IPEVO Ziggi-HD Plus- 8.0 Megapixel Document Camera Really Shines!

I have been using IPEVO products since they became commercially available and have always been amazed by the quality and the price. Sometimes I wonder how they do it. When I demonstrate the IPEVO document cameras to my students they always comment just how great the images look and when I mention the price, they are astounded! With this as a backdrop, I was happy to receive the Ziggi-HD Plus to review

which recently became available. The Ziggi-HD Plus is a 8.0 Megapixel camera and an up to 12x continuous digital zoom that is powered via the USB cable. The  Ziggi-HD Plus is the same dimensions as their previous model but when you use it with the updated IPEVO Presenter software the image quality of the Ziggi-HD Plus is spectacular. Ziggi-HD Plus's 8.0 Megapixel camera delivers a resolution up to 3264 x 2448 pixels when used with Mac or PC.

In my testing the image quality is fantastic even under low light conditions. Teachers will really enjoy the faster refresh rate on the Ziggi-HD Plus which is ideal when you are moving objects or writing under the lens. Under all conditions the Ziggi-HD Plus was much faster at focusing objects under the lens and was very responsive. When looking at the image it is hard to believe that a $99 document camera can produce such a high quality image. The Ziggi-HD Plus includes a built-in microphone that when paired with the Presenter software allows you to use it for creating videos or for video conferencing. The Ziggi-HD Plus is ideal for creating videos (MP4 format) for the Flipped Classroom. Ziggi-HD Plus and IPEVO Presenter are now compatible with Chromebooks and the Google Chrome browser (PC and Mac) through the Chrome IPEVO Presenter app. To round out the experience you may want to consider

purchasing the following accessories: Carrying Case, Height Extension Stand, Scan Kit and the Magnifying Lens. In any case if you considering a purchase of a document camera for your classroom you have to check out the Ziggi-HD Plus - it is great value for the price! Bring your classroom lessons to life with the Ziggi-HD Plus!

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Tools of the Trade- A Day of iPad Training

MaxCases Educator

Today I set off to do an iPad Training and thought it would be interesting for you to find out what I packed for the workshop. Of course, I packed my trusty Apple iPad which I have been using for the last 2 years and it has treated me well. I also used my Epson Powerlite 915W projector which not only supports VGA but HDMI which is great for using with the Apple TV. If you really want to experience the iPad when doing training then you need to carry your Apple TV with you, so that you can move around the room with the iPad as you are projecting the screen. Apple's Airplay technology is just great for sending the video and audio to the device. I also used the Maxcases Educator Case with my iPad which allowed me to hold the iPad securely with the adjustable hand strap which gave me the freedom to write directly on the iPad using the free IPEVO Whiteboard app. Using the IPEVO Whiteboard app enabled me to use the iPad as if I were using an interactive whiteboard and could simply write on the screen on the iPad and everyone was able to see the contents. I also demonstrated the IPEVO Ziggi-HD document camera and IPEVO Wireless Station for iPad which gives you the power of utilizing a document camera with the iPad. For my presentation, I used a Haiku Deck that I customized for this training session which looked spectacular- the graphics really popped.and having a 3000 Lumen, Epson 915W projector really sets the stage for some fantastic looking images on the screen. I also used the Belkin Tablet Stand which worked great to position my iPad on the desk when I wasn't using the Maxcases Educator case. It's really a symphony when all the pieces come together! A super day of training was had by all :-)

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

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Great Day Presenting to Undergraduate Students Majoring in Education

It was really great being able to share the work that I am doing with undergraduate students who are majoring in Education at the College of St. Elizabeth. Today was their annual educational association conference and I had a chance to share the work I am doing using iPads in the classroom. I had a chance to demonstrate a number of new and innovative technologies that in some way all connect to the iPad. The students got a real kick out of the demonstration I did with the iPevo Wireless Station and the iPevo Ziggi HD document camera. I placed three quarters under IPevo Ziggi HD camera and then handed three groups of students an iPad with the iPevo Whiteboard app installed  Once the students logged into the iPevo Wireless network they were all able to see the three quarters and annotate on top of the image. I shared with the group how this strategy and approach could be used as students set off to solve real world problems having access to high quality video feeds. In my presentation, I next demonstrated the Mighty Scope Connect, a handheld wireless digital microscope from Aven, Inc. The Mighty Scope Connect, is an impressive microscope that easily creates an adhoc wireless network with your iPad and utilizing their Wi-Viewer app it wirelessly sends the image to the iPad. The quality of the image under the microscope was really crisp and clear and the future teachers could think of some interesting ways to utilize this tool in the classroom. Just like the iPevo solution, students could log into the Mighty Scope Connect network and view the image in stunning detail on their iPads using the supplied app.  I plan on doing a more in-depth review of theMighty Scope Connect in another blog post. As part of my presentation I also demonstrated probeware from Pasco and how it could be utilized with the iPad using a Bluetooth connection. Using the PasPort Airlink 2 connected to a Temperature, Sound Level, & Light probe, I was able to demonstrate how the device could capture the light level in the room in real time and display it on the iPad. It was enjoyable day and the students were very excited to learn about all of the innovative technologies that are out there and find their way to the classroom.

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

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