The Integrated Classroom. Start with Control.

Posted by David Parish, Ph.D., CEO Calypso Systems
Tuesday June 2nd, 2009 | 1 Comments

Video projectors and interactive white boards are without question the most visible symbols of the 21st century classroom. The truth is their position is more than symbolic. The ability to project a computer image on a large screen, creating a shared experience, combined with the interactive tools afforded by the white board, profoundly change classroom dynamics for the better. Done well, it's inclusive, engaging, nuanced, interactive and collaborative. It's all good. Take a closer look and we'll find a number of challenging issues in the effort to build, manage and use these devices.

To begin, classroom video sources often includes a computer, DVD player and document camera, with streaming video, perhaps decoded on a set top box, and CATV tuners occasionally in the mix as well. Most of those devices will also drive audio, along with increasingly popular classroom microphones and iPOD's. Implicit in all of this is an audio amplifier capable of not only filling the room with adequate fidelity, but which can act as an on-demand audio switch, while providing volume and other controls. Take a breath, because we've already left most teachers in the dust. For without an intuitive, convenient and flexible control solution, the battle is already lost, and the technology will be used superficially at best. Imagine the frustration of having to manually switch the projector's video input from VGA2 (document camera) to VGA1 (teacher's PC, which is being used to play a DVD) and then attempting to switch a multi-input audio amplifier so that "audio follows video". Most of us with home theaters can relate. Now place 30 kids in the scene and a 40 minute class period packed with activities. No time for troubleshooting. What do you mean it doesn't work!!??

A controller offers a single point of integration for these otherwise incompatible devices and presents an obvious user interface to the teacher. Press the "DVD" button on the control panel, either hardware buttons mounted on the wall or graphics on the teacher's PC, and the projector automatically switches to the right video input, the amplifier switches to the right audio input, while setting volume to the preferred level for DVD's, and the teacher doesn't give it a second thought. Similarly, choose any combination of audio and video sources, and move on. With that addition of a $250 controller (Calypso CB-1000 shown), the $3000 or so investment in classroom technology and installation become usable.

But control can, and should, do much more that that. For example, an automated timer can often be set to turn the video project off at a set time each evening, thus reducing the frequency of very costly lamp replacement. Upgrade to a networked controller, and technology staff can remotely monitor and control classroom devices, including projectors, to provide instant teacher support, to prevent theft and to track preventative maintenance.

Of course, all of this presumes that classroom devices can, in fact, be remotely controlled. Monitoring projector bulb life requires bi-directional communications via a serial or network port on the projector. Similar, amplifier control is most effective using RS-232 rather than IR. Important considerations when evaluating classroom gear.

What's your experience with classroom control and remote support? Am I overstating the challenge or am I on track with what you're seeing in the real world of K-12 classrooms?