Electronic Whiteboards

This is a podcast about electronic whiteboards.

Electronic Whiteboards in the Classroom

Not so long ago, teachers in the classroom utilized chalkboard and chalk to teach students. Later came the white erase board and marker, this new invention was cleaner and hypoallergenic. Now, teachers have the option of electronic whiteboards that turn your conventional whiteboard in to a giant touch screen that allows interactive learning in the classroom. The use of technology is instrumentally important in the classroom; it promotes efficiency in lesson planning and keeps students up to date with technology, a skill useful in their future education goals. The electronic whiteboard is just one of the many useful tools that teachers can use to facilitate their teaching methods and promote student interaction in the classroom.

Electronic whiteboards work much like yours standard projector. Software is loaded to the computer which project images to a screen in front of the classroom. You can then use a stylus or a pointer to move images around or write on the electronic whiteboard (Davis, 2007). The main difference between your standard projector and the electronic whiteboard is the touch screen and its ability for interactive learning. Students can solve problems at their desk though the use of a separate electronic pad, thus eliminating the distraction of students getting up out of their seat to solve problems on the board (Mimio). The interactive pad also has the ability to perhaps encourage students to participate in the classroom that may be too shy to stand in front of their peers. The benefits of using electronic whiteboards in the classrooms are numerous. The most beneficial is the interaction it can encourage in the classroom. It is very easy for a students to ignore and dismiss the teachings if the only thing going on in the classroom is monotonous teacher lectures. The electronic whiteboard converts the classroom into an interactive experience were the teacher can use various different media sources such as audio, video, websites and PowerPoint files just to name a few to teach the lecture. This is a big difference from a teacher standing in front of the board jotting down notes.

Another benefit from the board is that is highly beneficial in distance education online learning courses. Students can “attend” lectures in the classroom by being virtually connected to the whiteboard at their home computer (Bell, 2002). Teachers can then also email lecture notes to students that were written on the board during the lecture.

Teachers should always try to utilize the latest technology in the classroom. It keeps them current and up to date as well as keeping their students in touch with what is new in the field of technology. Teachers should always use technology as a guide and a tool in their classroom, not as the only way of teaching students. Students still need teachers to guide them through the material; technology is a tool that can be in the classroom.

Click here to see the products offered by Mimio, a leading provider of the electronic whiteboards.

Integration Ideas for using Interactive Whiteboards

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Works Cited

Bell, D. M. (2002, January). Teachers.net. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from Why Use an Interactive Whiteboard?: http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html

Davis, M. R. (2007, September 12). Education Week. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from Whiteboards Inc.: http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2007/09/12/02board.h01.html

Mimio. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2009, from mimio Pad Overview: http://www.mimio.com/products/mimio_pad/index.asp

Image was taken from wikipedia at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Interactive_whiteboard_at_CeBIT_2007.jpg