A Teacher Presentation Station (TPS) is a height-adjustable mobile table equipped with power and wire management. From the TPS, the teacher orchestrates teaching and learning with their laptop typically connecting to an interactive LED display and document camera. 

First, A Little History

When I was in elementary school in the 1960’s, most of my K-12 teachers had their desk in the front corner of the room. These desks were typically made out of solid oak and had anchored many a school year.  When the teacher was not teaching at the front chalkboard, or at their relatively new overhead projector, they would most likely be navigating the class from their desk.

Speaking of that “new” overhead projector, it was really the first analog “interactive” AV equipment in the classroom. It allowed teachers to present acetate transparencies of basically any lined drawing, or their own handwriting while facing students. As a visual learner, I just loved images used in class whether they were transparency illustrations to help me learn concepts, or educational filmstrips and movies. I always volunteered to thread and operate the filmstrips or 16mm film projectors while I sat right next to the projector to troubleshoot film jams. I had that job locked down by 5th grade. In fact the picture above, reminds me of my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Erickson with her red curly hair. You didn’t mess with Mrs. Erickson.

Years later as an Educational Technology Resource Teacher for San Diego Unified School District, I participated with colleagues in developing a teacher presentation station that would integrate all the new classroom digital technology.

In the 1990’s, the table top video projector entered the classroom. The video projector sitting on a separate AV cart was connected to a desktop computer from another table all plugged together with an extension cord and VGA cable strung across the floor. The computers image was then projected onto a pull-down screen, probably from the same era when I was running the film projector back in the mid-1960’s.

In the early 2000’s, technology really started to enter the K-12 classroom as the teacher got a laptop computer and a large Interactive Whiteboard (IWB). Table-top video projectors evolved into short-throw video projectors that could be mounted above the IWB. This was a game changer because we could put all the wiring in the front of the class, close to the wall, and away from the middle of the action in the classroom.

From the wall, we then could connect the interactive whiteboard located in the front center of the room to a laptop and document camera resting on a new kind of powered media table. This table was most often located several feet away in the front corner of the room just like Mrs Erickson’s old desk. We dubbed the table the “21st century teacher desk.” In just a few years, the majority of the traditional old wooden teacher desks were removed from the classroom.

The shift had happened. Schools integrated the laptops, interactive whiteboard, doc cam and projection system to the teacher’s new desk. We called the desk, the “Teacher Presentation Station” or simply “TPS.” Not only could the teacher present, but students could come up directly to use the interactive whiteboard, or use the presentation station with their student mobile device to present to the class. 

I took the two pictures above around 2009, where we integrated the following items to make our district standard presentation station.

1. Custom Bretford Table 24″ x 48.”
2. The table legs were screwed to a fixed standing height so the teacher could stand or sit in a height-adjustable task stool.
3. A document camera was mounted on the white laminate table which served as a neutral color balance for the doc cam.
4. The table also had a wire management tray underneath to hold a power strip and connect all the tethered wires to the ceiling projector, interactive whiteboard, wall power, DVD player, and classroom audio and wireless microphone system.

The vendor who helped me design the custom presentation station teacher desk, even included a drilled hole to secure the doc cam with their lock-down kit, was none other than D&D.

As always, technology keeps moving forward as the Interactive Whiteboard (or IWB) has now evolved into a LED Promethean Interactive Display with up to an 86″ diagonal size eliminating the need for a video projector altogether and servicing replacement lamps.

D&D Learning Spaces has been a part of this classroom technology history that continues today as a furniture and AV vendor for K-12 schools.

In the past year, D&D has been working with Wisconsin Bench a leading manufacturer of educational furniture. Together we have crafted a “new and improved” presentation station table that enhances teacher ergonomics. We are happy to now introduce, three different self-height adjustable bases connected to a writable surface powered table top. 

The New Table Top

 Just like our original 2009 Bretford table, D&D’s new Teacher Presentation Stations (TPS) are designed for orchestrating teaching and learning with a teacher laptop, doc cam, and LED interactive display.

All three TPS models include the same new table top that maximizes the table space and includes:

• Custom 28” x 48” Table Top *Note- The Pin Leg Adjustable (PLA) Table is 24″ x 48″
  
  • Formica Writable Surface – Liquid Glass (actually any laminate surface you want)
  • Legrand Table Top Access Box with 4 outlet Power Strip 15ft.
    Excellent for holding a teacher’s laptop AC Brick and cords – all top-loaded with no more bending under the table to plug in and out daily!
  • Pencil Drawer 
  • Slate Grey  – Armor edge 
  • Legs – Smooth Silver
  • 12″H x 35” W Perforated Metal Modesty Panel with cable management trough
    (including Velcro Cable Management Kit) 
  • 4 Locking Casters
    

The TPS is available with a task stool sold separately.

D&D’s Three Teacher Presentation Stations (TPS): Leg Base Options

1. TPS – Pin Leg Adjustable (PLA)
2. TPS – Crank Height Adjustable (CHA)
3. TPS – Pnuematic Height Adjustable (PHA)

The Leg base options are presented in a progressive good, better, and best soluton based on our K-12 customer’s needs and budget. 

1. TPS – PLA (Pin Leg Adjustable) 

The Pin Leg Adjustable (TPS-PLA) model is our entry-level solution in height adjustment. This is are most economical TPS as most teachers will set the pin legs to their personal standing height from 26″- 40″, and then leave it there permanently for sitting in a raised pneumatic task stool, or for standing too.

2. TPS – CHA (Crank Height Adjustable)

The hand Crank Height Adjustable (TPS-CHA) model is our middle level solution in self-height adjustment. The hand crank easily raises and lowers the adjustable legs to the exact user’s height for standing or sitting in a task stool. The handle retracts under the table and is interchangeable from left to right sides.

3. TPS – PHA (Pneumatic Height Adjustable)

The Pneumatic Height Adjustment (TPS – PHA) model as our top level solution in instantaneous self-height adjustment. The handle control is unique for pneumatic height adjustable tables in that it is flush mounted underneath the table. This design hides the mechanism as most teachers appreciate this feature.

The Teacher Presentation Station Task Stool (sold separately)

The Office Master BC47-SDU Teacher Task Stool is our go to pneumatic height-adjustable chair used for sitting or standing at the Mobile Presentation Station. This product features: