Booms and Swingers? ... Projecting the right image!

An interesting observation was made on a recent school visit. A school in Kent has installed a new i-whiteboard and projector combination. Due of the height of the ceiling and the need to ensure the board height can be adjusted to meet the needs of childrens' different reaches, the school chose a combination that has a boom connecting the board to a short-throw projector. Thus, when the height of the board is adjusted, the projector moves with it! So far so good.

It appears that this type of design is highly attractive to more athletic children as a piece of gym equipment! Children apparently jump or reach up and swing on the boom. The particular design in question allows the child to get a good hand grip around the boom and swing! I notice other designs have a wider flatter boom with a shorter throw projector that you cannot get a grip on to do this.

I was wondering whether this problem has been encountered at other schools and is thus an issue for others to consider, or whether it is isolated. I know that this type of board is becoming more popular, but am not sure if there are enough of them for the problem to be highlighted. If more are sold, will it become one?

Comments and observations please?
 

Published Friday, February 22, 2008 12:26 PM by AlanDay
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Comments

# re: Booms and Swingers? ... Projecting the right image!

This is a difficult issue. CDEC Limited are a company based in Kent and have been installing whiteboards for numerous years and were approved by BECTA to do this.

When the all in one interactive whiteboard solution arrived educationalists and educational suppliers were full of praise. I for one had big issues with putting boards into Foundation and KS1 stages as the projector was very low down and fixed if the board was low. This created a health and safety issue. We at CDEC did explore the option of producing a periscope mount to push up the projector when not in use but like anything the price was too expensive.

Having the board too high also creates a problem as some schools use steps for the smaller children. I fear that this again creates health and safety issues.

Using drumsticks on a smartboard or the longer Promethean pen again solves problems so children can extend their reach but this is not a total solution as the children are using an implement sometimes over 50cm in length.

The all in one solution does help children with special needs and children of all heights to interact fully with the board.

We have found however, that some schools have not fully understood the solution and I agree that the booms are easily used as swinging devices by some pupils. We as a company have had situations where we have installed the equipment and have had to de-install the system on the same day as the school had not realised what the system looks like.

On another note one establishment did say that at least we can now integrate the use of ICT equipment within the PE Department !!!!!!!!!!! (This is not the opinion of the author !)

Anyway, the future ? I believe we need to start to develop these systems with new technology and use shorter throw projectors with shorter booms. For those that went to BETT this year I am sure they saw this technology.

Anyone wanting independent advice about ‘All In One’ solutions I am happy to talk to them and offer free consultancy for any Kent School.

Sunday, March 09, 2008 7:47 PM by Andy Duckworth

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