Interactive Whiteboards: What are they?
W McT
Intereactive Whiteboards
An interactive whiteboard is a large touch sensitive board which is connected to a digital projector and a computer.
The computer can be controlled by touching the board, either directly or with a special pen.
There are a number of manufacturers and a variety of specifications at a range of prices.
Some boards are sold with a software bundle, however most current Educational software is designed for board use
Examples of Interactive Whiteboards:
Promethian and Hitachi Boards use a stylus
Smartboards use direct touch
Mimio and eBeam are devices that can be used to make any regular whiteboard interactive
Effective use of interactive whiteboards
Teachers need sufficient access to embed their use in teaching.
Used by pupils as well as teachers
Training for individual needs of teachers
Investment of time by teachers to become confident users and build up arange of teaching resources
Sharing of ideas and resources with other users
correct positioning in the classroom
Reliability and technical support to minimiseproblems.
The Interactive Whiteboard Project
For schools thinking of purchasing and those who have recently purchased.
http://www.cbiproject.net/index.html
This project involves a number of Dublin schools using some of the different brands that are available
NCTE Advice Sheet On Interactive Whiteboards:
Kilkenny Education Centre has two types of Interactive whiteboard:
2 Smartboards and 1 3M Board which was kindly donated to the Centre by 3M