Today’s instructors have the latest MacBooks, but how do you use their power to add connectivity to your classroom? Crestron has simple solutions for adding digital connectivity to existing analog rooms, whether they are basic, single-projector or MPS/QuickMedia® (QM) systems.

Single-Projector Room.

The Challenge:
You need to add a digital input at the podium and transmit HDMI more than 30 feet to the projector.

The Solution:
Install a Crestron HD-TX1-F transmitter at the podium to add the digital input for the MacBook, and an HD-RX1-F at the projector. Transmitter and receiver are connected with one pre-terminated, multimode fiber strand, such as CresFiber® CLEAR, which is transparent similar to fishing wire. The clear fiber is practically invisible laid along baseboards and moldings, so you don’t have to break walls and to provide a clean, professional installation. This is an easy, inexpensive solution that won’t disrupt classes. Extend HDMI, IR and RS-232 up to 1000 feet and add DVI and DisplayPort multimode connectivity to the room without any programming.

If you need more digital inputs – say you want to add a Blu-ray player too – use the HD-TX3-F/HD-RX3-F pair, which additionally extends analog audio and USB keyboard/mouse. Also, an Ethernet port enables network connectivity to RoomView™ asset management and help desk software.

Add Room Control

An MPC-M5 Media Presentation Controller™ is simple to install in the podium or on the wall. The MPC has an intuitive Composer wizard that sets up the room in minutes, without programming. Simple, labeled button presses on the MPC are all the instructors need to power on the projector, choose the video or computer source and adjust volume.

Optional Audio Enhancement

Instead of relying on low power, built-in projector speakers, add sound reinforcement with the optional MP-AMP30 amplifier and Crestron FS6 speaker pair. Just a couple of check boxes in the MPC Composer wizard and even students at the back of the class will be able to hear clearly.

Existing MPS/QM Room

The Challenge:
You want to add digital connectivity to an existing analog room, but you don’t want to replace currently installed equipment or tear open walls.

The Solution:
A DM-TX-200 (or DM-TX-200-2G) DigitalMedia™ (DM) transmitter paired with a DM-RMC-100 DigitalMedia™ receiver gives you a simple, seamless upgrade path for adding digital sources to your existing systems.

Instead of the analog outputs of the MPS going directly to display device, use the VGA output to transmit all those signals to the DM-TX-200. A recent upgrade to the MPS enables all analog signals to be sent over a single VGA cable. The DM-TX-200 also features HDMI and USB inputs. The USB port accommodates keyboard/mouse control and the HDMI port can also handle DisplayPort from Macs using a standard adapter. All analog and digital signals are transported long distance over a single DM cable to the receiver, which outputs HDMI to the display.

If you need more digital inputs, use a DM-MD6X1 6X1 switcher in place of the TX-200. The 6X1 accommodates (1) digital input, (1) component and (3) DM inputs.

Crestron DigitalMedia accepts and distributes all analog audio and video, high-res computer, HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, Ethernet and USB keyboard / mouse control over a single DM copper wire or fiber.

SMART Technologies announced that the SMART Slate™ WS200 wireless slate is now supports the Mac platform. SMART Slate™ enables teachers and students to interact with digital lessons projected on a screen, interactive whiteboard, interactive display or interactive pen display from anywhere in the classroom. SMART Slate™ WS200 was developed with extensive user feedback, resulting in the addition of several features, such as improved ergonomics and support for additional languages. The WS200 replaces the WS100 (formerly AirLiner™ WS100 wireless slate).

The SMART Slate™ can be used with or without a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, but on its own it functions easily with a computer and projector. To further enhance whole-class and small-group instruction, it works seamlessly with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Wireless Bluetooth® enables teachers and students to control on-screen learning applications, write and draw in digital ink, or open and view files. Ergonomic improvements have made the SMART Slate™ smaller, lighter and easier to hold.

The addition of a third programmable button enables customization, and the eraser function on the battery-free, tethered pen makes annotating with digital ink even more intuitive than it was on the WS100. The SMART Slate™ integrates seamlessly with a broad range of SMART products including the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, the SMART Slate™ also integrates with the SMART Podium™ interactive pen display.

If your school uses either PCs, Mac computers or both, now is the perfect time to add the SMART Slate™ to your classroom.

Click here for more information on the SMART Slate™ W200

The Awards Maker can be utilized for more than the Awards Ceremonies. Here are some ideas on how to utilize it year round! Use it to fundraise, create incentives, highlight specific programs, or educate.

The VariQuest Suite of products is perfect for developing a student based enterprise. This gives students real world work experience and responsibility for running the business. It can even help them fulfill academic, work based learning standards with exposure to marketing, operations, production, finance and sales disciplines. The Poster Maker, Awards Maker and Cutout Maker’s output can easily be sold no only to teachers but to other students and members of the community. Here are some ideas!

Back to School Night: Sell posters, banners and cutouts to teachers and administrators to decorate the hallways and classrooms with curriculum based materials.

