CTAP staff met with several vendors at the 2009 CUE conference in Palm Springs, looking to determine the following three things.
• How do their prices compare?
• What are the strong points of each brand?
• Who, in our region, is using each brand?
Each vendor has similar technologies, but each had one or two features that were uniquely their own. The chart below lists products alphabetically by vendor, and includes pricing information.
| Interwrite | ||
| Dual Board (77”) | $1397 |
|
| Wireless Dual Board | $1697 | |
| Infra Red clickers (32) | $1700 | |
| Radio Freq clickers (32) | $3200 | |
| Mobi Pad | $399 | |
| Interwrite Pad 400 | $295 | |
| Mimio | ||
| Interactive | $549 |
|
| Interactive + Capture | $699 | |
| Wireless upgrade | $199 | |
| Tablet | $399 | |
| Tablet with Package | $349 | |
| Polyvision | ||
| eno 4×6 | $1600 |
|
| eno 4×8 | $2000 | |
| Promethean | ||
| Promethean Activboard | $1299 |
|
| Tablet | $$ | |
| Activote (32) | $1,795 | |
| Activexpression (32) | $2,699 | |
| SMART | ||
| Board | $1399 |
|
| Airliner Tablet | $399 | |
| Senteo clickers (32) | $1999 | |
| Document camera | $849 | |
| Speakers | $299 | |
Interwrite
eInstruction makes the Interwrite board. One unique feature on the Interwrite is the Dual Board technology. Two users or up to four tablets can interact with the board at the same time. The new Mobi tablet boasts cool innovations as well with an LCD display on the tablet. The final thing that sets Interwrite apart is the ExamView. ExamView holds a bank of questions aligned with the state standards. These questions can quickly and seamlessly be integrated into lessons.
Talk with Regional Users about Interwrite:
- Kevin McIntyre; Coordinator of Educational Technology, Antioch Unified School District; kevinmcintyre@antioch.k12.ca.us
Mimio
Mimio is a solution for those looking for economical or portable equipment. Mimio folds in half and travels will ease. Mimio scales to different custom sizes and works on any flat surface. Do you need to record chart notes from a meeting, but don’t have a computer? Mimio’s physical ink capture has flash memory for just such an occasion.
Talk with Regional Users about Mimeo:
- If your Bay Area district is using Mimio and you’d be willing to have other educators contact you, please let us know, and we’ll include your contact information (link to blog email).
Polyvision
Polyvision’s eno uses a unique magnetized ceramic steel technology to create a durable board. This technology is baked onto steel and carries a life-time warranty. The board itself has no electronics or wires. This technology is the same type that is in the popular LeapPad products. Although this system comes with operating software, it will use any other whiteboard software as well.
Talk with Regional Users about Polyvision:
- If your Bay Area district is using Polyvision and you’d be willing to have other educators contact you, please let us know, and we’ll include your contact information (link to blog email).
Promethean
Promethean’s ActivClassroom is recognizable from a distance by its bright orange components. Their online teacher community, Promethean Planet <www.prometheanplanet.com>, evidences Promethean’s focus on an education-only market. Promethean also maintains a group of Teaching and Learning Consultants (TLCs) from across the nation. All have a minimum of six years of classroom teaching experience. The Promethean system offers a high level of integration of their components.
Talk with Regional Users about Promethean:
- Derek Treichelt; Technology Coordinator; Lafayette School District dtreiche@lafsd.k12.ca.us
- Ann Kruze; Coordinator of Instructional Technology; Oakland Unified School District; Ann.Kruze@ousd.k12.ca.us
SMART
SMART is the “Kleenex” of interactive whiteboards. They have the greatest market share overall. When we looked at their software, it was quite easy to pick up quickly. They have the tablet and student response system, but they also have integrated speakers and document cameras into their system.
Talk with Regional Users about SMART:
- Rick Stevens, Educational Technology Coordinator of the Fairfield Suisun School District; ricks@fsusd.k12.ca.us
Tags: document camera, interactive_tablet, response_systems, whiteboard
The APRIL issue of CETPA’s Databus includes an article on interactive whiteboards from the technology program manager at the San Juan Unified district in CTAP Region 3. It’s available at: http://www.cetpa-k12.org/newsletter/index.php?cmd=vi&typ=art&id=301
This is great information. I’ve found a lot of really good information on your site. Well done.
Hello CA readers and CTAP readers-
I wanted to add a little clarification on PolyVision’s eno:1) the board is not ‘magnetized’ but magnetic, because it is ceramic steel. and 2) PolyVision interactive white boards are all managed by driver software vs an application. It is this driver based architecture that provides the flexibility to use any application (and/or any devices!) that you are able to run on your PC/Mac. eno was introduced earlier this year at FETC, so large references with active use are just developing] however, Arcadia USD (in LA County) & Tustin USD (in Orange Cty) can be contacted.
Thanks to Jason for stopping by to see eno at CUE, and I appreciate all the services that the CTAP staff of Region 4 have provided to their districts and others across the state. I hope to work with these talented individuals in other capacities in the coming year.