Interactive Electronic Whiteboards

              in the classroom

Introduction

Since its introduction in 1991, (by SMART Technologies),  the interactive whiteboard industry has boomed with new companies offering similar products for educators. IWBs have become more common in the K12 environment.  In many instances they are used to replace the traditional whiteboard in order to add an interactive element using a desktop computer and flipcharts. Teachers and students have access to educational software, websites, and learning tools at their fingertips, as well as the ability to record instruction for distribution or review later (“Interactive Whiteboard,” n.d.).

The following images show some of the varieties of interactive whiteboards available with links to the company’s main website. Although there are other companies that manufacture or distribute IWBs,  the more popular brands are: ActiveBoard, SMART Board, Mimio Interactive Board, Eno Board, and the INTERWRITE Board . The two most popular brands are the SMART Board, by SMART Technologies, and the ActiveBoard, by Promethean.

Features

All IWBs come with standard features and software to create the interactive component. Each model contains a pen, which either magnetically sends signals through the board to create marks, or it sends a signal to a transponder that records movement and signals of what the user wants to accomplish. The software for each product  allows the whiteboard to be interactive. This software not only allows educators to create lessons using flipcharts, similar to the way Microsoft PowerPoint is used i, but it provides visual aids, video,  and learning tools, such as protractors or rulers.   Interactive features  allow students to demonstrate their learning.

Easy To use Whiteboards

Source (SMART 2009)

Extra Components

There are many extra components that can be purchased with each interactive whiteboard. These extras may include: portable tablets/slates, portable response systems, extended software, interactive tables, and document cameras.

All of the mentioned brands offer a portable version of the IWB. Some are referred to as a tablet, slate, or a pad, but all of these handheld interactive boards allow the teacher to move throughout the learning environment while still manipulating what is shown on the whiteboard. Essentially, it is the whiteboard in hand, although, the user must utilize  hand/eye coordination because the images, or the information written on the portable device, are only visible on the larger board through the projection of the LCD projector. 

The other popular components that these brands offer are portable response systems. These are handheld devices that allow the students to respond to questions provided by the instructor. The teacher can guarantee that the students are engaged, and can check for understanding. The students and the instructor  gain immediate feedback from their responses.  

Advantages

There are many advantages to using interactive whiteboards in the classroom. The first and most obvious reason is that the teacher and all of the students can see, not only what is projected from the LCD to the whiteboard, but they can also see any additional marks made by a special marker or pen. IWBs do not necessarily improve education, but they definitely enhance the instruction for students with the use of stylish images, animations, and videos (Murcia, 2010). For the teacher who dreads drawing a diagram of the circulatory system, IWB software, or access the web, allows the teacher to retrieve these images.  The teacher may then mark the diagrams, or video, highlighting important concepts. The software and Internet “provide teachers with access to a wide range of materials and resources to support instruction” (Clyde, 2004) 

Disadvantages

Interactive whiteboards are a wonderful addition to a classroom, however,  there are some disadvantages. The  most common roadblock to purchase at this time, is the cost. IWBs are not inexpensive,  and can range anywhere from $700 (board and software only) to $3,000 complete with LCD attachment. The second disadvantage is that they are difficult to move around or relocate and re-calibrate in new settings. Finally, it is not uncommon for interactive whiteboards to be “under-used, because teachers lack the time to find or develop resources to use with them” (Freedman, 2004).  It is unfortunate, but experience reveals that more of these boards are used to project to a screen than actually used as an interactive tool.

References

Clyde, Laurel A. (2004). electronic whiteboards.  Teacher Librarian, 32(2), 43-44. Retrieved from Academic Search Elite database.

Freedman, T. (2004). Still failing the technology test? The Guardian, 19.

Interactive whiteboard. (2010,  April 26).  In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:50, April 28, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_whiteboard 

Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom. (November 6, 2009).  Retrieved from  http://rmtc.fsdb.k12.fl.us/tutorials/whiteboards.html

Murcia, K. (2010).  Multi-modal representations in primary science: What's offered by interactive whiteboard technology. Teaching Science - the Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association, 56(1), 23-29.  Retrieved from Academic Search Elite database.

Websites

eInstruction: simple solutions. real results: http://www.einstruction.com/

Mimio: make it interesting:  http://www.mimio.com/index.asp

Polyvision: a steelcase company:  http://www.polyvision.com/

Promethean: lighting the flame of learning: http://www.prometheanworld.com/index.php

SMART Technologies:  http://www.smarttech.com/

Video

SMART classrooms. (2009), Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U05WeXPGlk