If I have a data projector in my classroom, why do I need an interactive whiteboard?

Thursday, December 16th, 2010 | IWBs, technology | 4 Comments

Many of the things you want to do in you classroom with technology can be done without an interactive whiteboard – in many instances a computer and a data projector would suffice.  Unfortunately many interactive whiteboards are used merely as a display surface – these boards have no value unless they are used for their intended purpose.

Once you start using technology to encourage learner participation, you will be able to judge whether you need an interactive whiteboard in addition to your computer and data projector.

An interactive whiteboard allows you to do exactly what you did before on your old board – you can write on it and erase what you don’t require any longer.  Herein lies perhaps the greatest strength of the interactive whiteboard – in its basic use it does not differ from the board that you’re used to.

But then, it offers much more:

With your computer and data projector you can display prepared material to the class – when you’re using an interactive whiteboard you can use your finger or stylus to annotate and highlight main points, while you are presenting the lesson.  These annotations can even be saved for later use.

A data projector is one-directional – that means it can only display information on a surface and learners can’t interact with it physically by means of a keyboard, mouse or touch screen.  Learners can interact with learning material on a computer, but if you have one computer in the class it is hardly possible for all the learners to participate.  An interactive whiteboard solves this problem.  It becomes a surface on which information is displayed for the entire class to see – but every learner can come up to the board and interact with it, selecting, dragging, dropping, cutting and pasting just as they would do on a computer.

The greatest value of an interactive whiteboard is that it transforms a classroom into an interactive one.  Learners are able to interact with learning material in different ways.

An interactive whiteboard will be a good investment only if you are determined to use it for its unique interactive features, and not only as a display surface.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

For more technology tips for teachers click here.

Tags: data projector, IWBs, technology

How does an interactive whiteboard work? … for dummies

Thursday, December 16th, 2010 | IWBs, technology | 2 Comments

An interactive whiteboard is one of the most astounding pieces of technology that you can bring into your classroom.  Imagine one of your classroom walls as a huge computer screen, but one on which you can write in the same way that you write on your conventional black board or dry-wipe board.

An interactive whiteboard appears to be sheer magic, but the concept is quite simple.  The board itself is just one of three pieces of equipment needed to produce a miracle in the classroom.  These components, which must be linked together, are:

A computer – either a laptop or a desktop computer. 

A data projector – mounted from the ceiling or placed on a table or mobile trolley.

The interactive board – in most cases the board is mounted permanently on a wall, but portable ones are available too.

When these three components are combined the interactive whiteboard becomes a large computer screen.  Everything that appears on the computer’s screen is beamed through the data projector onto the board.  The amazing thing is that you can use a penlike stylus – or sometimes even your finger – to write on the board.  You can tap on the board in the same way as you would click with a mouse. Whatever you do on the board is sent via an electronic message to your computer.

In a way an interactive whiteboard can be seen as a big touch-sensitive screen, with the board acting as a screen, mouse and keyboard at the same time.  This allows for interactions between a person and the computer.

Various devices are on the market today, which makes it possible to have an interactive classroom without the board – these devices convert your classroom wall into an interactive surface.  Even some data projectors allow you to interact with the images thrown on a wall or a screen – and they respond to your interactions.

Classroom technology has advanced to a level where it can help you to transform your classroom into an interactive one.  An interactive whiteboard – or similar device – allows you to do so.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

For more technology tips for teachers click here.

Tags: IWBs, technology

Some say an interactive whiteboard is a waste of money – is it true?

Saturday, November 27th, 2010 | IWBs, technology | 5 Comments

An interactive whiteboard can be a complete waste of money – it can also be the best investment you’ve ever made.  It all depends how you use it.

Because interactive whiteboards are big and white and expensive and often unused, the analogy of a white elephant springs to mind.  Sadly, in some classrooms interactive whiteboards are just white elephants – expensive, useless gadgets.

Sometimes the boards are never used at all.  You can’t write on (most of) them with a normal board pen and since the effort to connect the board to a data projector and a computer and to start up the computer takes effort, some teachers find it too much of a bother and rather use their old board for writing.  This is the ultimate in white elephantness – not only is the interactive whiteboard a waste of money, but so are the data projector and the computer.

