Matrix Trials First Nationwide Visualiser Pilot Project

Collaboration with local authorities and schools across the UK to pilot the use of visualiser technology has been proving successful.
Matrix Display Systems has been working with 300 schools trialling Elmo visualisers in their classrooms for a ten-week period to see how it aided teaching primary and secondary school children in a range of subjects.
A visualiser is a digital presentation and teaching tool that connects directly to an interactive whiteboard. When something is placed onto the visualiser viewing plate it is enlarged onto the interactive whiteboard for everyone to see. It allows any content to be shown, from a pupil's work or a 3D artefact to the various steps of a science experiment. Teachers can annotate images, zoom in and out,
get different views and angles and capture still shots. This exciting visual technology helps pupils absorb and retain information.
The schools that took part in the project found they could convey subject matter with greater impact and increased student participation. Teachers identified different strategies for using visualisers; demonstrations could be made to the whole class without them crowding round the subject, planning time was reduced as there was less need to scan books and other resources. The visualiser was particularly good at showing pupils how to use tools and techniques that are different to demonstrate to a group, such as the use of a protractor in a maths class or shading techniques in art class.
Lewis Smith, from George Watson College, said: "It's really good for showing and annotating pupils work to the rest of the class and for live marking pupils work. I love it, the children do too."
The visualiser pilot project has successfully allowed schools to explore new ways of complimenting existing teaching practices. The information that was gathered will be shared amongst other teachers to enhance lesson planning. Matrix has also been able to maintain a record of any management or technical issues arising, to support schools investing in visualisers in the future.
Further information is available at: www.matrixdisplay.com.
(KMcA/BMcC)