Science Fair: Students can order cutouts to help decorate their science fair boards. Teachers can order plaques for the winners of the fair.

Sporting Events: Create posters and banners for pep rally events and advertise the upcoming games. Students can also sell posters depicting a picture of the sporting team with the team’s schedule. Local businesses can purchase stickers to post on water bottles with coupons to their businesses. Cutouts can be sold as ways to get the crowd excited!

School Dances: Sell posters of student photos taken at the dance. Sell cutouts to decorate the dances with. Student committees can purchase posters to advertise the events with.

Community Events: Members of the community can order posters to promote events, nametag stickers, and bumper stickers for events

Class Spirit and Club Events: Grade levels can purchase car decals and bumper stickers with their graduation year. Clubs can sell bumper stickers to members or as fundraisers.

Do you have a fundraiser idea using Varitronics products? Let us know and we can feature your idea on our blog or quarterly newsletter! Email Victoria Cobb at victoria.cobb@avispl.com with your ideas.

Click here for more fundraiser ideas

The Vision Viewer™ 7880 makes it easy to focus on teaching, easily capturing images and movies. Simply plug the document camera into the USB port, launch the software, and go! There are no confusing cables or buttons to sort out, which can bring your lesson plan or presentation to a standstill.

You’ll also receive superior image quality in real time, displaying documents, nearby objects or even objects at a distance. This camera features auto focus, a factory-installed USB cable, 1280 X 1024 SXGA resolution, and comes complete with Applied Vision 4 Software.

Applied Vision 4 Software (AV4) enables you to connect your Ken-A-Vision digital product to your computer for viewing, capturing and manipulation of video and still images. Key features include: multi-camera support, full screen viewing, digital zoom, video rotation, time lapse recording, and much more.

With the Ken-A-Vision Vision Viewer™ 7880, you can get a top of the line document camera at a rock bottom price!

Click here for product specs. »

Click here to view other featured document cameras. »

Now you can mount any interactive whiteboard in front of your existing chalk or dry erase board! Simply slide it over when not in use! Diversitrack is the first sliding track mount system of its kind for interactive whiteboards, supporting the industry’s top brands such as SMART™ Technologies. Diversitrack can help your classroom retain your dry erase and chalk board space while enabling you to use your SMART Board where you want it, when you want it.

The Diversitrack employs a very secure and durable dual-track system, which includes rails that attach above and below your existing chalk or dry erase board. The Diversitrack mounts over a standard height dry erase board or chalk board, up to 58.25 inches tall. The Diversitrack is professionally manufactured out of a strong grade of aluminum, using a high-tech laser. Using an innovative clip system, the Diversitrack can accommodate the SMART SB580, SB560, SB640, SB660 and the SB680 in addition to whiteboards made by other major manufacturers. The Diversitrack is also equipped with a system to securely hold your interactive whiteboard in its calibrated position while it is in use.

The Diversitrack is already in use in hundreds of classrooms. Ask your AVI-SPL Sales Representative about how the Diversitrack can help you use your interactive whiteboard more effectively, without having to give up an inch of your dry erase and chalk board space!

Click here for more posts on SMART Technology products »

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The technophiles, especially Apple groupies, have been eagerly waiting for (and speculating about) the official announcement about Apple’s new tablet computer. Today, Steve Jobs, along with a slew of Apple executives and developers, unveiled the iPad. With a starting price of $499, this sleek tablet could make a big impact on the AV industry.

A few uses:

• In conference rooms instead of significantly-more-expensive touch panel displays (with the right software- perhaps with the newly released Crestron XPanel for Mac?)
• In classrooms replacing textbooks, scientific calculators, pocket translators, calendars and desktop computers with one device
• For presenters, iWork – Keynote allows users to present natively by connecting to a projector

What other uses can you think of?

For more information about the iPad, click here.

Unified Communications (UC) tools are moving out of the board room and into the realm of higher education. In a great post on the UC Strategies blog, Blair Pleasant discusses a variety of areas that universities could use UC to streamline communications between faculty, staff, students, and others.

All UC vendors today are trying to find ways to differentiate themselves from one another and to stand out from the crowd. I generally recommend that they focus on professional services and/or applications, especially vertical applications. One vendor that has been successfully building UC applications and solutions based on its vertical expertise is NEC, which is working with its partners to understand the business challenges and business processes in the areas of health care, hospitality, higher education, and government.

For the full text of the blog post, click here.

For more information about UC products and services from AVI-SPL, click here.

The Awards Maker can be utilized for more than the Awards Ceremonies. Here are some ideas on how to utilize it year round! Use it to fundraise, create incentives, highlight specific programs, or educate.

Fundraising

Create stickers to sell during Valentine’s Day rather than sell carnations. There are several great templates in the Design Center software you could use to sell these unique valentines.

