Thursday, July 23, 2009

Visualisers-An ICT Based Teaching Tool

A visualiser is an ICT (information and communication technology) based digital presentation and teaching tool that is connected a projector and variety of display devices like projection screen, plasma screen, television , interactive whiteboard. Visualiser is a kind of video camera that can show detailed view of text, 2D or 3D object placed under it on projection screen, plasma screens etc. The learning environment and teaching ideas are greatly enhanced and improved by deploying the visualiser in the classroom.

The stimulating visual technology of the visualiser assists the students to learn and visualize the subject developing their concentration skills and recollection of the ideas in a better manner than traditionally. Visualiser helps the students to visualise the subject matter and improve their logical abilities and understanding of the subject.The teachers found they could communicate the subject matter with greater impact and increased student participation with the visualiser.

A Visualiser permits the complete class to view enlarge and zoom in to any document, 3D objects, pictures and scientific samples. Visualiser is an ICT (Information and communication technology) based visual teaching aids having a range of functions such as zoom, split screen, freeze, positive/negative, image capture, video capture, light box etc for an effective presentations in the classroom. The visualiser is used by students to set their own learning objectives and assess their scientific work. Visualiser aids students to create and save presentations, experiments, animations and take snap shots of their own work to save in the computer.

Visualiser enhances the efficiency of lessons as every student can visualise the same subject matter rather than a few individuals. Visualiser helps in saving money on photo-copying as the visualiser can take a snapshot in seconds and it can be viewed through the projector on an Interactive Whiteboard or pull down screen without the need to make lots of copies. Teachers can annotate on the images sown on the screen or the board, zoom in and out, get different views and angles and capture still shots with the help of the visualiser. Teachers identified different ways of teaching using visualiser; demonstrations could be given to the entire class without them crowding round the subject, developing time for creating teaching resources was greatly reduced as there was less need to scan books and other resources.

The visualiser is extremely good at visualising pupils how to use tools and techniques that would be difficult to present to a group, such as the use of a compass in a maths class or parts of an electronic circuit board. Visualiser is a really incredible presentation tool for showing and annotating on the students work to the remaining of the class and for live evaluating the students work. Thus, Visualiser must be deployed in every school, colleges and universities to enhance the standards of teaching using ICT. More and more schools, colleges and universities are becoming familiar with a visualiser and finding them a truly wonderful visual teaching aids to enhance lessons.