribution of light over a larger area. The number of people in a room is a helpful guideline for determining the optimal projected image size for comfortable viewing. As a general rule, the more people in the room, the larger the ideal screen size. Typical conference room projection size ranges from around 60 to 80 inches (measured diagonally), with an average audience size of 20-30 attendees. These conditions are again ideal for projectors delivering from 2,000- 3,000 lumens. Projectors can be grouped by ANSI lumen output as follows:
While a projector’s aspect ratio doesn’t directly impact the quality of the projected image, it is an important spec that determines the image’s shape and space occupied on the screen. Defining the relationship between the width and the height of an image, aspect ratio is used to describe projection screens and content sources as well as projectors.
For example, a 16:9 projector, projection screen or content source will have 16 units of width for every 9 units of height, resulting in a rectangular shape. Projectors, screens and content sources with a 4:3 aspect ratio will have 4 units of width for every 3 units of height, for an image that more closely resembles a square.
As with resolution, challenges arise when a projector’s aspect ratio doesn’t match up with the aspect ratio of the source content. When the aspect ratio of the projector, projection surface, and content source are aligned, the image will fully cover the screen. When the viewing material does not match the native resolution of the projector, for example when watching 4:3 content on a 16:9 display, a portion of the screen will remain unused, resulting in black bars along the top and bottom or sides of the screen.
Most business projectors today offer the popular 16:9 aspect ratio, which corresponds to the familiar HDTV standard and Full HD 1080p desktop displays for computing. However, cloud-based content, movies, and other video content come in many different aspect ratio formats. For example, TV programs and videos intended for standard (non-HD) TV are developed in the legacy 4:3 format while content delivered on DVD comes in a wide range of formats.
Given the lack of a universal standard for video content, it is highly unlikely that the aspect ratio of your projector will match up with all of the content presenters will want to display. Fortunately, most projectors have the ability to scale images (as discussed above with resolution) to fill all or most of the screen. While scaling does entail an inevitable loss of detail, this is generally quite minimal and is rarely noticeable when displaying video and images. If a particular presentation relies heavily on text-based content, then matching the projector aspect ratio with that of the most commonly used source material will be of greater importance.
Beyond these basic specs are the added features that make installing and operating a projector easier and more efficient. Among the things to look for are:
Not all projectors include audio and often those that do deliver a sub-optimal quality that’s difficult to hear throughout a conference room. Projector manufacturers often cite high wattage levels as an indication of sound quality. This, however, can be quite misleading, as wattage alone isn’t a reliable measure of speaker performance. Business Projectors that deliver great sound quality in addition to high-quality images will be designed and manufactured with both of these attributes in mind.
While one HDMI port is a must for enabling source content connectivity, dual HDMI inputs offer added flexibility for easy setup and installation, with fewer cabling concerns. Enabling the simultaneous connection of two HDMI-enabled video sources, such as digital cameras, smartphones, laptops, satellite boxes, and Blu-ray/DVD players, projectors with dual HDMI inputs minimize time spent switching between inputs.
Most projectors offer at a minimum a VGA (analog) connector for a computer and a composite video connector for video equipment. If your computer has a digital output (typically an HDMI connector) you might want a digital connection on the projector as well, since it will eliminate any chance of problems like jittering pixels caused by poor signal synchronization. For video sources, the preferred connection choice is HDMI (assuming your video equipment has HDMI connectors), with component video a close second. Some projectors are now adding Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)-enabled HDMI ports, which let you project from Android devices.
The inclusion of a USB power port lets presenters use wireless HDMI dongles like Google Chromecast to easily stream multimedia content to supplement their presentations. Offering a new level of sharing and interactivity, streamed multimedia lets presenters display an endless array of material from their mobile devices while moving easily around the room for increased participation and interaction with attendees. Added features such as an integrated dongle compartment add to the ease of wireless multimedia streaming by keeping media dongles securely out of sight.
While still uncommon in most office environments, 3D can be used to enhance specialized presentation content. Projectors with the latest HDMI technology deliver the highest picture and sound quality without degradation and can display 3D images directly from 3D Blu-ray players.
Look for options like single-button controls that enable preset preferences for brightness and other settings. One-button controls that dim screen brightness when your content is paused (along with automatic dimming when the projector is idle) will reduce power consumption and extend the life of the projector’s lamp – for energy- and cost-saving enhancement that’s good for the environment as well as your budget.
Smart design features can make using and maintaining a projector easier and more enjoyable. Features including cable management hoods to reduce cord clutter (and tripping hazards) and easy-access lamp doors can save time, reduce frustration increase maintenance efficiency.
The longer the lamp life, the lower a projector’s TCO, which can be an important factor in a heavy-use environment like a conference room.
There are a wide range of solutions on offer to match the varying needs you may have for your business. If you’d like to better understand some of the considerations you want to keep in mind, read our post on choosing the right projector resolution for your needs. If you’re ready to take the next step, check out ViewSonic’s range of professional business projectors, here.
This simplified projector buying guide cuts through the noise to help you choose the right projector for you and your needs. There are a lot of technical specifications to be familiar with, but the best projector for you will be based on how you want to use it and the environment where you’ll be using it. And there are detailed breakdowns for home theater, gaming, and portable projectors.
Read on for a complete projector buying guide to get recommended devices for you. Or if you’d like to jump right in, check out our range of monitors, here.
Considering a projector but hate wading through loads of technical info? Love the feeds and speeds but don’t have the time? Then this Projector Buying Guide is for you.
There’s a huge world of projectors out there. The options can be dizzying. For one thing, there are several projector technologies. All ViewSonic projectors use the popular DLP projection technology. It’s the number one tech in digital cinema – used in about 85% of all commercial theaters. Then there’s the difference between lamps and lamp-free projectors. And what’s a smart projector anyways?
Wondering which type of projector is best for you? We’ve got the latest on what to look for to satisfy your home entertainment, gaming, and on-the-go projection desires.
Sure, TVs are nice. They have their place. But for projection enthusiasts, nothing beats a really big image at a really great value. Here lies the heart of the projection advantage. Inch-for-inch, TVs can’t compete.
Projectors deliver the biggest images with the lowest per-inch price tag. They’ve got other great advantages as well. Compared to TVs, projectors offer:
Projectors offer a wide range of features. If you want to keep things easy, your best bet is to start with this question: How will the projector be used? Your second question should be: what will the lighting conditions be like?
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all projector. Features may overlap. But different combinations best meet specific needs. Below, the key things to keep in mind when shopping for home entertainment, gaming, or portable projector.
Buying for a movie buff? (Yourself perhaps.) Live for weekend binge-watching? Projection boosts home-viewing enjoyment with a big screen, cinematic experience.
1. Environment
2. Room size and throw ratio
3. Resolution
Strictly defined, home theaters have cinema-like seating and a mini movie-theater feel. Realistically, any dedicated room with well-controlled lighting can be a great home theater space. The defining factor is the ability to achieve pitch-black viewing. Multi-purpose media rooms are also great for movie night. If some light sneaks through when the curtains are drawn, you’ll simply need to opt for a higher-brightness projection option.
Home Theater Projector Bottom Line
Look for high resolution – Full HD or Ultra-HD 4K – combined with features that deliver vibrant, accurate colors. Make sure the projector has enough HDMI ports for easy connectivity to your other home theater components.
GOOD
ViewSonic PX725HD 1080p Projector with 2,000 lumens – MSRP $779.99
Full HD 1080p resolution, Rec. 709 color accuracy, and advanced color-optimization features deliver an outstanding cinema-like experience in any home theater. Amp up the immersive experience with a 3D display from any 3D Blu-ray player, viewable with optional ViewSonic PGD-350 Shutter Glasses, or any other compatible 3D glasses.