Sell stickers to support different clubs in your school. Whether it is the chess club, drama club or even a sport, you can create small stickers that students can stick to mugs or notebooks. You could also use the bumper sticker templates for a bigger sticker with a larger profit.

For spirit week, sell graduation year stickers and use this as a way to see who has the most spirit – the more stickers sold equals a winner! High Schools students will enjoy the creations you make on the clear sticker because they can stick these onto the windshields of their cars.

If sporting events cause trouble with parking, why not make a few bucks off of it? Sell VIP parking passes that you can create using the Awards Maker. Let these folks park in the spots closest to the stadium.

Get your Marketing classes involved on the fundraising and ask them to contact local businesses. Sell water bottles, notebooks, or pencils with special labels during sporting events or during lunch periods. The sticker may even include a coupon, so student can take the water bottle or sticker to the business for a special discount.

Create Incentives

Highlight student achievements in the Accelerated Reader program by giving them a bookmark for each new level they reach in the program. Simply print one of the ribbon stickers and stick to manila card stock to create a sturdy, useful award to keep them reading!

p>Motivate students to hand in assignments in a timely manner by creating simple, quick stickers that say something like “way to go”. These stickers can be personalized with their name to make them special.

When a student consistently makes improvements in their grades, why wait to give them an award at the awards ceremony? Create a plaque or bumper sticker to show them you see their efforts and are proud of what they’ve accomplished.

Use the Awards Maker to create stickers that show a student their improvements. Maybe you’re working on learning a complicated concept. Give them an award for after mastering each portion of the concept. By the end of the unit, they will have all collected a complete set of these incentives.

Highlight Specific Programs

If you are working on character education year round, pass out stickers to students who embody the concept you are teaching. For example, you notice one of your students is willing to share supplies with another classmate. Showcase that student’s positive behavior with a small sticker with her name and what she embodies.

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Start a “Random Acts of Kindness” program at your school and reward students with a sticker when you see them exhibit kindness to classmates. This small incentive will help them to understand how their behavior has made a positive impact within the school.

If your school has a Head Start program, create bumper stickers to help the program grow. The more exposure the program has in the community, the better your chances are of enrolling additional students.

Create plaques or window stickers for teachers who are working towards or earned their National Certification. This allows parents and visitors to see how many teachers you have that are dedicated to their own growth as educators.

Educate

The bumper sticker templates can help teachers create word walls in their classrooms. All the colored sticker media has a temporary adhesive making them easy to peel off of the wall after use. Because the stickers are not made of paper, they shouldn’t apply to the percentage of wall space covered by paper rule the Fire Department enforces.

You can also create stickers the students can utilize while they are learning new concepts like math formulas or grammar rules. The more they see the rules and concepts, the more likely they are to remember them. If it’s posted on their notebook, they’ll see and use them every day!

Create puzzles by creating stickers with vocabulary words and definitions on separate stickers. Press the stickers to a card stock to make them sturdy and use them like flash cards. Have the students match the words to their definitions for a group project that is fun and educational.

As you can see, there are several great applications that you can utilize your Awards Maker for in addition to the twice yearly Awards ceremony. With the quick print times, you can get in and out of the workroom with great incentives that will wow your students with little effort on your part!

To view Varitronics® full-line of visual learning products, click here.

SMART Ideas software brings the power of visual learning to your classroom. Students can better analyze and understand complex ideas by building multilevel interactive maps in this fun, colorful software. These exciting presentations take students through concepts one level at a time for greater clarity, with the maps easily converting into multipage Web sites for everyone to share.

With the software’s easy navigation features, you can easily view maps in various formats to help students learn from multiple perspectives. The convenience of the global view feature allows you to show all the map levels at once, while the presentation view option removes toolbars for a large, clear display.

You can also swiftly switch between the diagram view and the text outline view to demonstrate the connection between visual and written ideas. SMART Ideas also allows you to enhance maps with curriculum-specific and interactive clip art to aid learning and make lessons interesting, effortlessly adding multimedia content and links. Click here for product brochure »

Receive a complimentary SMART Ideas software license from SMART Technologies by registering your SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard on SMART’s Web site. Just include your email address with your product registration, and a SMART Ideas software license will be emailed to you.

Looking for an all-in-one solution that combines the high-quality and functionality of a DVD and projector into one system? Look no further than Epson’s PowerLite Presenter! This innovative resource is fully equipped with a three-LCD imaging engine, 200 watt bulb and two built-in 10 W speakers and virtual surround sound. Take advantage, as the Presenter is available at a budget-friendly price through Epson’s Brighter Futures buying program.

Although bigger than the typical classroom projector, the Presenter also offers more options for versatility in educational applications. This includes larger-than-life images at a native WXGA resolution (16:10), perfectly suited for widescreen computers. At 2500 lumens of color and white light output and an auto color mode that instantly adjusts to any environment, the Presenter is bright enough to accommodate any setting!

Click here to view Epson’s PowerLite Presenter specs »