I don't have a smart board this year. I was thinking I could buy a projector, and project images onto the white board, what do you think?
That's what I had to do my first four years of teaching. I didn't even have a white board... Just a blackboard!!
That's what I used to do - whiteboard or the wall - when I didn't have a smart board or screen of any type.
Are you only interested in projections of visual images and not the interactivity that a SmartBoard offers?
A projector plus a Mimio will get you similar capabilities as a SmartBoard. If you are not needing the interactive portion, a large SmartTV will be cheaper to buy and maintain than a quality digital projector.
Thank you guys : ) !!! Yeah mimio sounds cool and I have been looking into it and was going to meet with the IT person in my building to learn more about it. I think it would be a great alternative to a smart board, may even be easier.lol. For the mean time, I was thinking I could hook my lap top up to an LCD projector, because I use a lot of visuals in my class like video streaming and stuff. As long as I can get internet stuff ( you tube/ various websites) to project onto a wall/ projector screen... I'll be ok without a smart board, I'm embarrassed to say, I've never taught without one, lol. I feel blind /insecure without technology.lol... I'm worried because I get evaluated and want to do well... you know... (sigh* the life of a new teacher. lol.) I have a couple of years under my belt, it's only my third year. Hopefully ,it's easier, each year gets easier.
I prefer a Mimio to a SmartBoard because I didn't lose any whiteboard space or wall space with the SmartBoard. Our HS took out all of our digital projectors and gave us giant SmartTVs. I miss my projector. I miss being able to project on my white board and write on the projection. It was decided that maintaining the projectors was too expensive (I guess the bulbs are quite expensive and those of us who used our projectors every day would go through a bulb or 2 each year).
Bulbs are very expensive. My dad works in the audio visual industry - they usually just give away in an employee raffle or sell off projectors after they have gone through 3-4 bulbs. It also depends on if the district buys projectors from big name companies, if they buy projectors that are on their way out when purchased, things like that.
How much does a projector cost? Personally I'd probably go without before spending a lot of my own money on something like that. It is nice to have a smarboard, but not necessary IMO. My first year at this school I used mine a lot. This past year I started sharing a room, and due to changes in our intervention model I spent a lot of time in other spaces with no smartboard available, so I hardly ever used it. You learn to use other things instead. I certainly don't think my lessons were any worse without a smartboard. If the school doesn't provide you with technology, they certainly have no right to mark you down on evaluations for not using it, so I wouldn't worry about that.
Cheap ones run around $300 and the higher quality ones for classrooms (ones that would be used for 2+ years) run from $500-$800. Anything more than $800 and you are getting into professional territory. My uncle is a project manager for a company that installs projectors, smart boards, and all sorts of audio visual equipment in schools, he suggested that when I teach, I should pick up a projector in the $500-$800 range - the lamps last longer and they are usually a brighter, which can be useful in the classroom.
I am weary about buying technology for my classroom. Many schools won't allow it, and if they did, they would not be held responsible if something broke. It's a liability issue. If something is that expensive ($500-800), then the cost of repairing it would also be pricey. Even bulb replacement is expensive I'm sure. Any issues I have with my projector just gets fixed by the tech department since my school owns it. Can you get a grant or board approval for a projector? See what your admin says. Or see if the PTO can help foot the cost. I would never dream of spending that much of my own money on technology (for my classroom), especially if the school has no insurance/is not responsible for it. Too risky for me. What if a student broke it or a custodian while cleaning? Anything can happen.
I had a smart board while student teaching and for the first 2 years after that. I have not had one since. Personally, I have not used one in so long, I wouldn't know what to do with it! But I'd relearn. The nice thing is that they're interactive, but my daily activities are pretty interactive as it is anyways. It's good to be able to know how to teach with less technology as it's more authentic IMO. Technology definitely enhances a lesson, but if a teacher can engage the class with only a whiteboard (or less!) nowadays, I would be super impressed. You never know when that may be all you have.
If you're still in the market for JUST a projector, Google DIY projector ... there are several cheap ways (e.g. using your cell phone) to project an image.
Yeah, my situation is definitely an outlier - when I get into the classroom, I can deduct projector and cost to maintain it off my taxes as an impairment related work expense