Best for: larger rooms, ceiling mounting
Mounting distance for 100” projected image – 10.89 feet
BETTER (option A)
ViewSonic PX727-4K Ultra HD Projector with 2,200 lumens – MSRP $1490.99
Step up to 4K for stunning images and content compatibility for the long haul. HDR compatibility further enables brighter, more vivid colors, richer contrast, and crisper detail. Dual 3D Blu-ray ready HDMI inputs add connectivity and viewing options.
Mounting distance for 100” projected image – 10.38 feet
BETTER (option B)
ViewSonic PX747-4K Ultra HD Projector with 3,500 lumens – MSRP $1,261.99
Enjoy the beauty of 4K images in any lighting conditions. ViewSonic SuperColor adds brilliant color accuracy. Amped-up brightness lets delivers stunning home entertainment around the clock: day or night, in bright rooms or dark.
BEST
Laser LS820 Short Throw Projector with 3,500 lumens – MSRP $3,210.99
The ultimate in-home entertainment. 20,000 hours of laser light for superior color uniformity. Stunning brightness. And reduced maintenance. (No lamps to change, ever!)
Add a black diffuser screen like the ViewSonic BrilliantColorScreen™, and this is the best home theater picture you’re going to get.
Best for: small-to-large rooms, ceiling mounted or freestanding
Mounting distance for 100” projected image – 1.74 feet
BEST Laser LS820
Got a gamer on your gift list? Projection takes the action to a new level of big-screen intensity. Great for solo gamers. Even better for split-screen with friends. Always cooler than your typical TV.
1. Lag time (aka input latency)
2. Resolution
3. Contrast ratio
Multi-purpose media rooms with variable lighting make great gaming environments. Just make you’re your projector produces >2,500 lumens. For the most immersive action, block out as much light as possible.
Gaming Projector Bottom Line:
Low lag time is a gamer’s best friend. Ultra-low lag time? Even better. When it comes to contrast, more is better. Go for high contrast ratios, ideally >10,000:1. For all but the most high-end hardware setups, 1080p is an ideal resolution.
ViewSonic PX700HD 1080p Projector with 3500 Lumens – $573.99
Everything gamers need. 3,500 lumens shine bright for great gaming, day or night, in any environment. Smooth, frame-by-frame action. Accurate color and crisp images. Plus, cut power costs – and keep the play going longer between lamp changes – with energy-saving SuperEco® for extended lamp life up to 15,000 hours.
Mounting distance for 100” projected image – 10.89
BETTER
ViewSonic PX706HD 1080p Short Throw Projector with 3000 Lumens – $785
Short on space? This projector delivers big, bold images up to 100” from just two feet away. Shines bright in any type of lighting. Delivers fast frame-by-frame action and smooth, delay-free gameplay. Not to mention, eye-pleasing color, contrast, and detail.
Mounting distance for 100” projected image – 5.01 feet
ViewSonic PX800HD Ultra-Short Throw Projector with 2,000 Lumens – $1,407.99
Get big-screen gaming in the smallest spaces. Achieve huge gamescapes of up to 150” from just inches away. Best-in-class ViewSonic SuperColor™ with TruCinema RGBRGB tech and Rec. 709 color accuracy deliver brilliant, lifelike images. For an even more immersive experience, gain 4x greater contrast than a typical screen with the ViewSonic BrilliantColorPanel™ screen.
Provided they’re not mounted to the ceiling, most projectors qualify as reasonably portable. For the ultimate in portable ease, nothing beats an ultra-mobile pico projector. Tiny projection powerhouses, they’re the ultimate in versatility. Camping. Backyard barbeques. Driveway movie marathons. Your best friend’s basement. You name it. These projectors like to go on the road.
Key considerations
1. Design
2. Battery life
3. Features
Best Uses
Ideal Environment:
Anywhere your heart desires. The less ambient light, the better.
Portable Projector Bottom Line:
Look for a slim, lightweight exterior design plus robust internal components that eliminate the need for external hardware support. The longer the battery life, the better. Smart design features add ease, function, and the wow factor.
ViewSonic® M1 ultra-portable LED projector – MSRP $337.99Loaded with smart design features, this small but mighty projector is perfect for taking your entertainment with you. Lamp-free solid-state tech delivers over 30,000 hours of enjoyment. The built-in battery provides up to 6 hours of gameplay, movie marathons, and holiday décor. The integrated smart stand enables easy 360-degree setup and doubles as a lens cover. Powers on automatically by uncovering the lens for instant full-brightness entertainment. Dual Harman Kardon speakers provide crisp and clear sound. The short-throw lens displays large images in small spaces. Versatile connectivity options include a MicroSD card slot, USB Type-A, and USB Type-C.
There is a huge range of projectors available on the market, and while it might seem overwhelming to choose the right one, we hope this guide helps you in finding one that suits your needs. If you’re still not sure which direction to go in, read 7 Factors to Consider when choosing a lamp or lamp-free projector, or check out our range of projectors, here.
As classroom technology improves, interactive classroom displays are becoming the standard. This is especially true as the quality goes up – and the cost goes down – on interactive flat panels like ViewBoard. And with the new advancement comes a long list of benefits, including some truly impressive performance improvements among learners. Find out more about why more schools are opting for interactive classroom displays. If you’d like to learn more about ViewSonic’s range of interactive displays for education, click here.
Where do interactive classroom displays fit in education? In our modern era, those educating our youth are facing a conundrum.
Considering the rise of smartphones, tablets, and cloud-integrated technology, the chalkboard, overhead projector, and other analog tools of yore are no longer yielding the same educational results.
If student engagement and test scores are down, what can a school do in order to reverse course? The answer is to get with the times and adapt.
However, the relevant tools and technology do not come cheap and product options are widely spread. If it’s your job to decide to buy a product for your school, then we suggest interactive classroom displays and will help you to make an informed decision.
Interactive classroom displays combine the touch technology of a tablet with a whiteboard’s educational functionality. They emphasize flexibility, collaboration, and creativity in the classroom. This is achieved by way of their native feature suite and their enhanced capacity to incorporate outside media, thus allowing teachers to imagine lessons in almost any way possible.
By their very nature, the advantages of interactive classroom displays are present in nearly every education-based scenario. On one hand, they make day-to-day tasks, such as collaboration and lesson planning a breeze. Moreover, on the broader spectrum, their inherent portability and cost savings make interactive displays a worthwhile proposition as well.
Certain interactive classroom displays offer the advantage of portability. In some instances, may be attached to any surface, thus bringing interactivity and engagement wherever they go. What’s more is that the portability also extends to teachers themselves, in that from where they are in the classroom, they can access the display remotely.
Granted, interactive classroom displays aren’t cheap. Following a purchase, however, it should become clear that the maintenance and upkeep fees for these digital products cost far less than they would for an ordinary, analog whiteboard. Between that, and the benefits bestowed upon teachers and students alike, interactive displays in the classroom practically pay for themselves.
When students work together, they learn together. The traditional lecture-based teaching method offered very little in the way of collaboration between classmates, thus dooming education to be a solo activity. By using interactive classroom displays, interaction and engagement become the focal point of every lesson. Now, education is a collaborative group effort!
Teachers’ lesson plans were once limited by what the textbook, supply inventory, and budget allowed. No longer! With interactive classroom displays, the sky’s the limit! Due to their interactivity and internet connections, teachers will find that lesson plans are easier and faster to produce, thus opening up more time for other preparations.
Find out how myViewBoard Clips makes lesson planning even easier, here.
