New @ InfoComm 2016

I’ve been an educational technology director for 25 years, with a significant track record in large educational technology and AV purchases. I returned from walking every aisle of InfoComm 2016, searching for promising trends, developments, and products that might offer value for the education market.

What does an educator see? I look for both memes that make sense in education as well as the practical solution: the product that potentially meet a need or solves a pain somewhere in my organization. Something crisply new and eye-catching can also spark a burgeoning idea in an educator’s mind. And at times, we chuckle when we see the emperor’s new clothes (vaporware, hype, or solutions in search of a problem to solve).

Frankly, this year’s InfoComm hoopla—from an educator’s perspective only—left me underwhelmed. There were no blockbusters, killer educational technologies, nor grand entrances as in past years. There was little to get us to stand to our feet and applaud great educational potential. This was a tepid year—a year of stolid incrementalism at best. Nevertheless, here are some of my ed-market visualizer observations:

A Document Camera Uptick? 

This year I noticed far more document camera companies displaying their wares (Qomo, Elmo, Wolf, HoverCam, et. al.) But does this represent an uptick in document camera sales? Not really. Some data suggest that 60% of U.S. classrooms already have document cameras. So here's a trend I am seeing: It seems each of these companies is moving away from their core competency (manufacturing visualizers) and branching out to ancillary markets by retooling or creating alliances. Thus, these companies were all featuring lecture recording devices, 360° cameras, collaboration software, presentation stations, or other technologies that leverage their know-how. Still, I wish these companies understood a bit better how to reach the remaining 40% of viz-less classrooms, and how to enter the legacy replacement market in a more positive and proactive way. I wish I could hep them more...

Center Stage

At ISTE 2016, the HoverCam folks made a bold step, offering their excellent visualizer technology embedded in an ecosystem of resources called the HoverCam CenterStage. This includes their HD document camera, a height-adjustable podium (pictured above), their free interactive software Knotester, integrated classroom audio system, a PC, and an interactive multi-touch flat panel. I can’t believe I just said that in one breath!

The Knotester cloud-based software is new and promising (despite the spelling that defies pronunciation at a visceral level), but the big story here is the complete ecosystem.

Makerspaces

Here’s an amazing idea for using document cameras, one that has not been suggested before. While cruising the aisles of the ISTE 2016 Expo, I ran into this sign at the HUE visualizer booth:

This notion is spot on. What a great application for a visualizer: having one in your makerspace. Brilliant! It can be used for so many things:

• Showing up close how to make cuts, assemble objects, twist ties, connect pieces, and etc.
• Showing clarifying details of an example project
• Zooming in on the smallest areas to show where to hook, nail, tie, or screw a part
• Showing off finished products for everyone to see
• Scanning or recording final products to display on a website
• Filming any of the above for later re-use

Thanks to the HUE people for bringing this up. What a great idea.

VIZ + AR

Here's an interesting development I saw at FETC 2016 this year: the unique combination of classroom document camera and augmented reality. See this video to get the idea:

Alive Studios Augmented Reality for Early Education from Alive Studios on Vimeo.

Well, the actual product, developed by ALIVESTUDIOS is quite attention getting--and unique in its offering. What a nice mashup--the classroom visualizer and augmented reality. They mix well. Too bad the document camera they use is such a low end solution. This company would do better partnering with more well-featured document camera companies. That way the doc cam has a life well beyond this application. But this application could also help sell other document cameras. Something to think about!

What's new @ FETC

I recently spent many days at the FETC 2016 conference in Orlando, looking for what’s new. One of the most interesting findings was in the AVERinfo booth. They released their new AVerVIsion F70W document camera. So what’s new? This high-definition classroom visualizer offers wireless mobility—the ability of the document camera to rove free across the classroom.  AVER claims this can help “transform the traditional front-of-the-classroom teaching style that so characterizes document camera use.Simply move it to where the kids are! It’s eight-hour battery makes it all possible. 

Pedagogy Matters

Here’s an example of effectively combining document cameras with modern pedagogy in the kindergarten classroom. The teacher hoped to further both her “students’ emergent reading skills and motivation for reading, incorporating the Document Camera/LCD projector to help students lead shared reading sessions.”  “The document camera/LCD projector enables the whole class to access the text,” she explained.

According to the teacher, “current best practices highlight the importance of multiple readings of the same text to develop literacy.  Educational experts like Richard Allington identify the need for multiple readings of a text.  Multiple readings of a single text is also a component of the current Close reading technique as a strategy not just for English Language Learners, but all readers, in order to improve fluency and comprehension.” She adds: “Shared reading has long been a part of the balanced literacy approach.”  Here is how she implemented this notion, in her own words:

“First I developed classroom library of emergent readers. I included the parents and students in choosing the texts.  The only guideline was that they could read it completely independently and unsupported.  Last year, I had the same program but when students shared they would merely share the book in read aloud fashion sitting in a chair in front of their peers.  The document camera has allowed the students to lead a shared reading that is more interactive and engages the listeners in the learning.  In this way, students that are less active in borrowing and sharing—the more reluctant readers—become engaged and the students participate in a more reciprocal [way].  I see students questioning more and engaging more than when I had students sharing in only a read aloud format.  The students are not only recognizing more words, they are learning how to question at a literal and inferential level.”

What a formula! Technology + pedagogy = learning success. It’s so simple and powerful!