Visual Learning Lab Supports Effective Teaching and Learning

It seems that the UK is often on the cutting edge of using multimedia technology in education.

Here is a quote from the Visual Learning Lab website, at the University of Nottingham about ways the Humanities department is using visual learning technologies:

‘Showing Seeing Centre’ & ‘Visual Analysis Lab’

"Archaeology and Classics are both highly visual disciplines. In order to further develop the use of visual in teaching and learning, the VLL supports the creation of two new facilities, the Showing Seeing Centre and the Visual Analysis Lab."

"The Showing Seeing Centre will provide a context for students to work with visual resources using 3D-enabled computers for access to virtual reconstructions of archaeological sites and ancient civilizations, e.g. in gaming environments. Students will also have access to a range of equipment for digitzing and analysing visual material and for producing presentations and portfolio material. The equipment provided by the VLL consists of a wall-mounted LCD-screen, 4 high-spec laptops, a
high-spec A4-scanner, colour laser printer and a Playstation."

"The Visual Analysis Lab will provide facilities for teaching and learning in relation to the identification of archaeological remains (such as plant materials, animal bones and ceramics). The equipment provided by the VLL consists of two high- quality microscopes linked to digital cameras, a laptop and a data projector."

A 2007 report (pdf) from the University of Nottingham's Visual Learning Lab reviews of how visual learning technology will be used by departments such as pharmacy, veterinary medicine, medical sciences, modern language and cultures, biosciences, humanities, fildm and telvision studies, learning sciences, and computer sciences.

Link to article from the University of Nottingham: Visual Learning for the 21st Century

Related information:

FutureLab, of the UK, hosted a debate of the educational merits of interactive whiteboards, one of the technologies used to support visual and interactive multimedia teaching and learning. With the rush to adopt this technology for primary and secondary students, the participants pointed out that in order for teaching and learning to be effective, appropriate teacher training must take place.

If you have been following the Interactive Multimedia Technology or the Tech Psych blogs, you know that I'd like to see something like Microsoft's Surface in classrooms. Touch screen displays, such as the NextWindow Human Touch, appear to be more effective if they aren't dependent on a projector.

HP TouchSmart PC - an interactive touch screen for the home- and classroom?

Photos from the HP TouchSmart Website

I think this PC has possibilities for use in libraries, school media centers, and in classrooms.




This is a short video clip about the HP TouchSmart PC, a medium-sized touch-screen display that runs on Window's Vista. From what I understand, it uses technology from NextWindow.

If you use TouchSmart PC or something similar, or if you develop applications for the TouchSmart or other interactive touch applications, let me know what you think!

For related videos, visit the TouchSmart YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TouchSmart

Interactive web-based science and math: Link to my TechPsych post about ExploreLearning Gizmos

ExploreLearning is a website that offers a variety of engaging math and science activities, called "Gizmos", for students in grades 6-12.


ExploreLearning's Gizmos would be great on large touch-screen surfaces or displays, such as a NextWindow Human Touch, a SmartBoard, or Microsoft's Surface.

Since the activites are designed as learning modules and are web-based, the Gizmos might even work on iPhones!

Check out my TechPsych post for more information and links.

Photo courtesy of ExploreLearning.

Virtual Reality Field Trips

Take a look at my post on the TechPsych blog about virtual reality field trips. Imagine what a virtual field trip would be like on a large touch-screen display!

More touch screen "surface" display musings...

I had my first chance to use an interactive touch-screen SmartBoard, by Smart Technologies in 2002-03. Since I work mostly with kids and teens, I wondered why large-display touch screen technology wasn't more widespread, since there are so many free, interactive websites that provide pretty engaging activities for users.

One of the things I learned was that large-display touch-screen technology is in the preschool stage. There are problems with screen responsiveness, screen resolution, durability, and input.

In recent years, the idea of a touch screen has evolved to table-tops and drafting boards, embedded within wireless systems that allow for interoperability with mobile devices and remote applications.

Great technology exists, but no-one has pulled all the components together in a way that can easily scale for the people who would benefit from this sort of technology the most - people who spend most of day time teaching, learning, or both. I had a great experience using a NextWindow Human Touch large-screen display for some of my projects last semester. It was difficult for me to track one down, but once I got my hands on it, I liked it, even though it did not have multi-touch capabilities.

One laptop for each child? That was a good idea for the late 1990's and early 2000's. One high-quality, affordable, large touch-screen display or table for each classroom would be more effective.

One touch-screen display/table for every 4-6 students would be better. Is there anyone out there who is up for the challenge?

Next Post: Updated links to interactive multimedia websites appropriate for large touch screen surfaces.

Interactive Multimedia Technology: Search data

For a change of pace, I thought I'd post the search words people used to find this blog over the past 3 days. My recent visitors come from over 13 countries, up to 10,000 miles away!

Feel free to use these keywords in your future searches!

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