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For all the advantages of interactive classroom displays, there is potential for drawbacks. For those with limited budgets, the starting price of the displays might be a hindrance, as could the subsequent reliance on IT for both training and repairs. Additionally, based on classroom layout, spatial issues could become a troublesome factor.
The base price of interactive classroom displays is greater than that of other digital classroom tools, to say nothing of their analog counterparts. When factoring in maintenance, replacements, and repairs, the cost grows even higher. Even if the total is offset in the long term, many school districts will think twice before purchasing.
There is a lot of training needed to become a teacher. Since many interactive displays are less than ideally intuitive, more training is required to master them. As a result, the oft-under trained teachers don’t use the displays to their fullest potential, which is a waste of both time and money.
For both implementation and maintenance, the burden involving interactive classroom displays falls on technical support. For schools upgrading their classrooms, consideration should be paid towards how much of IT’s time will be taken up, as well as the amount of class time that could be lost waiting for a repair to take place.
Interactive classroom displays don’t necessarily feature scalable projection. Depending on the classroom layout, as well as the presence of external light sources, ocular issues could arise when students strain their eyes to see the display. The same goes for displays’ volume, which students sitting far away might not be able to hear.
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Beyond advantages and drawbacks, the true appeal of interactive classroom displays lays in the effect it has on the class as a whole, particularly in the long term. Greater student engagement, improved capacity for educational accommodation, and improved communication practices are just a few of these effects, and therefore, strong investment motivations.
Nothing is a greater indication of a functioning classroom than obvious student engagement. In fact, it’s been proven that students engaged in active learning, as opposed to passive, are much more unlikely to tune out. Since student engagement can be facilitated by an interactive classroom display, there’s no reason not to upgrade!
The best lesson plans are those that truly account for everything. Considering the flexibility afforded by interactive displays, teachers should be able to be ready for anything. This holds true not just for unforeseen obstacles, but also for accommodations having to do with different learning styles, speeds, and other special requirements.
All students go through a phase where they’re reluctant to communicate in the classroom, both in large settings and small. For many, this phase carries on into adulthood. Considering, however, that interactive displays bring greater collaboration and interaction to the environment, students have the increased opportunity to gain communicative strength naturally.
Indeed there are. ViewSonic’s ViewBoard’s are the latest interactive classroom display on the market. With a heavy emphasis on total engagement and dynamic, ‘front-facing learning’, ViewBoard’s aim to thoroughly transform learning. Through a synergistic combination of a projector, a touch display, and a cloud-based software suite, it achieves just that.
In practice, The ViewBoard appeals to customers through its relatively low cost, ease of use, and speed. Spatial issues are not an issue, since ViewBoard projection allows for full scalability. With an eye towards overcoming potential pitfalls, the product aims to usher in the next generation of interactivity in the classroom. The myViewBoard software Suite also provides a wide range of tools designed especially for teachers, enabling easier lesson planning, mutli-media integration, and engaging activities.
Find out more about ViewSonics Range of viewboards, and how they can take your classroom to the next level, here. If you’d like to read more on interactive displays, read our post 10 ways interactive touch screens improve education.
Smart retail uses modern technology like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. The results include optimization through machine efficiency and decentralization. And as smart retail is already being adopted, the practice is making a major impact on both workers and shoppers.
Learn more about smart retail below.
Not many have heard of industry 4.0 and smart retail yet but they soon will.
We all learned about the industrial revolution in History class. From assembly lines to the changing role of labor and mechanization, there is a collective mental image in our heads of the past century in flux.
That, however, is not where the story comes to an end. What with the burgeoning trends of mass production, electricity, automation, and computing technology, the industry as a whole has now experienced several notable revolutions – cue industry 4.0 and smart retail.
In the past few years, we have again entered a new phase of industrialization, akin to a revolution. Known as ‘industry 4.0’, this collective industrial improvement involves the “Internet of Things”, cyber-physical systems, and cloud/cognitive computing.
In simplified terms, industry 4.0 refers to how our devices communicate with one another and are able to learn over time, thereby heightening efficiency and decentralization. In practice, these new advances are most clearly manifested in a collective series of processes that have become known as smart retail.
Smart retail refers to the hybridization between traditional shopping methods and modern “smart” technologies. Through the Internet of Things, data is accumulated by way of communication between implanted devices and computers. As a result, consumers may enjoy a more personalized, faster, and smarter experience. This can manifest as individualized coupons and smartly curated inventories.
In practice, smart retail’s greatest asset is its involvement with artificial intelligence (AI). Just because a process includes automation doesn’t mean that it has the capability to make complex decisions, particularly ones that may have an effect on a business and its processes, both radical or otherwise.
With AI included in the processes, those decision-making powers have now become possible. In this case, they’ll also experience constant self-correction and improvement. It may sound a bit like The Avengers’ Ultron, but in actuality, smart retail and industry 4.0’s applications are not to be feared. Instead, their features, benefits, and overall impact should entice everyone to join the revolution!
The implementation of smart retail-related processes has completely altered the landscape of the sales industry. In fact, many traditional retailers and industry leaders have seen industry 4.0, smart retail, and their fundamental features to be the solution to several issues endemic to their line of business. Decentralization, optimization, and transparency, for example, all play necessary roles in said solution.
Decentralization, in any setting, heavily depends on reliability across the board, so as to have confidence that overall decision-making and efficiency is maintained without managerial oversight. The same holds true for smart retail, in that it requires little manual interference and is able to optimize and adjust its processes through sheer automation.
In the case of smart retail, transparency refers to the presence of relevant data across the supply chain. With information readily obtainable across all levels, both human management and automated systems will be able to take note of trends, make more accurate choices, or detect errors before they are able to arise.
Smart retail, with proper optimization, takes advantage of its decentralized and transparent nature to become more versatile and dynamic. Therein, not only will smart retailers be able to adapt without trouble, but they will also be able to take action against abnormalities before they become a risk to the greater retail infrastructure.
By its very nature, smart retail results in an optimized, decentralized, and transparent sales process for both the retailer itself and the greater supply chain. However, many companies focus on tangible benefits, beyond the broad features. To that end, the benefits of smart retail include increased efficiency, quality, and output sustainability.
Self-adaptation and its effect on efficiency is smart retail’s greatest strength. When fully operational, efficient algorithms have constant access to an ever-changing stream of data, smart retail will analyze and self-correct in order to make the sales and adaptation process, as well as its output, as efficient as possible.
Considering smart retail’s ability to detect and resolve potential issues before they have a chance to become properly troublesome, its end result never has a chance to suffer. Therefore, the quality of any given smart retailer’s output will trend higher than any of those produced by non-smart means, which sometimes produce inadequate results.
Within traditional retail and sales spaces, disruptions have been known to happen on occasion, whether it be due to labor, environmental, and accidental factors. The adaptability and self-correction processes that come with smart retail eliminates the possibility of human error. Its automation, therefore, can result in increased safety and ensured output sustainability.
Smart retail does not simply exist on its own. While its features and benefits have indeed altered the sales and marketing processes of stores everywhere, its impact goes much further beyond. What effect does this newest industrial revolution have on the workforce, on the supply chain, and on security? Read onward to find out!
The processes of an industry cannot undergo such a revolution without impacting the average worker in some way. Just as in the previous industrial revolutions, the role of the human workforce has changed. Broadly speaking, workers will shift away from physical labor and towards technological support, thereby necessitating a technical skillset.
Across the supply chain, from warehouse management to quality control and sales, the rise of technological integration has forced adaptation across the board. Since smart retail automation and self-correction processes are working at all times, the rest of the supply chain needs to be able to maintain the same degree of flexibility.