In other cases the board is only used as a display surface for the data projector.  None of the interactive capabilities are used – a white wall would suffice.  Since the interactive whiteboard is not used for its intended purpose – and could be done without – it is a waste of money.

The situation changes when the interactive whiteboard transforms the classroom into an interactive one.  Skillful users of these devices encourage classroom interaction – not only physical interaction where learners touch the board to select, drag and drop, or write, but also mental interaction where they interact with the learning material and with one another.  If this happens the value of an interactive whiteboard is great – you can hardly express it in monetary terms.

Interactive whiteboards also earn their keep if they help you – the teacher – to come to grips with technology.  Perhaps you were hesitant to use technology before, but since the interactive whiteboard resembles your old writing board, using it may make the transition to technology in the classroom easier.  If your board can accelerate your progress, it is money well spent.

Before buying an interactive whiteboard, first think how you would use it. Many teachers first bring a laptop and a data projector into their classroom and only invest in an interactive whiteboard once they’ve identified a real need for it.

An interactive whiteboard is only a waste of money when you don’t use it optimally.  Of course, this is true of any technology that you buy for your classroom.

For more technology tips for teachers click here.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: cost, IWBs, teachers, technology

Total cost of ownership of technology in the classroom

Sunday, November 14th, 2010 | Cartoons, IWBs | 1 Comment

Count the cost before you buy!

 This comic strip was created by Kobus van Wyk using  MakeBeliefsComix – go there to create your own.

Tags: cartoon, cost, IWBs, TCO

Interactive Whiteboards for Africa

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | IWBs | 8 Comments

It is with great pleasure that I can let you know that the book Interactive Whiteboards for Africa – 101 Questions was launched last week.  The book is based on postings that appeared on this blog, enhanced by many of your comments (thanks for that!).  See the catalogue for a full listing of all the chapters.

The book will be made available in hard copy format to teachers who do not have access to the internet.  Kind donors made the printing of several thousand copies possible.

Interactive Whiteboards for Africa is not a training manual – it is an advocacy tool that can be used to let teachers know it is cool to use interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs

“The end is nigh” … for interactive whiteboards.

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | Blogging, IWBs | 5 Comments

Both the title of this posting and the cartoon are misleading – the end of interactive whiteboards in schools is nowhere in sight.

What I mean is that the end of postings relating to interactive whiteboards on this blog is in sight.  I’ve reached my target of 101 articles, answering some of the main questions folks are asking about these boards.  I will now cool it and only write about these wonderful tools when something relevant pops up.

Thanks for all the comments and interesting debates – a story always has two sides!

Click here to go the the full catalogue of 101 interactive whiteboards postings.

Tags: blog, IWBs

Does an interactive whiteboard lead to digital inclusion?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | IWBs | 1 Comment

A huge gap exists between those sections of the population that have access to digital resources, such as computers, the internet, and other technologies, and those that do not. This gap is known as the “digital divide”.

The digital divide includes the imbalance in physical access to digital and information technology, as well as the imbalance in connectivity, and the skills needed to participate effectively as a digital citizen.

This divide is clearly seen in schools today.  The current classroom was designed centuries ago.  The blackboard was invented in 1801 and after all the years still occupies centre stage.  Technology has not yet altered the majority of classrooms on the continent.

While we are teaching learners in venues that are on the wrong side of the digital divide, many learners – in fact, most of them – have already crossed the line and are now digitally included.  They may not have access to computers at home, but they are using cell phones to connect digitally to their peers.  When you send a text message, you’ve attained some degree of digital inclusion.

Sending text messages is a far cry from benefiting fully from the promised land side of the digital divide.  More digital skills are required.  Teachers can play a critical role in helping learners to cross the divide fully.  But it is impossible if they try to do this in a setting created during a pre-digital age.

An interactive whiteboard is a smart step towards establishing a digital environment – it can transform your classroom into a modern digital learning centre, where your learners interact with digital technology on a daily basis.  But the installation of the board is just a beginning. You, as the teacher, must have the courage to cross the digital divide.  An interactive whiteboard will help you too, in a non-threatening way, to walk this road.

