1-Selection

Hardware Selection Schools have a variety of options available to them when choosing technology for an interactive board. The technology comes in three main forms:

**Dedicated Boards** - These are large pieces of hardware that are essentially electronic projector screens. Popular dedicated boards include those made by SMART, Promethean, and Interwrite.

**Interactive Devices** - These pieces of hardware attach to a standard dry-erase board and convert the dry-erase surface into an interactive surfaces. Devices in this category are made by companies like Mimio (MimioTeach), Luidia (eBeam), and Hitachi (StarBoardLink).
 * Interactive Projectors** - Video projector manufacturers are beginning to build interactive technology into the projector. The projector not only displays the image on a flat surface, but also turns that surface into an interactive surface. Interactive projectors are being introduced by companies like Epson, Casio, and Sanyo.



So how do you decide what option works best for your school? There are four considerations one should take into account when making a selection. These are cost, portability, flexibility, and existing equipment. Other considerations may need to be accounted for given the unique circumstances of each district, school, and/or classroom.

**Cost** The cost of an interactive solution, as with any technology purchase, must be taken into consideration when making a selection. If looking to outfit a single classroom with interactive technology, the cost of the products selected may not carry as much weight compared to costs associated with outfitting an entire building of classrooms. Dedicated boards can cost roughly $1200 to $7000. When considering a dedicated board, one must also account for the cost associated with the purchase of a video projector that will be needed to display the computer image onto the board surface. Some manufacturers are now offering bundle packages that includes both the dedicated board and a projector.

Interactive devices range in price from around $750 to $1100. As with dedicated boards, the cost associated with a video projector must also be considered when selecting an interactive device.

Interactive projectors cost, on average, $1000 to $2500. This solution simply requires a flat surface, such as a dry-erase board found in many classrooms, to project the computer image onto. Figure 1.4 - Cost Summary
 * **Dedicated Boards** || $1200 - $7000 ||
 * **Interactive Devices** || $750 - $1100 ||
 * **Interactive Projectors** || $1000 - $2500 ||

Another consideration when selecting an interactive board is portability. Some interactive board hardware lends itself to portability more than others. Dedicated boards are often mounted directly to classroom walls or over existing dry-erase boards. When utilized this way, dedicated boards simply are not portable at all. However, most manufacturers offer a mobile stand for their boards that is available at an additional cost. These stands include casters which allow the board to be moved from room to room fairly easily.
 * Portability**

Interactive devices are very portable. This type of hardware is typically small in size and attaches to a dry-erase board either magnetically or with foam adhesive, making them very easy to move and set up from room to room, or to take along when traveling.

Interactive projectors are typically short throw or ultra-short throw projectors that must be mounted to a wall above a dry-erase board. They are also somewhat large in size. While the projector, in theory, could be moved from room to room, it would not be practical to do so. Thus these devices should be considered non-portable and should remain permanently mounted in a given room. Figure 1.5 - Portability Summary
 * **Dedicated Boards** || Portable with use of optional stand ||
 * **Interactive Devices** || Very portable ||
 * **Interactive Projectors** || Non-Portable ||

Many teachers like to have the option of utilizing an interactive board and a dry-erase board. This flexibility should be considered when selecting an interactive board. Most classrooms already have dry-erase boards and each interactive board technology affects the flexibility in using those dry-erase boards. While some dedicated boards can also be used as dry-erase boards, many of them cannot. When mounting these boards over an existing dry-erase board, you then reduce the amount of dry-erase board space available to the teacher. You may choose to mount a dedicated board on a side wall which would keep the entire dry-erase board usable. The problem then becomes which way do students face? Should they face the interactive board or should they face the dry-erase board? This scenario is workable, but not ideal.
 * Flexibility**

Interactive devices allow teachers to maintain full use of existing dry-erase boards while also allowing them to be used as interactive boards when necessary. Interactive devices have a small footprint which affects only a very small amount of the dry-erase surface area. These devices allow for a greater amount of flexibility for teachers as compared to dedicated boards.

Interactive projectors offer maximum flexibility for teachers. Because the interactive technology is built into the projector, the surface area of the dry-erase board is not compromised at all. The projector mounts above the dry-erase board, rather than mounting to the dry-erase board. Figure 1.6 - Flexibility Summary
 * **Dedicated Boards** || Low flexibility ||
 * **Interactive Devices** || High flexibility ||
 * **Interactive Projectors** || Maximum flexibility ||

Existing equipment in a room can have an impact on the selection of an interactive board. Since most classrooms already have a dry-erase board, an interactive projector or the combination of an interactive device and standard video projector may be the best choices. If a classroom already contains a dry-erase board and video projector, an interactive device may be the best option. If a room contains no equipment and no writing surface, a dedicated board along with a standard video projector may make sense. By evaluating equipment that may already exist in a classroom, one can narrow down the selection of an interactive board and save on costs at the same time.
 * Existing Equipment**

As mentioned previously, there will likely be additional criteria that will be taken into consideration when selecting an interactive board. Other questions that may be asked include:

Some interactive boards only come with the necessary drivers to create an interactive surface. Others offer additional software that can be used to build interactive lessons. One will likely want to purchase an interactive board that comes with this additional software unless the school or district has already invested in another, similar software product. It is also wise to request a demo version of this software to allow teachers to evaluate it for ease of use.
 * Does the interactive board come with software that allows teachers to create and save interactive lessons?**

A few manufacturers offer additional products that utilize the same software as the interactive board. Some of these products include document cameras, student response devices, and interactive tablets. Selecting an interactive board that also seamlessly works with other products to create an interactive system will allow for an even more engaging classroom.
 * Is the interactive board a part of a suite of interactive tools offered by the manufacturer?**

For the purposes of this exercise, I have chosen to outline the installation and troubleshooting of the MimioTeach device. I find this device useful because many of the classrooms in my district have dry-erase boards and video projectors. I like to provide maximum flexibility to teachers and also like that the MimioTeach can easily be moved from room to room. Additionally, the MimioTeach comes with MimioStudio software that allows teachers to create interactive lessons. Also, the MimioTeach is a part of the Mimio Interactive System that also includes the MimioView document camera, the MimioVote student response system, and the MimioPad interactive slate.