In our digital era, information has become accessible like never before, but at the cost of security. Data protection has rapidly become a full-fledged industry as many entities seek information protection. Smart retail, inherently, is not free from this issue but has inspired many corporations to make finding a solution a priority.
To a layperson, it would be understandable to view the concepts involved in smart retail to be technical to the point of being abstract. However, smart retail is actually used in retail and sales throughout the world. In fact, it might be used in some of your favorite stores and restaurants, and you might not even know.
For instance, in the United States, the supermarket chain Safeway uses a form of smart retail to reward shoppers with discounts based on their previous shopping habits. Conveyed by way of the company’s dedicated smartphone application, shoppers’ purchases are tracked by the use of their registered phone number, which is input in the course of checkout. By logging into the app afterward, said shopper will see individualized deals meant to attract them back to the supermarket for their next round of grocery purchases.
Beyond the customer experience, Safeway also utilizes smart retail by using overall shopping habits and inventory tracking to determine item/shelf/display placement on a store-by-store basis. A longtime tenet of retail establishments everywhere, each and every available square foot of floor space can either be a source of income or a source of nothing. With the advent of smart retail processes, Safeway now has detailed store-by-store data that helps them to determine how to maximize profitability for each of the supermarket chain’s locations.
To learn more about how technology is impacting business, check out our post on the 4 types of touch panel . if you’d like to learn more about how ViewSonics products can support your business click here.
Interactive learning is well-established as a powerful educational technique, and modern technologies excel at involving students in more lessons than ever before. Interactive whiteboards are especially effective at inviting participation in lessons through varied media, built-in activities, and even gamified lesson content. And we’ve included a useful guide on how to implement interactive learning – along with the benefits and challenges. Want to engage your students with interactive learning? Read the full guide below. To see the full range of education solutions ViewSonic provides, click here.
Touch screens are a great way to get the best out of interactive learning. Broadly speaking, there are three main types of learning — visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. Visual learning refers to sight-based learning. Kinesthetic learning is often called tactile learning and happens through touch and action. And auditory learning refers to hearing-centric learning.
In classrooms around the world, teachers sometimes struggle to devise lessons that cater to all three learning styles. And like in other facets of life, technology has come to the rescue.
Facilitating what is known as interactive learning, technology-infused classrooms, particularly those using digital whiteboards, have increasingly become the norm. As a result, lessons are now more engaging than ever, and the benefits of this new pedagogy are readily apparent.
Interactive learning is an all-encompassing approach to education. By emphasizing student engagement with new material, interactive class structures are much more holistic. Classes that embrace this new methodology are less about regurgitating information and more about discussions, critical thinking, and open-ended questioning. As such, students with all manner of learning requirements are accommodated.
Interactive learning is not something that classrooms can adapt to overnight, in that it requires both teachers and students to make changes. As part of that undertaking, all involved must get used to a more flexible and open-ended classroom process, complete with collaboration, freedom of choice, and adaptive course correction.
Student-to-student collaboration is the best way to facilitate learning. Regardless of the subject, students are proven to learn more efficiently when doing so in a collaborative setting. This doesn’t necessarily mean group work or presentations, but also a quick consultation before answering a question or the use of online tools after class.
In the context of interactive learning, there is no single correct way to complete an assignment/project. Therein, students are encouraged to select a method that best suits their style of learning. For some, essay writing may be the way to go, while others may opt to make videos or construct presentations.
The student-teacher dynamic, as well as the much-vaunted lesson plan, was once unassailable and resolute in its rigidity. The new emphasis on a hands-on approach has forced teachers to open up their process to their students. As such, the resultant inherent feedback allows for constant course correction and improvement on both sides.
The importance of interactive learning goes well beyond that of a single aspect, whether it be class size, age group, subject, or style. In fact, as is the point, there is no barrier associated with interactivity. Considering this universal nature of this new methodology, its important tenets hold true for every situation.
Imagine teachers droning and students sleeping. You shouldn’t, since nothing about education should be so passive. Interactive learning, complete with student-to-student interactions and hands-on lessons may result in a 60% uptick in student engagement. This process commonly manifests as an alternative knowledge demonstration, such as paraphrasing, as opposed to pure fact repetition.
Recall that students everywhere ask themselves, “When will I actually use this?”. Although reductive, this saying indicates a trend that has seen curriculums shift focus from life skills to college preparation. With interactive learning, however, teachers are able to integrate real-life applications of the subject matter by way of online tools and supplements.
For a long time, teachers were limited by a school’s resources and the contents of the textbook. That is no longer the case! With more engaging teaching techniques and the availability of relevant technology, teachers may now create varying lesson plans that cater to different learning styles and offer contingencies based on student engagement.
For all its importance and positive attributes, interactive learning possesses its own set of inherent challenges as well. Far from a bad thing, these challenges are largely associated with the technological aspect of the approach. This is especially true on the side of the teacher, as opposed to that of the students.
Anyone who has ever interacted with technological products has probably suffered technical breakdowns and glitches. There’s nothing more annoying than something not working the way it should, and interactive learning technology, such as digital whiteboards, are no exception. This is especially the case when classes are disrupted due to IT wait times.
Interactive lesson plans, particularly those using digital whiteboards, do not pop into existence. Teachers will commonly exceed allotted planning time in order to make sure that everything is adequately prepared. Beyond planning, interactive learning and its associated technology require training and time to get used to it, which is often not optimal.
Classroom sizes are usually larger than is optimal. Combined with the tendency of whiteboards to be smaller than required, visibility could become an issue. While this is possible in any situation, it becomes more critical in classes involving interactive learning and digital whiteboards, especially when the latter is the lesson’s focal point.
Challenges of the technology aside, interactive learning’s benefits outweigh all else. There is no situation where regurgitation of facts, as well as other variants of passive learning, is preferable to, or more beneficial than, interactive learning. Distilled down to its essence, the benefits of teaching in this way involve adaptability, cost savings, and fun.
The mark of any good lesson is the ability to adapt. If an activity is not going well, then the teacher should be able to change course on a whim. In the case of interactive learning, teachers’ capabilities are expanded, particularly to include video and audio outlets that were not possible previously.
Resource management is an unfortunate burden placed on too many teachers around the world. Proper lesson planning may be disrupted by concerns about supply shortages. As is the case with interactive learning technology, particularly when digital whiteboards are implemented, the education processes may become largely digitized. Therefore, supply concerns can be extinguished.
Combined with its ability to bolster engagement, collaboration, and motivation, the introduction of interactive learning into the classroom should be nothing short of fun! With boring lectures done away with, teachers have the opportunity to turn everything into a game and foster a fun and enjoyable classroom environment. Let the games begin!
Lest you might be thinking that interactive learning is purely theoretical, worry not! Nearly every major technology company has invested in what has become known as “EdTech,” or education technology. While ViewSonic’s ViewBoard’s are great for classrooms everywhere, their integrated software, MyViewBoard, is truly what sets the company apart.
Imagine projecting a huge image using millions of tiny, little mirrors. That’s exactly how DLP® projectors work. The advantage of using so many mirrors is simple. More mirrors. More pixels. The more pixels, the sharper the image.
By packing millions of mirrors into a tiny space, DLP projectors deliver stunning images. DLP technology is widely used in education, business, and home entertainment. It’s even the number one technology in cinema – used in 85% of all movie theaters.
If you’d like to learn more about what DLP projectors are, and the benefits you can achieve through using them, read on. If you’d like to check out the full range of ViewSonic projectors, click here.
DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. DLP projectors beam light through a color wheel, reflection mirrors, then finally a lens. Developed by Texas Instruments®, the DLP chip, aka digital micromirror device (DMD), differentiates DLP from LCD projectors.
Each mirror on a DLP chip is about the size of a red blood cell. These mirrors (magnified above) manipulate light to create an image. The mirrors must change position on a microscopic suspension hinge at incredible speeds. Up to 16 million cycles per second.
Each mirror creates an image in response to video source data. In the “On” position, the mirror reflects light toward the screen, creating a visible pixel. In the “Off” position, mirrors reflect light away from the projection lens. This prevents light from traveling onto the screen.
Most DLP projectors use a color wheel. The color wheel spins RGB patterns in front of the light source at high speeds. DLP projectors use this color technology to deliver cinema-like quality. The beauty of DLP technology is based on a deep understanding of the human eye.
Every 1/50th of a second, the retina combines the amount of red, blue, and green light it sees to produce an image. A DLP projector very quickly shines red light, then blue light, then green light. It happens so fast, the human eye thinks it’s seeing a distinct image.
What’s really happening is that you’re seeing pulsating shades of RGB light. The alternating pattern happens so quickly, your brain puts together a complete image. If time was slowed, you would not see the full image. Instead, there would just be sequential images of red, green, then blue light!
DLP technology has been around for over 30 years in many iterations. Its features include:
DLP projectors come with a dizzying array of features and price points. Different combinations suit different applications. Uses range from home entertainment to houses of worship, portable presentations to lecture halls. Conference rooms to collaborative classrooms. By knowing how you’re going to use a projector, you’ll be able to find the projector that’s right for you.
Think back to the amazing mirror-laden DLP chip. Each mirror creates one pixel. The total number of mirrors corresponds to screen resolution. For example, a 2K DLP projector has about 2.2 million mirrors. A 4K device about 8.8 million. The greater the resolution, the better the image quality.
*The image contained herein is simulated to reflect an image under different resolutions (or schemes) for demonstration purposes only and may not be the actual image displayed from the product.
4K DLP projection is set to explode. Ideal for home theater, 4K projectors are engineered with advanced DLP® 4K Ultra HD chip and XPR technology. In turn, they deliver 8.3 million distinct pixels in 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution.
When comparing 4K projectors some may say they “support” 4K. This is not the same as the ability to reproduce actual 4K images. DLP projectors must produce the minimum 8 million active pixels required by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) to qualify as true UHD projection.
Contrast ratio compares the darkest and lightest values a projector can produce. The higher the contrast ratio, the better the picture quality. DLP projector contrast ratios range from 500:1 to 100,000:1.
Contrast ratio is an important spec for home theater projectors and high-end use. For home theater applications, look for a contrast ratio in the range of 10,000:1 to 100,000:1. Bigger is better. For large venues, like auditoriums, go for the best: 100,000:1.
A high contrast ratio is less critical in classrooms and conference rooms, as the benefits are most noticeable in highly light-controlled, pitch-black rooms. For business and classrooms, look for contrast ratios in the range of 4,000:1 – 30,000:1.
Projector brightness is measured by how much light the projector can output, called lumens. The more lumens, the brighter the projector. Importantly, brighter isn’t always better. Environments don’t always need the brightest projector to achieve satisfying results. Higher brightness also means a higher cost.
Factors that influence brightness needs include:
Projectors can be grouped by ‘ANSI lumen’ output as follows:
• Under 3,000 lumens – Used in low-lighting environments, these projectors require tightly controlled lighting to eliminate ambient light. Ideal use: home theater.
• 3,000 – 4,000 lumens – This covers the sweet spot of DLP projectors, in terms of value and features. These are the typical brightness levels used in classrooms, conference rooms, and home entertainment rooms where you’re unable to block out ambient light.
• 4,000+ lumens – Projectors with this level of brightness are appropriate for the largest meeting rooms, classrooms or multipurpose rooms. DLP projectors in this range produce a crisp, clear image, even on larger screens. This enables ease of viewing with larger audience sizes. Ratings higher than 4,000+ lumens are considered high brightness projectors and are used in high-end commercial installations.
Select DLP projectors have added features. These enhancing characteristics build upon key specs noted above. Knowing about these features will determine the DLP projector that’s best for you.
Home theater enthusiasts are among those who seek the ultimate in color performance. Cinematic color projectors offer outstanding home theater experiences by combining the following features to deliver a stunning, cinematic experience.
Rec. 709 is a stringent international high definition standard for the reproduction of color. Certification with Rec. 709 ensures accurate reproduction of the precise colors of the original content. Rec. 709 projectors deliver movie-theater-quality color accuracy.
Standard DLP projectors use 3-segment color wheels. 4-part color wheels add a white segment (to increase brightness). 6-segment color wheels deliver a wider color range. 6x Speed RGBRGB Color Wheel projectors boost red, blue, and green hue and saturation. The result: vivid images with smoother color gradients.
The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) certifies projectors for color reproduction and fidelity. ISF-certified projectors have day and night modes that deliver optimized color in both bright and dark environments. If needed, ISF-certified technicians can provide on-site tuning for customized image calibration.
The main benefit of choosing a projector over a TV comes from the ability to create a much larger screen image. Look for quality of life features that help you adjust that image to perfection.
Lens shift enables DLP projectors to adjust projected images without having to physically move the projector. Images can be shifted for horizontal and/or vertical adjustment. Projectors with vertical lens shift deliver added flexibility for challenging professional installations. For home users, lens shift enables easier optimization of image placement.
Keystone correction, or “keystoning,” is a handy way to adjust projected images. It’s a great tool for on-the-go presenters and portable entertainment projection. Look for horizontal and vertical (HV) keystoning and 4-corner adjustment features to eliminate crooked and distorted images. Doing so creates perfectly proportioned pictures.
Optical zoom enlarges projected images by extending the DLP projector’s lens. This lets users magnify images without moving the projector. Optical zoom allows for placement further from the screen without reducing image quality. The wider the optical zoom, the greater the degree of mounting flexibility. The optical zoom offered on a professional laser projector delivers outstanding ease of installation.
When exhibit designers can install DLP projectors in virtually any position, creativity expands exponentially. Laser projectors for large venues are an ideal example. Mount one pointing straight down at the floor. At any angle from floor to ceiling. It can even be mounted upside-down at a 45-degree angle. Need portrait positioning? No problem.
Designed for specific needs, special features will help you make the most of your projector.
Wireless solutions add flexibility, mobility and ease. Hidden compartments house secure HDMI ports to enable multimedia content streaming. A wireless gateway lets users present directly from their USB drive, or stream directly from their phone or tablet.
Measured in milliseconds, DLP projector input latency is the time between video signal arrival at a projector and display on the screen. It’s also called lag. Lag is inevitable with any digital video processing. Gameplay can be significantly disrupted if lag is too high. Fortunately, it can be minimized. Gaming projectors feature reduced input latency.
Laser projectors look best when paired with an ambient light screen. This is done to reduce any effects of ambient light and to take full advantage of the incredible images projected by DLP laser technology. Pairing laser projectors with diffuser screens enhance contrast and eliminate washed-out images in ambient light.
If you’re going to use a projector outdoors, there are many large screens available. Watch what the Linus Tech Tips team decided to do, after mounting a DLP projector to their car.
DLP projectors are classified by their light source and imaging technology. The most expensive use 3-chip processors. One chip for each primary color: red, green and blue. The newest single-chip DLP projectors offer high-end DLP projection with a less costly price tag. DLP projectors now use lasers or LEDs to be more efficient, better for the environment, and longer-lasting. These newer technologies eliminate the need for a spinning color wheel.
