Interactive whiteboards are a tool for presentation of material in the classroom. They consist of a “board” that looks like a whiteboard but is actually a screen that has the ability to access the Internet and other forms of media. The user can interact with the screen through markers and hand movements. The resulting text and images can be manipulated and saved for later retrieval by students or the teacher. The board can also be used to present videos, websites and various interactive programs that are designed specifically for interactive whiteboards. The fast growth of the use of this technology and the resulting internet sites of projects, activities and games to support this growth has produced a large library of resources for using this tool.
I followed a thread in the Classroom 2.0 forum that deals with interactive whiteboards. Generally, the participants agreed that these tools are great at inspiring students to interact with the material. They allow shared thinking and exploration and accelerate learning and knowledge acquisition. These tools allow multimodal learning through classroom, internet and multimedia interaction; thus creating meaningful connections to the real world.
Because of the rising popularity of these tools, there are now a lot of easily accessible teacher resources (for every grade range) at third party sites. There are now add-on interactive assessment tools called Activote devices that allow instant retention assessment of a concept or process.
Even the length of this forum thread is an example of how much innovation and interest this technology is creating and spurring on! A quick search of internet resources specifically designed for these systems has unearthed hundreds, if not thousands of classroom projects, games and lessons (cross referenced with the educational standards that they are designed to address).
Here is a link to a primer on interactive whiteboards that was very informative. And here are links to the two most-cited interactive whiteboard products from this forum thread: Promethian and Smartboard. I definitely want to take one of these for a test drive.
I didn't know exactly what interactive whiteboards were and you definitely cleared it up for me. We don't use blackboard chalk any more, and soon there won't be any blackboard either!
ReplyDeleteNever seen or even heard off an interactive white board. Seems like an awesome tool for educators. It would be nice to get an opportunity to actually see a teacher using it in his or her classroom.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard about interactive white boards either. They sound really cool. I'd love to see a teacher actually use one to see if they're easy to get used to.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea this even existed in the school system today. The interactive white board sounds like an amazing tool that help teachers and student with lesson plans and daily activities in the classroom. I think the best part is that the lesson or project can be saved and later accessed.
ReplyDeleteI had heard of these, but wasn't sure what "interaction" could take place...thanks for clearing things up for me! It's so funny how teachers used chalk and a chalkboard for first half of my education, and then around middle school they moved to markers and whiteboards, and now this! It would be sweet if all schools could have these...but I'm sure they're expensive!
ReplyDeleteNo more chalky mess! Sweet, I am sold.
ReplyDeleteThe possibilities are endless with interactive whiteboards. Students are lucky to have this type of technology to enhance there education. There can be seamless lessons with no time wasted dragging out the old projector.