---   EDUCATIONAL USE PROJECTORS   ---


Using Projectors in an Educational Setting
 -- Jim Gelder, Projectorian.com


The old days of overhead transparencies, aromatic mimeographs and clunky 8 millimeter projectors are gone for good.


Most educational environments, whether it is a public school, university, or a corporate seminar, use the latest and greatest audiovisual equipment that enhances the entire educational experience.


Modern projectors for educational use for example, often don't require the lights to be dimmed, which in an educational setting is ideal. No teacher wants their students to fall asleep during the video projection. And with the lights on, students are readily able to watch the presentation and take notes at the same time.


In most educational settings, portability of the projector is less important than performance, and often the better option will be one of the larger models. A more powerful projector that has a higher lumen rating will have the ability to accommodate a larger classroom and project a larger image while still retaining clarity and sharpness.


For educational settings where a projector may need to be moved frequently between classrooms however, a lightweight portable unit may be the best option.


Several education resellers are able to offer schools and universities special discounts on projectors and other audiovisual equipment. InFocus for example, has a reseller program called the Authorized A+ Educational Partner program, which incorporates a network of resellers that have expertise in educational audiovisual needs. These resellers have specific knowledge that will help an educational institution select the best projector for their needs.


While some projectors are specifically targeted at educational uses, such as the Canon LV-X5, educators have a wide selection to choose from when it comes to projectors. In a classroom setting, the best type of educational projector will be one that has a bright projection with a clear picture, which will be easy on the eyes when viewed.


The projector should also be intuitive and easy to use, so the instructor can focus on the lesson as opposed to focusing on operating the equipment.


In an educational setting where there will be a lot of detail, such as in displaying CAD graphics or spreadsheets, a projector with a higher resolution will be the best option, but for other types of day-to-day use, an ordinary SVGA resolution projector - which costs a lot less money - would be more than adequate.


Projectors in educational settings often get a lot of heavy use, and are moved around frequently. Durability is often an issue, and a projector with a rugged steel casing specifically designed for educational use may be the best option.





Great overview of how projectors can be used for positive teaching in the classroom by a grad student at SDSU. I also stumbled upon a bible class website that had a ton of extension information regarding the how's and why's of using projectors in the classroom setting.