I've come to respect technology that allows one to easily switch from low tech to high tech, and back. In lab we now have a new "visualizer". This is a combination LCD projector with a camera that lets you view what's on the desk (similar to an old overhead projector, but without the transparencies. I've used these before but it's been a while, and I'd forgotten how useful it could be. In lab there is little need for power points, but the visualizer helps display a highly detailed photo of a fern structure, while i can add labels and comments for further explanations. I enjoy this flexibility unlike a PowerPoint presentation, where there is no room for modification once the presentation has begun. Also, I can throw some spores (tiny fern reproductive structures) under the camera and zoom in on small plant structures so all the class can have a common and detailed view. Then turn off the camera, and we're back to focusing on the live plants in front of us.
This allows us to take a short walk on a technological branch to help us gain more detailed understanding as a group, but the focus on the lab -a hands-on experience examining plants- is maintained.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think is the same thing that we had for an ecology class where we were discussing papers. The professor would project the paper through this visualizer and show stuff that he was explaining. The students used it too... I've not seen it in use in any other scenario but totally agree with its usefulness :)
ReplyDelete