The projector is such a vital piece of hardware that it’s difficult to imagine a classroom without one. And in recent years, projector technology has significantly improved with lamp-free models that extend product life and require minimal, if any, maintenance. At the same time, flat panel TVs have become more available as a choice for school projection needs.

Although cost is certainly an important decision factor, other critical factors include:

· Creating a learning culture of collaboration and innovation

· Degree of interactivity of flat panels and projectors

· Defining the acceptable viewing range

· Impact on student learning

· Total cost of ownership (TCO)

There may be some situations where a flat panel makes sense, such as working with small groups of students in learning stations. However, flat panel displays have a fixed size that can be a serious issue in larger classrooms when viewing text and numbers on spreadsheets. In larger classrooms, it would be difficult for students in the back of the class to view the screen in sufficient detail to accomplish the lesson goals.

After the aggravation and costs of replacing lamps and filters on older projectors, many schools and districts may consider flat panels, but the new solid state (Laser and LED) projectors are still more cost-effective when compared to flat panels. Both the newer projectors and flat panels have minimal maintenance costs, but flat panels have a higher TCO due to the initial purchase price.

When thinking about the kinds of interactive, collaborative environment schools want to establish with their projection requirements, the flat panel has limitations. It is two-dimensional whereas one or more projectors can be used to create a 3-D environment, which can illustrate concepts such as the solar system or the inner workings of the heart in a way that immerses students into the lesson not possible before.

Another benefit to using laser or LED projectors is that it is “green” technology and decreases a school or district’s carbon footprint. The projectors use 30% less electricity than older projectors, eliminate mercury, and reduce Coemissions with lower power needs. With an estimated 20,000 hours of operation, projectors may have a longer life span than flat panels and eliminate additional lamp and filter costs.

While schools might opt for an occasional flat panel, most schools will find laser or LED projectors a better option when considering flexibility of use and TCO. Although both new projectors and flat panels have minimal ongoing maintenance costs—the projectors’ initial cost is far less than that of flat panels making them a better financial choice, with the added benefit of promoting sustainable, green technology.

To learn more about projection options, there are links below to additional resources that can be helpful as leaders make this technology decision for their own school and districts.

WEBINAR—Join our panel as two technology directors in Alabama and Illinois share how their schools are using projection technology to create more engaging learning environments for their students. Click here to read more.

CASE STUDY – In Poway United School District outside San Diego (CA), district leaders saved so much money by replacing their aging projectors with new lampfree projectors that they were able to divert funds to their highly innovative initiative to bring more personalized instruction to their students. Click here to read more.

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY – Looking for a quick brief to understand how laser and LED projectors are changing the projector marketplace? Check it out here.

The majority of school districts are excited about what they are accomplishing with technology. While there’s still a technology gap in many schools, it’s a gap that up-to-date projectors, large displays, better networking/connectivity solutions, and teaching software can fill.

Insufficient budgets are always a challenge for K-12 schools and districts, but most find ways to push forward their technology goals even with small steps. Survey findings include:

· 97% of respondents said online investigation and exploration is important.

· 94% are using the web as a curriculum resource.

· 75% of those surveyed said that the ability to video conference is important but only 19% of respondents actually use it at their schools.

The Technology Schools are Using

Collaborative displays are getting a lot of attention these days but only 45% of respondents say they use them in their teaching. That means that 55% are not using this valuable pedagogical resource—primarily because of costs. Large screen, interactive displays that facilitate student collaboration improve engagement and enhance the learning experience and are a priority for many districts as they shift away from teacher-directed pedagogy.

The number of makerspaces continue to increase with 28% of respondents reporting they have a place for students to make things. For those who have maker labs, 63% include 3D printers and 58% have design computers.

91% of survey respondents that that technology helps them achieve their teaching and learning goals. Only 9% believe that technology is not helpful in the classroom.

Whether the school is 1:1 or has cart-based devices, Chromebooks lead the pack as the most popular mobile device in schools today. When it comes to tablets, schools have chosen iPads overwhelmingly over Android systems.

Respondents agreed that teaching with technology offers a wider variety of lessons through online curriculum (91%) and allows students to do their work on their own (84%). This enables classroom teachers to move about the classroom coaching students who need additional help or providing enrichment to students who are working ahead of assignments.

Connectivity and Displays

A little more than one-third of respondents are still using old-school cables (like HDMI and VGA) to share their screens with the class. This means the teacher is tied to the projector or front desk. Teachers who are using wireless are able to move about the class while transmitting to the display screen.

Only about 20% of respondents are able to show multiple screens at the same time for compare and contrast activities such as problem solving. This is a valuable teaching technique that most of the latest educational projectors and large format displays support. Unfortunately, it appears to be out of reach for many schools and districts.

Conclusion

In addition to the “usual suspects” on school and district wish lists, such as more funding, better software, and enhanced security, three must haves stood out for our respondents:

· More high definition and larger display devices to show more detail and engage students.

· More touch-enabled and interactive screens that react to inputs quickly, for example, being able to draw on a map with a finger.

· Brighter solid-state projectors that can be used in classrooms with few maintenance issues over the long term.

To read the study in its entirety, click here.

The ability to share large, higher-quality images, videos and websites has transformed higher education into a multimedia experience, and projectors have become the centerpiece. To tap into the state of the art for higher education projectors, AV Technology surveyed 150 buyers and users of projectors at a wide variety of colleges and universities to see what’s important to them. In addition to asking about their current fleet of projectors and how they’re connected, we surveyed what they’re looking for two-and five-years in the future, including resolution, light source, imaging technology and assortment of ports.

This new research reveals how colleges and universities are joining the movement towards full HD and eventually 4K resolutions, the timeline for integrating digital video in the classroom as well as emphasizing lamp-free technologies, all while being cost-efficient. Download the research to find out full results.

Click here to download.