Visualiser Case Study

The following case study has been compiled as a result of a partnership between Interactive Education and Shireland City Learning Centre in Sandwell. The CLC purchased 4 Genee Vision 6100 Visualisers which were placed in four primary schools with an overall brief of assessing the impact the technology was making in enhancing teaching and learning. Regular meetings were held to discuss progress and to feedback ideas for further and extended use. Technical support was provided by the CLC and teaching support was provided by Interactive Education.

In each school a year group or teacher was chosen to champion the technology and assess the impact it had as an ICT tool on learning and teaching. As with any item of ICT equipment it was important to provide initial training and ongoing technical support to equip staff with operational skills and confidence to use the equipment successfully. Technical support was provided by the IT technician within the individual schools as well as the technical team from the CLC. Training and other operational support was provided by John Sutton from Interactive Education. In each school the Visualiser was used for a different purpose ranging from assessment for learning activities, observing teeth, observing tadpoles and observing minibeasts.

• Children were excited and motivated to learn as it was interesting for them to see.
• ICT played a key role in the children’s learning.
• Other areas of learning were covered other than those intended.
• The Visualiser allowed for opportunities to see things in great detail which wouldn’t normally be seen.
• The children were excited by the Visualiser and were keen to use it to explore many more things.
• Children are motivated by the use of a Visualiser.
• The Visualiser allowed children to explore samples/ objects more fully and develop language skills
• Using the Visualiser enhanced the children’s learning across the curriculum.
• Using the Visualiser to capture pictures for use in stop frame animation was easy, fun, and took the children’s learning in ICT forward.
• Children developed their independence
• Artwork improved due to being able to see detailed pictures and labelling
• Use of the Visualiser added awe and wonder to lessons
• Using the Visualiser brought information books to life – looking at the book then the ‘real life’ creature on the Visualiser
• More was achieved other than the set objectives through speaking and listening, confidence and independence
• Improved comparison discussions.
• The Visualiser supported up levelling in big write.
• All of the children in the class were keen to use the Visualiser.
• All children were motivated to work well, so that they could have their work projected.
• The Visualiser allowed the teacher to celebrate the children’s work and to show ‘good’ examples.
• The Visualiser enabled both the teacher and other children to show children how to improve their work.
• Using the Visualiser allowed the children to observe more closely and from this their understanding and appreciation developed.
• The Visualiser allowed the teacher to have a better choice of texts to use as the image could be displayed for all to see.
• It added another dimension to the lesson, as it was an additional ICT tool.