The introduction of an interactive whiteboard is an important step towards digital inclusion for both you and your learners.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: digital divide, IWBs

Why should I stay close to the supplier of my interactive whiteboard?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | IWBs | 3 Comments

Vendors of interactive whiteboards are in the business of selling interactive whiteboards – they are not charitable organizations and have a profit motive.  But this is not a bad thing – it can work to your advantage.

It is important for the suppliers of your equipment that you use yours optimally.

Why?

Many people – teachers, principals, school governing body members, and even education department officials – are not yet convinced of the value of interactive whiteboards as teaching and learning tools.  They question whether the purchasing of more boards will yield a positive return on an investment in this form of technology.

Vendors know this.  The only way they can ensure future sales is by proving that the use of interactive whiteboards leads to better classroom results.  And the evidence they can point to is the success in your classroom.  They need this!  An under-utilized board harms their case.

Reputable interactive whiteboard dealers – those who are not mere box-droppers – go to great lengths providing a service to teachers.  They understand that, after selling the board to you, they can’t simply walk away and hope for the best.  The service they render includes giving initial training, supplying a constant flow of useful resources and providing guidance on how interactive whiteboards should be integrated into classroom practice. 

This situation is clearly beneficial to you.  If you form a close partnership with your vendor you stand to benefit from:

initial orientation and training

new operating software releases

familiarization in the use of new features

advance training

user communities – both face-to-face seminars and online networks.

Two things are required for you to benefit from you supplier partnership.  The supplier must render support, and you must make full use of the support.

A perfect recipe for a win-win situation!

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs, vendors

Can an interactive whiteboard empower me?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | IWBs | Comments Off

Before this question can be answered, we first have to understand what “empowerment” really means.  The word is rather overused these days and has become somewhat of a cliché.

Empowerment is defined as the process of increasing the capacity of an individual to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.  Empowered people have freedom of choice and action. This in turn enables them to better influence the course of their lives and the decisions which affect them.

This means that empowerment is about two things:

increasing your ability to make choices

increasing your ability to translate those choices into action.

Can your interactive whiteboard do this for you?  Yes, it can.

It opens up a global store of information to you so that you are aware of all the choices you have in teaching methods and resources to support them.  Your interactive whiteboard also has the potential to give you alternative ways to work in the classroom – this ability is in itself liberating and empowering.

An interactive whiteboard can give you wings!  If you feel you are running on a treadmill and need to take charge of transforming your classroom, an interactive whiteboard will be a powerful tool to help you.  You will be surprised how the use of this device could boost your confidence in the use of technology – you will suddenly find that you are no longer on the wrong side of the digital divide.

But keep in mind that an interactive whiteboard is only a tool.  True empowerment depends to a large extent on you.

And remember, your interactive whiteboard will only empower you if you power it “on“!

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: empowerment, IWBs

What maintenance does my interactive whiteboard require?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | IWBs, Maintenance | 2 Comments

Always remember that an interactive whiteboard consists of three components: the board, a computer and a data projector.  Maintenance of your interactive whiteboard involves maintenance of each one of these elements.

The board itself is the easiest to maintain.  Apart from cleaning it regularly, there is little else to be done.

The computer requires normal computer maintenance.  You need to care for it physically.  Clean it frequently on the outside, and have an expert clean it on the inside on a regular basis.  Dust and heat are the greatest enemies of a computer – a build-up of dirt is often the cause of over-heating.  That is why cleaning is an important part of computer maintenance.

You must maintain your computer in other ways too.  A virus attack can paralyze your operations – computer maintenance therefore involves consistent anti-virus updates.  And don’t forget to make regular backups!

The data projector requires maintenance too.  Heat can cause your projector to malfunction – dust is often the cause of overheating.  Dust gathers on the lamp and other critical components inside the machine.  Not only does it downgrade the quality of the image, but it reduces the lifespan of the lamp.  And the lamp is the most expensive part in a data projector to replace.

Some data projectors have filters – these must be cleaned regularly. Others are filter-free, but this does not mean that you don’t have to clean the machines.

When a data projector is mounted on the ceiling, you may tend to forget about it.  Don’t!  It does not matter where the projector is – it still needs to be cleaned.

Before you attend to maintenance activities on the different components of your interactive solution, read the manufacturer’s manual and then follow the instructions.  This will help you to get the best out of your equipment.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs, Maintenance