Tech & Learning - August 2008 - (Page 44)

NECC2008/PRODUCT REVIEWS PRODUCT: AIPTEK ACTION HD www.aiptek.com Price: $199.99. DESCRIPTION: This HD-DV tapeless camcorder features 1440 x 1080 H.264 video at 30 frames per second, 16:9 ratio, 2-inch macro zoom, HDTV component output, and 32GB SDHC card slot expansion. It also doubles as an 8 mega-pixel digital camera. HOW TO USE IN SCHOOLS: The tapeless Aiptek Action HD Series witht ExamView would be perfect for capturing school events on the fly. Because the unit fits easily into your hand, students and teachers can use it to capture sporting events, classroom projects, school plays, and more. This video footage could then be easily (and immediately) posted to the school Web site. PROS: This compact handheld camera is very user friendly. I used the Action HD to do a video report from NECC, and the camera fit easily into a small case for perfect portability. I was impressed with the resolution and video quality, and uploading the video was simple. There were a variety of quality options, from HD to Web, and the video can be uploaded to an HDTV, standard TV, or PC. Easy to charge via AC or USB, and the camera held the charge for a long time. The camera comes with a tripod for more stability to avoid shaky-camera syndrome. CONS: I had trouble shooting video close to my subjects (I had to step back to get everything into the small frame). This was problematic when I wanted to capture audio, especially when there was ambient noise in the room. OVERALL IMPRESSION: A fun, practical little gadget. PRODUCT: INTERWRITE PAD 400 SERIES WITH EXAMVIEW www.interwritelearning.com Retail price: $585. DESCRIPTION: This Bluetooth wireless pad includes Interwrite software and gives the teacher the ability to teach interactive lessons from anywhere in the classroom. HOW TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM: The pad has two modes. In the first mode, it is like a blank sheet of paper. A user can write or draw on it and use the clipart that comes with it. In the second mode, the pad is a transparent sheet that lies on top of an existing page and allows additions to the page. This is very useful when working with maps and science diagrams. It is also useful to add illustrations to PowerPoint presentations. The user can save the changed diagram, map, or presentation with new comments or choose to ignore the additions. PROS: The biggest advantage of the InterWrite Pad is that now it integrates with ExamView, a database of test questions that are based on national and state curriculum standards and come free with many textbooks. The Bluetooth drive is easier to install than many of its competitors. The pad has all the advantages of an interactive whiteboard, except the ability to physically touch an object on the pad with your finger and move it. Unlike an interactive whiteboard, the projection size is only limited to the size of your screen. The pad comes with a rechargeable pen, which many of its competitors do not. The pen battery has to be charged separately from the pad battery. CONS: There is no protective cover over the writing surface. The battery is sealed in a compartment and is not easily replaced. It takes some practice getting used to the InterWrite Pad since when you write on it, nothing shows up on the pad. The user has to learn to look at the screen to see the notations. Because the pen has to be charged separately, teachers may forget to charge it when they charge the pad. OVERALL IMPRESSION: At one quarter the cost of an interactive whiteboard, the InterWrite Pad is an excellent way to get this type of technology into the classroom. Also, because the teacher can project the image onto any size screen she wants, she is not limited to the size of an interactive whiteboard. InterWrite Pad is an excellent value. 44 | TECH & LEARNING http://www.aiptek.com http://www.interwritelearning.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech & Learning - August 2008

Tech & Learning - August 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends Q&A: Scratch That Best of NECC 2008 How to Build Better ePortfolios Focus on Digital Cameras Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - August 2008

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