Interactive Whiteboards

(Above picture comes from http://didatticacolweb2.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/interactive-whiteboards2.jpg)

Do you have an interactive whiteboard in your classroom? Do you really know what it is and how to use it? Do you know that there are different brands of these electronic whiteboards? An interactive whiteboard is defined as:

An interactive whiteboard is a digital device capable of interacting with a computer and projecting images in a screen. This device is used for visual presentation in classrooms, workgroups and business meetings. An interactive whiteboard needs to be connected to a computer which generates the actual images or data which are then projected to the board. Most interactive whiteboards have keyboard and mouse functionalities, but some models are capable of whiteboarding functions like character recognition so notes can be written or recorded on the physical board itself (Techfaq.com).

The interactive whiteboard works by the electronic white board connects to a computer. The computer connects to a projector which projects the image onto the board. The whiteboard can be touched and manipulated with fingertips or with accompanying markers. SMART Boards is a brand name for one manufacturer of electronic white-boards. Interactive White Boards can be Front Projection or Rear Projection. Front-projections IWBs have the problem of the user's shadow obscuring the image on the board. Some front-projection whiteboards have the projector mounted on the top of the board which helps with this issue. Rear-projection units do not have this problem (Interactive White Boards).

There are also several types of interactive whiteboards out there and they include Smart Technologies, Numonics, Promethean, Polyvision, Mimio and eBeam (Interactive White Boards).

Here are ways to use interactive whiteboards in the classroom:

• Save lessons to present to students who were absent
• Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to the server or web. Example- How to create a graph in Excel or hoe to burn a projects to cds
• Use the built in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals.
• Present presentations created by student or teacher
• Have students create e-folios including samples of their work and narration
• Digital storytelling
• Teach whole group computer or keyboarding skills
• Brainstorming
• Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations
• Reinforce skills by using on-line interactive web sites
• Creating a project calendar
• Teach editing skills using editing marks
• Use in the 6 trait writing process
• Use highlighter tool to highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
• Use it with Kidspiration or Inspiration
• Teaching students how to navigate the Internet
• Illustrate and write a book as a class. Use the record feature to narrate the text.
• Use the Interwrite software to create lessons in advance at home or at school. Then save them for future use or to be shared with other teachers
• Diagramming activities
• Teaching steps to a math problem.
• Have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences
• Graphics and charts with ESL learners and special ed students.
• Teaching vocabulary
• Electronic Word Wall
• End each day by having students write one thing that they learned (INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS IN THE CLASSROOM).

http://www.tech-faq.com/interactive-whiteboard.shtml

http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Interactive_White_Boards

http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/whiteboards.html