I have been hearing and reading from teachers over and over again , having a ceiling mounted projector in their classroom is one of the best hardware pieces that help them integrate technology into their teaching.

Last year, we started out with two projector carts, that came equipped with a laptop, a DVD/VCR combo and a sound system. Few teachers took the time to check any of these carts out, unless it was a set day and time, pre-planned for the particular occasion weeks ahead of time.

Many of the teachers wanted support in the classroom while they were using it, since they were insecure and unsure if it would work for them at that precise moment. They never had consistent opportunity of getting used to handling the equipment.

This school year, we started mounting projectors into a few classrooms of teachers that have shown initiative and interest in INTEGRATING technology into their teaching. Integrating, beyond using a projector as a glorified overhead transparency. All teachers have access to the projector in TechConnect (our computer lab), where they teach and co-teach with us.

The response of teachers with a readily available projector in their classroom has been extremely positive and we are continuing to add projectors as budget and donations allow. It was time to offer a professional development on “50 ways to use a projector” as one of our monthly workshops.

We started out with a brief introduction by talking about the role of using a projector in your classroom. The first step being a “bigger” projection of whatever you have on your computer screen . No more an entire class huddling around one small computer monitor, no more students in the last row complaining that the TV screen is too small or fuzzy for them to read. It is a first step, but how do we use the projector to enhance our teaching and encourage students to think critically and make connections?

We acknowledge that working together, we are able to draw from each others experiences and can be part of a learning community of professional educators. It is our responsibility to share with our colleagues what we are learning and successful practices in the classroom. To this extent we have created a wiki, as a collaborative work space, where we can add thoughts, ideas, and resource links that will benefit the entire faculty.

Some resources to take a look at:

• Curriculum Corner: Projectors and Document Cameras
• Size Matters by Edutopia
• Power of the Big Screen by Edutopia

Here are 50 more ways to use a projector: (click your way through to our wiki for more ideas)
adapted from a discussion thread on Classroom 2.0 and Umatilla- Morrow’s Education Service District

1. Demonstrate math manipulatives
2. Show visuals for science experiments
3. Modeling of the physical process of writing – hand movements
4. Art: Virtual Museum Tours
5. Audio visual resources from internet
6. Whole class participate in practice test
7. Going over tests
8. Isolate new vocabulary
9. Show and Tell
10. Current Events
11. Highlighted good vs bad grammar in writing
12. Showing selected DVDs or Videos
13. Graphing, charts, tables
14. Creative writing – add a line
15. Step-by-step math problem solving
16. Displaying student work
17. Comparison activities using split-screen
18. Storyboarding
19. Displaying class agenda/schedule
20. Read-aloud
21. Modeling note-taking
22. Mapping and group editing
23. Live web-cams
24. Coins and manipulatives
25. Finished project to look, model while going through directions
26. No more big semicircle watching the teacher
27. Video streaming (United Streaming and online videos)
28. Sequence of pictures, time lapse, to demonstrate progression.
29. Adding visuals to note outlines.
30. Paperless handouts.
31. Showing hands-on tasks.
32. Compare and Contrast.
33. Step by step instructions.
34. Choral reading.
35. Cloze activities.
36. Labeling activities
37. Display maps, charts, graphs, images from textbooks.
38. Visualization of content-Reading comprehension-Making connections.
39. Descriptive writing activities using image as writing prompt.
40. Geography connections using Google Earth, Google Maps
41. Picture books with read alouds
42. Display a timer for assignments
43. Powerpoint Jeopardy
44. Freeze screen to get websites up without pop-up interference
45. Skype video chatting with classes around the world
46. Online Textbook
47. Teach songs using pp
48. Graphic organizer- Inspiration- Kidspiration
49. Britannica & NetTrekker (model how to search)
50. Surround your students with images from the unit you are studying.  Show people, architecture, art, food, social scenes, etc. for a social studies unit.