Most DLP projectors use traditional lamps. The biggest advantage of lamps is cost, which is lower than any other option. Lamps typically last 3,000-4,000 hours with standard use, then need to be replaced. Some manufacturers offer special features to make lamps last longer.
Lamp-based DLP projectors deliver outstanding value while creating big, bold images. They’re popular for home theater and gaming. The brightness of DLP projectors typically range from 2,000 to 5,000 lumens, creating a cinema-like experience in darkened rooms.
Lamp-based projectors provide supersized movies and games, for an immersive, theater-like experience. For gaming, look for DLP projectors with low input latency. Gaming projectors specialize in reduced input latency, delivering gaming intensity with smooth, delay-free images.
At the higher end of the cost continuum, laser-based DLP projectors offer many advantages. Laser light encapsulates the need to be both very bright and consistently bright. At all times. (Projection lamps slowly dim across their lifespan).
Brighter than other options, laser projectors can be counted on to deliver vibrant and visible images. Even in well-lit spaces. This makes them wildly popular in conference rooms, classrooms, auditoriums and houses of worship.
Because of their lengthy lifespan, between 20,000-30,000 hours, they’re a great choice for high-end ceiling-mount applications. Laser DLP projectors deliver instant on/off capability and minimal maintenance. They’re even energy efficient and mercury-free for eco-friendly disposal.
Laser projectors are packed with features for big screen, big venue applications. 5,000 lumens blaze brightly through ambient light in large boardrooms, conference halls, and auditoriums. Numerous high-end features ease install and management.
For education environments, short-throw laser projectors feature long life, low maintenance and great TCO. Like a sealed optical engine and waveform air filter. Horizontal/vertical keystoning. Network management capabilities. Laser DLP projectors should deliver 20,000 to 30,000 hours of maintenance-free use for a low total cost of ownership (TCO).
Presentation projectors are ideal for business environments. Look for a higher lumens count if you’re going to be using a projector in well-lit areas. Also look for ultra-short throw ratios, HV keystoning, and 4-corner adjustment features. If you’ve gone wireless, examine features that facilitate wireless streaming.
These DLP projectors use LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to produce light. LEDs are like tiny light bulbs. But they’re powered by an electrical circuit and illuminated by a flow of electrons. Because there’s no filament, LEDs last much longer than traditional projector lamps. They stay cooler, don’t need a fan and use much less electricity. LED projectors start up in an instant, for wait-free viewing. LED technology is also mercury-free.
LEDs can be designed into much smaller projectors. This makes them great as portable projectors. Ultra-portable projectors are great examples of what LEDs can do. The advanced, solid-state LED light source can last for over 30,000 hours of eco-friendly, mercury-free use. It consumes less than half the power of a typical LCD TV. Modern designs make it easy to relocate them to any venue.
Due to enhanced design quality, DLP projectors encompass more value than ever before. Specialty projectors fit a wide range of use cases to fit your needs.
Many DLP projector applications benefit from features that offer easier management and maintenance. Networkable projector solutions reduce the time and cost burden of managing multiple projectors across multiple locations. Connected to a wireless or wired local area network, these DLP projectors can be used across any sized installation. Then remotely operated and monitored. This centralized control adds efficiency, reduces costs, and lowers overall TCO.
With all projectors, images get bigger the further they are from the screen. The space needed between projector and screen to create the same size image, however, is variable. This distance, called “throw ratio,” depends on the projector’s lens.
Check out this projector distance tool to further understand how projector distance works: https://www.viewsonic.com/us/distance-calculator.
Imagine an 80” projection screen. Most projectors will need to be at least 7-8 feet from the screen. Short throw projectors only need 3-3.5 feet. Ultra-short throw projectors can be placed even closer, 2-2.5 feet from the screen. If you’re short on space, short throw is the way to go.
Short throw and ultra-short throw DLP projectors make it easy to create big, stunning images in small spaces. They eliminate the long streams of light and shadow created by projectors placed further away from the screen. Short-throw projectors have ratios between 0.6-0.8. Ultra-short throw ratios are anything <0.5.
Interactive projectors like the PS750HD are one of the fastest-growing display categories. Interactive technology improves collaboration in both classroom and business meetings.
The interactive whiteboard module transforms short-throw projectors into interactive projection solutions.
Advanced laser curtain technology provides intuitive multi-touch capability for up to 10 users. Annotation software enables users to simultaneously write and draw on projected images, including documents and web pages.
Feel free to browse our collection of monitors, here. Once you’ve found the type of projector that’s right for you, optimize your image with the Projector Distance Calculator here. If you need help, then check out our article on choosing the right projector resolution for your needs.
A monitor hood is a useful addition to screens where the environment is less than perfect for graphic design. Not only can a monitor hood reduce glare and distraction, but it can even have a startling effect on perceived color accuracy in certain environments. Such a simple accessory can be a game-changer.
Read on to find out if a monitor hood could step up your design game. If you’d like to learn about our range of color-accurate monitors, click here.
If you’ve ever used a computer in a well-lit room, you’ve most certainly faced this problem. It usually involves jostling your screen about every which way until the glare is gone.
For photo and video editors, this problem can be much more limiting since it can affect the quality of our work. Fortunately, there is a solution.
Today, we’ll outline all of the reasons why you should be using a monitor hood and how your editing will turn out better as a result!
If you’ve never seen one before, you may be asking yourself, “What even is a monitor hood?” It’s a computer screen cover that helps block out external ambient light.
So why would you need to use one?
For professional image editing, accurate color and contrast make all the difference in ensuring the quality of your work. Unfortunately, the surrounding elements in your editing workspace can impact how you perceive color on your display. More specifically, if you’re working in an environment with multiple light sources—like windows or ceiling lights—it’s essential to block them out without having to sit in total darkness.
Because of this, monitor hoods are considered a key part of a solid color management workflow and should be used by any editor who takes the quality of their work seriously. After all, there’s no point in investing in a high-quality IPS monitor if you’re not seeing your screen clearly and accurately.
To fully understand why a monitor hood is so valuable, let’s dig into the issues that can arise without one.
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, chances are you have some type of ambient lighting in your editing workspace. External light sources, direct or indirect, can and will cause varying degrees of screen glare. Read on below to find out the main sources that cause glare on your computer screen.
Sunlight creates a harsh contrast with your screen, making it harder to see what you’re working on. And it’s not just direct sunlight—ambient sunlight can bounce off nearby surfaces like:
This kind of glare can creep in without you noticing—until your eyes start to feel the strain.
Think ceiling lights, desk lamps, and even decorative fixtures. These reflect off metallic surfaces and glass in your workspace, adding more glare into the mix. And the issue isn’t just visual.
At first, you might not think much of it. But over time, glare causes your eyes to work overtime, leading to:
If you are trying to concentrate on your work, then this is not a desirable turn of events, as such pain can quickly begin to affect productivity.
You can try:
But these are temporary fixes at best.
If you want a long-term solution, a monitor hood is your best bet. It blocks ambient light at the source, helping you maintain a clear, consistent screen without the distractions—or the eye strain.
Just as with glare, reflections occur when working in an overly or improperly lit area. While glare manifests as a bright spot on the screen, reflections refer to annoyances concerning the screen’s mirror-like qualities. This may be especially notable if there are many bright colors and different types of furniture in your surrounding area.
Some examples of reflection causes include:
Reflections on your screen can quietly sabotage your productivity and distort how you see color. But don’t worry—there are several easy ways to fight back:
A few simple adjustments—or one smart accessory—can make all the difference in maintaining color accuracy and staying focused.
Light can do some sneaky things to your screen. Without a monitor hood, even the most professional displays can fall victim to visual inconsistencies, caused by everything from glare to reflections to natural light pouring in at the wrong angle. While there are quick fixes, some issues really call for a more reliable solution.
Let’s break down two of the biggest culprits:
This is all about how consistent your colors look on screen. On a calibrated monitor under ideal conditions, dark blues stay dark blue, light yellows stay light yellow—no surprises.
But when light hits your screen from an awkward angle, that consistency disappears. Suddenly, colors might appear off due to something called simultaneous contrast, where surrounding hues—or even reflections—change the way your eyes interpret what you’re seeing.
Ideally, your screen’s brightness should be even from edge to edge. But in uncontrolled lighting environments, that balance can shift. Parts of the screen may start to look brighter or dimmer than others, making it harder to judge shadows, highlights, and subtle gradations accurately.
If you work in the visual arts—or any field where color and clarity matter—a stable, trustworthy display isn’t a luxury. It’s a must. We cover this more in-depth in our guide on how to choose the best monitor for editing, but here’s the takeaway:
A monitor hood is a simple, effective way to protect your display from interference, giving you greater control over your workspace and your results.
Sometimes, it isn’t just screen issues that necessitate the use of a monitor hood. If you work in a bustling environment, monitor hoods can assist in blocking out external distractions and help you focus on your work.
Windows with views to the outside are a common type of distraction. Believe it or not, even having a brightly colored wall in your line of sight can impact the way you perceive colors on your screen!
The result of using a monitor hood here is a win-win situation. You’re able to keep distractions at bay while also helping you focus on work. Personally, I’ve found that when I use a monitor hood, I’m able to really zero in on my project to meet any sort of upcoming deadlines I have coming up.
If you’ve decided that you’re in need of a monitor hood, the next step is to choose the right one for you. Some people opt for the DIY monitor hood route; however, quality is not guaranteed and will vary from person to person. In some cases, you may even be left with nothing more than a partially functional monitor ornament!
Luckily, you don’t have to DIY your way to better screen accuracy. Professional monitors—like the ViewSonic ColorPro lineup—come in a range of sizes and are built with features that make a real difference. With a light-absorbing black velvet interior and an integrated calibrator slot, they’re designed to deliver top-notch color precision right out of the box.
Want to dive deeper into what makes a monitor color-accurate? Check out this guide.
Light present in the surrounding environment can affect how a screen is viewed. Includes natural sunlight and artificial lighting, like ceiling lights and lamps.
The consistency of brightness levels across a screen, from center to edge. Poor uniformity can result in some areas appearing dimmer or brighter than others.
The degree to which displayed colors match real-world or intended values. Critical for professionals working in photography, video, or design. Learn all about color accuracy and how it’s measured here.
A process involving tools and techniques to maintain consistent color appearance across devices and lighting environments. A monitor hood supports this by minimizing external lighting interference. Read all about it here.
Unwanted changes in how colors appear on a screen due to lighting conditions, reflections, or screen quality. A monitor hood helps minimize this.
A type of screen technology known for accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles. Ideal for editing, but still affected by glare without a monitor hood. Get a deep dive into IPS monitors here.
Bright or harsh light that reflects off a monitor screen, making it difficult to see and causing eye strain. Often caused by direct or indirect ambient light. Read more about minimizing monitor glare here.
A physical accessory that attaches to a monitor to block out ambient light and reduce glare and reflections. Used to improve color accuracy and reduce distractions.
A visual phenomenon where the perception of color in one area is affected by the surrounding colors, leading to inaccurate perception. Can be worsened by reflections or distractions.
Eye strain and tiredness from prolonged exposure to glare, reflections, or excessive brightness. A monitor hood helps mitigate this. Read more about visual eye strain here.
Join our three BETT speakers for their thoughts on blended learning classrooms. They break down their experiences with the learning style, including deep dives into its techniques based on their unique perspectives. They also share helpful strategies to implement blended learning and overcome its unique challenges. Follow our experts’ advice to create your own blended learning classroom.
Over the past few years, given the rapid advance of technology, the education industry has experienced a shift away from traditional learning environments.
Incorporating technology in the classroom, in the context of blended learning, has paved the way for a myriad of innovative methods and practices that are aimed at improving upon teaching structures of the past.
One of these practices is known as blended learning and the term that has been garnering some attention within the education industry as of late.
But, what is blended learning? If you’ve never heard the term before, this video offers a quality introduction.
To gain more insight into the blended learning methodology, we’ve asked 3 Bett show speakers the same question, as well as which challenges they faced and tips to leverage when implementing blended learning into your classroom.
Read on below to find out what they had to say about blended learning.
EdTech Consultant & Former Teacher
Blended learning enables me to effectively bring technology into the classroom.
Rather than saying, “we’re using the computers today”, devices can be integrated into lessons. These devices can be used to enhance teaching and learning, rather than just being included because it’s available.
Interactive resources and video content can quickly be provided for pupils to use at an appropriate time in their learning. Content can also easily be revisited if required by pupils.
Having a blended learning environment available allows collaborative tools to also be incorporated into lessons. This means pupils are able to share thoughts and work together on projects, such as documents or presentations.
Pupils can continue their studies away from the classroom using the environment too.
Transitions between technology and a traditional learning environment can take time.
Depending on the type and location of devices, there can be a significant amount of time wasted in lessons when transitioning from traditional activities to using technology.
Where feasible, devices should be located on pupils’ tables and be ready for use immediately.
This may mean work needs to be done prior to the lesson to ensure devices are charged, powered on and connected to the blended learning environment.
Routines should also be established within the classroom to ensure there is minimum disruption to learning.
Teacher may have to create additional resources.
When implementing blended learning within the classroom, teachers may have to produce additional materials for the pupils to use.
In order to reduce the amount of new content a teacher needs to make, YouTube videos, MOOCs, multiple-choice questions and web-based resources can be combined. These need to be carefully selected and modified to ensure they are appropriate for pupils.
Blended learning environments can incorporate content in a variety of formats, which can be incorporated into a single learning journey for pupils.
Children may not have access to technology and/or the internet.
If blended learning activities are to continue beyond the classroom, consideration needs to be given as to whether pupils are going to have access to technology at home.
Some schools address this issue by allowing pupils to borrow a device for a period of time. This could be done by loaning devices for the whole academic year or provide opportunities for children to use devices in school when not in lessons.
It may also be possible to allow children to connect their own devices to the school’s Wi-Fi network to undertake blended learning activities.
Screen time increases.
As children will be using technology to undertake tasks within the classroom, consideration needs to be given to the amount of time they will be spending in front of a screen.
It is therefore necessary to consider whether a proposed task is going to mean that children are using a device for a significant amount of time.
Consideration should also be given to when breaks can be scheduled in.
Ensure technology enhances learning.
There is a temptation that because a blended learning environment is available, that technology should be used for all tasks within the classroom.
However, care needs to be taken to ensure that just because technology is available, it is actually benefiting teaching and learning.
Teachers may therefore wish to consider the guidance within the SAMR model, which looks at how technology can be used to modify and redefine tasks, rather than just substituting traditional activities.
For example, simply using a keyboard to type up a document to enhance its presentation may not always be the most effective use of technology.
Make content engaging for pupils.
Blended learning technologies have a number of inbuilt tools to produce and share content.
This includes interactive technologies, such as quizzes and collaborative learning areas, which allow pupils to be active participants in lessons, rather than just absorbing content.
Additional resources such as ViewSonic’s myViewBoard, can be used to combine content into a single presentation, which can then be shared with children online.
Enable students to work at their own pace where feasible.
