St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, an independent school in Boksburg, Gauteng, has installed 65 Epson EB-485Wi interactive short throw projectors, accompanied as many sets of Epson ELP-SP02 Active Speakers in its classrooms, as part of a R5-million-plus network and technology facilities upgrade.
This commitment to multi-sensory input in education positions the school as a leader in using technology to enhance its already high quality of education it offers its learners.
“The school had installed several interactive whiteboards before the upgrading project started, but we identified the need for an effective, standard approach in all the classrooms when we planned our investment in improving the school,” says Harry Van Der Burgt, ICT manager at St Dominic’s.
“Marcus Retief of Compute Corporate Technology Solutions suggested a combination of the Epson EB-485Wi interactive short throw projector and a set of Epson ELP-SP02 Active Speakers for each of the 65 classrooms and other teaching facilities. After a successful trial in a junior school classroom, we agreed to proceed with the installation,” he says.
Apart from the fact that the projectors offer outstanding value for money, Van Der Burgt and his team found the Epson short throw projectors appealing because they offer high performance, are network ready and are supplied with interactive pens that integrate interactive functionality into one machine, without the constraints or expense of an interactive whiteboard.
Teachers can make notes on projected images shared over a network or on content from DVD or BluRay players, tablets and cameras, making it easier than ever to expand on the content of a lesson, in real time. Because two pens are supplied with each projector, it is possible for more than one user to “make notes” simultaneously, encouraging greater interaction in the classroom.
The projectors deliver 3 100 lumens of colour brightness and 3 100 lumens of white brightness, using 3LCD three chip technology for true to life colour and brilliant images. They were discreetly mounted on classroom walls at St Dominic’s, but can also be used freestanding.
Although the Epson EB-485Wi comes standard with built in speakers, the St Dominic’s team chose to enhance the experience with the Epson Active Speakers in each classroom. The speakers boast 30W of crisp clear sound, making sure that every learner in a classroom can clearly hear what the teacher is presenting, no matter where they are sitting.
“The interactive multimedia teaching style that is made possible with the Epson EB-485Wi projector enhances students’ concentration and information retention,” says Dean Jules, product manager at Epson South Africa.
“Teachers are also no longer limited to the content of standardised textbooks – they are able to draw on the web to enhance their teaching in real time, which is of tremendous advantage in current events, science and technology subjects, where developments are happening faster than text books can be printed.”
