An interactive whiteboard is a touch screen panel that is connected to a computer. The image on the screen is transmitted through the projector. Interactive whiteboards not only display what is happening on the computer, but also allow you to manage the presentation process, make changes and adjustments, make color marks and leave comments, save materials for further use and editing.
I will tell you the main thing you should know about these devices before buying: the principle of operation, types and important characteristics.
Why Interactive Whiteboards Are Better Than Regular Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards are in many ways more convenient than their traditional counterparts, which are written with chalk or marker, as well as paper flipcharts. Now interactive whiteboards are even installed in schools and other educational institutions – they make it much more convenient to work with them. Here are just the main arguments in favor of interactive whiteboards.
Saving time on preparing materials for classes: the teacher does not need to look for paper maps or spend time printing assignments. Everything can be demonstrated on the board directly from the computer.
High image quality : the picture is transmitted to the board without distortion, so you can watch movies and educational videos in excellent quality during the lessons. Thanks to the large diagonal of the screen, the image is clearly visible even to those who sit on the last desks.
More effective learning : high-quality visual material is better absorbed and makes the learning process more interesting.
Collaboration : Interactive hardware makes it easier for students and teachers to work on projects. All participants see the changes in the document on the board and can offer their own suggestions.
Easy maintenance : no need to use a cloth to wipe the chalk off the board. If stains appear, they can be easily removed without the use of special detergents: napkins for screens and office equipment.
Accelerated class pace : the teacher does not have to spend time to write the assignment on the board. You can display it on the screen and immediately start execution. During a lesson or lecture, you can give more useful information without reducing the quality of teaching.
How do they work
The principle of operation of the interactive whiteboard depends on the type of projection – there are two options.
Direct projection : the image is transmitted directly from the projector to the board. The disadvantage of the technology is that the speaker must stand to the side, otherwise he will block the picture that is being projected. To compensate for this disadvantage, they use a short-throw projector and try to attach it above the board on a special tripod.
Rear projection : This option is convenient because the projector is located directly behind the plane of the board. Even if a person is standing in front of it, it does not block the image, and the projector does not shine into the eyes. This is a more convenient, but expensive and difficult to install option.
To work on the board, instead of chalk or a regular marker, a special stylus is used. The touch screen responds instantly to touch, so you can easily move images and make changes to documents without delay.
What is an interactive whiteboard for?
Interactive whiteboards can change teaching and learning in many ways. Here are three of them:
Active student involvement
- The motivation and involvement of students in the classroom can be increased through the use of an interactive whiteboard.
- Improve the pace and flow of the session
Using an interactive whiteboard can improve lesson planning, pace, and flow.
Presentations, demonstrations and model building
The interactive whiteboard is a valuable learning tool for the whole class. This is a visual resource that helps teachers present new material in a very lively and engaging way. It can simplify the explanation of circuits and help you understand a complex problem.
Instructors can use the whiteboard to make presenting ideas fun and dynamic. Whiteboards allow students to interact with new material and are also a valuable tool for educators when explaining abstract ideas and concepts. On the board, you can easily change information or move objects around to create new connections. Teachers can think aloud, comment on their actions, gradually involve students and encourage them to write ideas on the board.
Active participation
Research has shown that interactive whiteboards, by using a variety of dynamic resources and improving motivation, make classes fun for both teachers and students.
Proper use of the interactive whiteboard can help educators test students’ knowledge. The right questions to clarify some ideas develop the discussion, allow students to better understand the material.
By guiding the discussion, the teacher can encourage students to work in small groups. The interactive whiteboard becomes the center of attention for the whole class. And if all the materials are prepared in advance and easily accessible, it provides a good pace for the lesson.
Improving the pace and flow of the lesson
Working with interactive whiteboards involves simple yet creative use of materials. Files or pages can be prepared in advance and linked to other resources that will be available in class. Teachers say that preparing for a lesson based on one master file helps to plan and facilitates the flow of the lesson.
On the interactive whiteboard, you can easily move objects and labels, add comments to texts, pictures and diagrams, highlight key areas and add colors. In addition, texts, pictures or graphics can be hidden and then shown at key points in the lecture.
Pre-prepared texts, tables, diagrams, pictures, music, maps, themed CD-ROMs, as well as adding hyperlinks to multimedia files and Internet resources will set the activity at a brisk pace: you will not spend a lot of time writing text on a regular whiteboard or switch from screen to keyboard. All resources can be annotated directly on the screen using the pen tool and saved for future lessons. You can always open the files of previous lessons and repeat the material covered.
Such methods encourage active participation in the classroom. Everything students do on the board can be saved and used later. Pages can be placed on the side of the screen, like thumbnails, the teacher always has the opportunity to return to the previous stage of the lesson and repeat the key points of the lesson.
What types are
According to the production technology, interactive whiteboards are divided into several types.
Touch : they use a resistive matrix. This is a grid that consists of two layers of the thinnest conductors and is built into the surface of the screen. You can use a stylus or write on the display by hand to work with these whiteboards.
Infrared and ultrasonic : the technology is based on fixing the difference in the propagation of light and sound waves.
Electromagnetic : the method is based on the transfer of data from a writing device. For control use electromagnetic markers that run on batteries. Such boards respond to an impulse faster than analogues.
Optical : the movement of the marker is recorded by digital cameras and sensors, and the information is transmitted to a computer.
Some board models combine several technologies at once – such hybrid solutions can be considered the most convenient.
Erase records and drawings from interactive whiteboards rely on virtual instruments or just touch – the method depends on the specific manufacturer and the software that comes with the device.
