Interactive+Whiteboards

Interactive Whiteboards is a technological advance that is allowing teachers to combine the use of the whiteboard and their computer when teaching a lesson. The computer desktop is projected onto the screen via a special projector. The information on the whiteboard can then be touched in order to change things. The click of the mouse is no longer needed. Students can go to the board and touch it in order to change the screen or show their work. For example, there can be a calculator projected and when pressing the buttons on the screen the math is being done. This is an innovative tool because when only being able to use the computer the students cannot be involved and the teacher can solely lecture. With the Interactive Whiteboard students do not have to be lectured at but can be involved in the process. Interactive Whiteboards should be a staple in every classroom and current and future teachers should look into including one in their classroom. For further information check out:

http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/

or http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/interactive_whiteboards.cfm

Another informative website about this subject is http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Resourcelibrary/Publications/Articles+from+the+CEO.htm. This article explains the benefits of using interactive whiteboards in elementary school classrooms. The interactive white board company "Smart Board" did a study on the effects of using their product in an elementary classroom. The study found that students were more eager to participate in a class that used an interactive white board. The study also found that teachers saw a positive correlation between the way the board worked and the needs of the students that used it. Because children can simply use their fingers to manipulate the board, children who have not yet mastered their motor skills can still use the product with ease. The menus on the board can be moved wherever the teacher wants, so shorter students are able to use the white board as well. In all, interactive white boards make learning fun and easy.

A great place to purchase a Smart Board for your classroom is Dell’s Educational Store below! http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=k12&cs=RC957129

Interactive Whiteboards are a great educational tool to have in your classroom. It is a great investment because it involves the students and incorporates technology at the same time. They are white boards that are touch screen and are like a computer. They can help the kids learn how to do certain things in a technological perspecitive while learning the subject at hand. They can be used for all ages and help many students learn teh subject in a hand on fashion and can incorporate the whole classroom. It is a great tool to incorporate technology directly into the classroom and your lesson plans.

Interactive whiteboards: control the mouse cursor with the touch of a finger.
 * Interactive Whiteboard Types**
 * 1) **Front Projection**- the projector sits in front of the whiteboard and projects the computer image on the whiteboard. Front projection whiteboards range in size from around 45 to 104 inches in diagonal size. Front projection interactive whiteboards cost much less than the rear projection interactive whiteboards and plasma overlays. They are also lighter than the rear projection and have bigger screen sizes than the plasma overlays. The drawback with front projection is that when the presenter stands in front of the whiteboard, he casts a shadow on the screen and has to look into the projector light.
 * 2) **Rear Projection**- Rear projection interactive whiteboards work similarly to the front projection whiteboards. In rear projection interactive whiteboards, the projector is mounted behind the whiteboard and a series of mirrors project the image on the screen. The advantage of rear projection over front projection is that the presenter does not have to look into the projector light when speaking to the audience and the presenter also does not cast a shadow on the board. The disadvantage is that these systems are usually 5 times more expensive than front projection whiteboards. They also take up more space, as the back is bulkier due to housing the projector. Therefore, for obvious reasons they are now obsolete.
 * 3) **Interactive Plasma Displays**- A plasma screen is a large widescreen monitor, from 32" to 84" in size, which has the advantage of being very thin so that it can be hung on walls. Plasma screens can be used with computers and video recorders/DVD players etc. A plasma screen overlay is a device that fits over a plasma screen. Plasma screens that have an interactive overlay on them work in exactly the same way as interactive whiteboards. The advantage of using a plasma screen is that a shadow is not cast by the presenter, unlike front projection interactive whiteboards.
 * 4) **Portable**- Portable interactive whiteboards are available for presentations on the move. Portable devices attach themselves with rubber suckers to standard dry-erase whiteboards to turn them into copyboards. You then connect the device to your laptop or desktop computer, make your notes or drawings on the whiteboard and download them onto your computer to save, print, fax or email them. You use specially designed pens to write on the whiteboard that use infrared and ultrasound technology to determine where on the whiteboard you are writing. These devices are extremely portable and can be used on any whiteboard. You still need to take a laptop and projector with you, usually a notebook, but these can weigh as little as 2 lbs.

research on the white boards have shown them to ● increases enjoyment of lessons for both students and teachers because of varied and dynamic use of resources, with more motivation ● teachers can save and print what is on the board, including new note changes

more research can be found at http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/wtrs_whiteboards.pdf