As a range of content can be provided within a blended learning environment, children can often work through a range of activities at their own pace.
They may also be able to access optional, additional activities, which can consolidate their learning and help address any misunderstandings.
Self-marked assessment activities, such as multiple choice quizzes, can be undertaken by children to gauge their progress and to determine if they are ready for more challenging tasks.
Provide opportunities for pupils to share their work.
Activities within a blended learning environment can easily be shared with both pupils and the teacher.
Collaborative tools, such as those provided within the previously mentioned myViewBoard software, allow children to work together and to subsequently share their work with others.
Additional content or feedback can then be added, which allows pupils to refine and enhance their work if required.
If you’re looking to incorporate blended learning into your classroom, make sure to take a look at what to consider when creating content for blended learning.
Director of E-learning for Primary & Secondary Schools
There is a great future for blended learning as part of an EdTech strategy. Schools and some universities or online virtual schools have come to realize that while online learning environments can be beneficial to those who are not able to commute to campus.
Incorporating blended learning into a traditional school environment can help ease the impact of absences due to sickness, travel, distance, and more.
For clarity sake, blended learning is an educational strategy in which instructors can combine online digital media with traditional classroom methods.
In this type of strategy, both participants are present in physical space, with an element of student flexibility and control over time, place, path and pace of study.
Many teachers have progressed from the integration of technology in school classrooms.
These teachers now find themselves in a space of blended learning in which they instruct with traditional methods but have created a fundamental change in the way students develop new learning experiences.
The very flipped learning approach stems from blended learning and has already made a name for itself within new pedagogical practices.
While EdTech has paved the way for the creation of online schools, there is still an argument that blended learning approaches are more sustainable and can help motivate a student to stay on the path of study.
It is defined as a hybrid teaching methodology, making technology and e-learning a more integral part of the classroom experience.
It is more than just working with a computer on self-assessed activities.
Blended learning is about combining online lessons, e-learning, traditional methods of instruction and online feedback and assessment. This helps to promote independent study and develops an entirely new learning environment for students.
Tools such as ViewBoard and myViewBoard have helped shape this experience in the classroom in which teachers and students can work together within collaborative online spaces to engage in creative content creation.
Supporters of this methodology advocate that blended learning is the future for our generation.
Although students study via an online environment, there are also segments of blended learning approaches in which students will come together in classes or mobile traveling classrooms. This will help them to deepen their learning and create collaborative hands-on experiences.
Some examples of leading online learning environments include Future Learn, The Khan Academy, EtonX, and K-12.
Despite some of the challenges for blended learning, there is a steady increase in online media and traditional teaching models taking place in classrooms.
Every day, new and more creative approaches are created to integrate technology into teaching and learning environments. While there is significant value to have face-to-face interaction in the class, there are also new opportunities for students to gain highly valuable digital skills whilst working in a blended setting.
To keep leveraging these benefits, it is essential that all participants involved, students, teachers, and parents work together to create the most effective environment for the learner.
Blended learning is the new normal but it also needs to be implemented delicately.
While it is important to emphasize that students will gain the necessary digital literacy skills and digital fluency required for jobs of the future, there also needs to be recognition and support for the transition from traditional teaching models to blended learning approaches for teaching staff.
In order for blended learning approaches to succeed, there will have to be trained, experienced and knowledgeable colleagues who can lift the new way of teaching and learning model off the ground. Refer to the SAMR model for more information about this.
As if this is not enough, in come the parents who, although aspire to moving with the times, have some reservation about blended learning and the future of education for their children.
Parents often worry about their child’s self-regulation and motivation to study. While the focus is often on students and teachers who are undertaking the course, it is just as important to win over parents. They have real concerns over a relaxed structure of teaching (i.e. not having to attend classes).
More information can be found in this study aimed to investigate parent anxieties, understanding, and support for new and innovative teaching and learning styles taking place in schools.
Get the teachers on board – offer continuous professional development
Offer an iGenius Troubleshooting slot for both teachers and students – even though your students have grown up with technology, they may not necessarily know how to use it in a teaching and learning environment. Don’t assume they know.
Use a consistent layout across the school – this will make it easy on the student when accessing their online resources and tasks.
Create videos – students are not looking for professionally made videos, they can get that on Netflix! They still want the teacher to instruct them as would normally take place in the classroom.
Decide what is suitable to offer online – and then how to best use your time in the classroom.
EdTech Consultant and Former Teacher
The “new” normal?
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” ― Maya Angelou
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
So, I have an issue with “blended learning”. I think it is just “learning” in a modern classroom and I will tell you why.
“Blended learning provides a combination of face-to-face learning and dynamic digital activities and content that facilitate anytime/anyplace learning.” – JISC on developing blended learning content
In my book, TechnoTeaching: Taking Practice To The Next Level In A Digital World, my co-author Dr. Julie M. Wood and I wrote about integrating technology into one’s teaching approaches and content. This means being able to have an informed understanding of the resources, being skilled in using them and having a positive and growth oriented mindset along the way. For some this is blended learning, for others it might be part of flipped learning.
For me it’s just normal – this is how you should teach and facilitate learning in 2018!
Back in 2016, it was cited as ‘sweeping the nation’ here in the UK as 40 colleges signed up the BLC (Blended Learning Consortium).
For me, I think integrating EdTech into the classroom is normal.
The pedagogical approach of ‘blended learning’ might not be – but I think it should be something that all teachers try at least once.
The Impact of blended learning can be read in this blog by Keri Beckingham, with case studies illustrating both in-class and out-of-class interactive learning.
I know for some schools the lack of confidence of teachers, the tightening of budgets and the pressures of getting new curriculums right can mean that including new tools, ideas and approaches seems out of reach.
My suggestion is therefore to have a look at what the impact can be of blended learning. Do the benefits outweigh the issues?
If we are truly ensuring personalized teaching, offering a blend of approaches and styles is normal. For students who cannot work at home (due to domestic issues for example), we try to offer them more time in school. For those who prefer to learn outside of the traditional classroom, why aren’t we trying to support this too?
Blended learning in practice
Let’s take an example.
The modern classrooms are now identified with a large interactive whiteboard secured on a wall, facing the students.
So how do you make this flexible, and take the learning outside when the board is fixed inside your classroom?
Well, products like the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive flat panel display with embedded apps allows you to blend a range of software choices with your hardware. Paired with their myViewBoard online whiteboarding platform, everything you display in the class can also be accessed via myViewBoard and shared to everyone online.
This allows you then to “blend” how you teach, where they learn and how you share your curriculum with your students, peers, parents, and caretakers.
The blended learning landscape in 2018
There is a wealth of ways (many of which are free for educators) that you can go with a blended learning approach. MOOC-style lessons, webinars and using open-access tools like Google’s G-Suite or Microsoft’s Learning Tools are all options.
Not only are you offering blended learning, but you are also offering a personalized learning experience for your students – which can improve inclusion for many.
If this is new to you, try things out before you commit or even better, get the students to have a play and feedback to you!
Which tech do they like – and why? Get them to “try out” different tech packages and platforms, different presentations and ways of approaching the content – and then see what suits your class.
Ultimately teaching is an extension of you and your personality.
If blended learning is already in your toolkit, I would suggest you see how others are doing it today and have a go at a webinar or look to how you can improve your tech for outcomes.
If it is not, I hope this article will help you see how “normal” is changing – and more importantly, get you to consider, in the words of 90’s indie band, Ned’s Atomic Dustbins, ‘Are You Normal?’ – and do you want to be, or do you want to be amazing?
Neil RickusDr. Neelam ParmarNicole Ponsford