Are all interactive whiteboards the same?

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 | IWBs

A board is a board is a board … is this a true statement?  They all seem to be doing the same thing.

Do you mean all interactive whiteboards are exactly the same in appearance, functionality and cost?  Then the answer is “no” – interactive whiteboards with different brand names are most definitely not the same.  Vendors are quick to point out the superior appearance of their products, or the additional functionality you may enjoy if you use their boards, or the lower price you’ll pay for their offerings.  The hard board versus soft board versus no board debate also highlights differences.

If you mean all interactive whiteboards are similar in purpose, you are closer to the truth.  They may have different features, but they all provide you with an opportunity to enjoy an interactive classroom.

Does this imply it doesn’t matter which board you buy?  Not at all.  There are important differences.  The decision of which brand of interactive whiteboard you’ll acquire is an important one – one that calls for careful thought.

Skilled users of technology know what they are looking for.  From experience they know which features are important to them, and when they investigate different products the pros and cons of the boards will lead to a decision.

What happens if you are not a skilled user of technology?  Then you must be even more careful to buy a board that suits your needs.  Scrutinize each board in the light of the following:

Ease of use:  Try your hand at using the board and see if you are comfortable using it.  Where possible, ask other novice users of the board how difficult it was for them to learn using the device.

Available support:  What level of support will be available after you’ve purchased the board?  Technical support is important, but guidance in helping you to integrate the use of your interactive whiteboard into classroom practice is even more important.

Appropriate resources:  Satisfy yourself that the software that is bundled with the board is useful to you.  On-line communities where free resources from other educators are available will be an added advantage.

Don’t be fooled – all interactive whiteboards are not the same.  But only you can decide which one is the right one for you.

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