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Great Video: 6 Best Interactive Whiteboards 2019

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Great Video: 6 Best Interactive Whiteboards 2019

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As the title states this is a video discussing and or ranking the top interactive whiteboards of the year.

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Interactive Whiteboards and Digital Displays Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning

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Interactive Whiteboards and Digital Displays Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning

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This article I found very informative in regards to using Interactive Whiteboards in an elementary classroom.

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Interactive Whiteboards and Digital Displays Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning

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Interactive displays have evolved over the past few years, but teachers continue to use them to engage students.

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Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Literacy Instruction (Ashley Hartman)

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Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Literacy Instruction (Ashley Hartman)

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This website is a source of knowledge for all things literacy! The page I linked provides activities you can use for all grade levels. From lower elementary to high school there are activities for literacy instruction you can use with your interactive whiteboard!

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Interactive Whiteboard 101: A Resource of Activities for Literacy Instruction | Scholastic

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Web-based lessons, activities, and literacy games to use on your classroom's interactive whiteboard

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Using Interactive Whiteboards in Special Education (Ashley Hartman)

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Using Interactive Whiteboards in Special Education (Ashley Hartman)

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This article provides information about using interactive whiteboards in a special education classroom. It also includes a list of do's and don'ts of using interactive whiteboards in special education.

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Can we talk seriously about interactive whiteboards in the special education classroom? I have a big love-hate relationship with them.

I soooo love their potential. But I am so tired of seeing them used as giant TVs. So often they aren't used as interactive tools. Instead, they just play YouTube videos. Videos are, by their nature, usually NOT interactive.

Can you tell this has been bothering me for a while? I know how much everyone pines for an interactive whiteboard. It is, after all, the 21st century and it certainly does seem like we should be moving toward using technology throughout the day. But just showing a video on a whiteboard isn't advancing us to the future. It's bringing back the past with a bigger screen.

That's not to say you can't use it to show videos and that some videos are useful. They are great for showing video modeling. But then we stop and have the student follow the model-not just watch it passively.

Let's face it, most of our students are not passive learners. Well, except for those video game and cartoon phrases you hear repeatedly, right? But just watching a video in morning meeting of a song is not teaching them a concept.

So, today I'm talking about the Dos and Don'ts of interactive whiteboards in the special education classroom. It's based on what I often see when walking into classrooms and ways you can use them effectively with your students.

Trust me, there are a whole lot of ways we can use them and they are dynamite tools to have in our arsenal. And they have even more potential because our students are often so drawn to watch the screen. The key is to make it a learning activity, not just watching.

1. Don't just watch videos without engaging with the board

The whole point of the technology is for it to be interactive. Passively watching a bunch of videos that no one expects you to engage with is not interactive.

2. Don't use interactive activities above the level of most students.

I see this happen most frequently with morning meeting and calendar time. Only one student in the classroom might know the calendar well enough to put the right day and date in the right place so that student operates the whiteboard each day. And the rest of the students watch but don't really learn how to do it for themselves or even what it means.

3. Don't lose time cueing your programs up.

Instead, put this task into your zoning plan so the whiteboard is ready to go when your students get there. Remember that downtime is not your friend, and when students have to wait for you to get the software running, it's downtime for them.

4. Don't use programs only the teacher controls.

I see this one frequently when the whiteboard is used in situations like preschool classes. If only the teacher is interacting with it, the interactivity is not really benefiting the student.

5. Don't use the whiteboard just to fill time.

Make sure that your plans for your interactive whiteboard activities align with the goals for the students. Integrate them into your lesson plans. Don't just use them as time keepers or presentations.

1. Do use manipulatives to augment interaction with the students.

The fact is that not every student can interact with the whiteboard at the same time. And our students typically do best when they have something tangible to engage with during the activity. So, even though you are using the whiteboard, have actual manipulatives, like visuals for songs or books, for the students to use.

2. Do make videos of your own for video modeling.

Video modeling is an evidence-based practice.Interactive whiteboards can be a great way to present the video model to the whole class or just to one or a small group of students. Let them watch it multiple times, rewind it and use it as they want. If you have a tablet hooked up to the whiteboard, you might consider giving a student access to it to control the video. You can get tips on how to use video modeling here.

3. Do use it for interactive programs the students use.

For instance, if you use Unique Learning System, present the lesson on the whiteboard. If you use , use it with the white board. Use it to demonstrate lessons. Use it to present the model of the art project.

4. Do have multiple students interact with the board.

Interactive whiteboards are tough because only one person can touch them at a time. So, in a group activity, plan out multiple "helper" opportunities for student to interact with it. Set it up so that each student answers questions on it, makes choices on it, and / or writes on it to interact with it in some way.

5. Do use it to present group lessons in limited quantities.

They are great for brain breaks for 5 minutes or so of exercise and movement. But use it sparingly this way or it becomes just like a TV. And if you do that, consider having students make choices on the board by touching a picture or word. This makes it more interactive than passive.

I am not the expert on interactive whiteboards and I haven't spent a ton of time with them. However, I recognize the potential they bring to the classroom if we use them well. Some strategies that I've seen that have worked well in special education classrooms include:

Using them to show the model art activity for the ​​​​student to follow

Demonstrating processes like math problems for the class

Presenting the Unique social studies or science lesson and then having the students follow with the activity for comprehension.

chevron-circle-rightUse them to present News2You lessons

chevron-circle-rightVideo modeling and then practicing or role playing the activity

chevron-circle-rightHaving students look up things online using the tablet or computer and sharing it with the class

chevron-circle-rightUse it as an interactive choice board for activities where students put their names or pictures on the activity of his/her choice

chevron-circle-rightPresent PowerPoint interactive social stories to the class (have students interact to change the slides / page, match picture to picture)

chevron-circle-rightUse books from Tarheel Reader to have students take turns reading from the projector.

Not all of those examples are interactive, but they do serve an interactive purpose within the classroom. I know there must be lots of great ideas out there about how to use them effectively for instruction. Share them in the comments!!

Looking for visuals to supplement Your Whiteboard?

Click the images below to check them out in my store!

Until next time,

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Use Interactive Whiteboards the Right Way in Special Ed

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Can we talk seriously about interactive whiteboards in the special education classroom? I have a big love-hate relationship with them. I soooo love their potential. But I am so tired of seeing them used as giant TVs. So often they aren't used as interactive tools. Instead, they just play YouTube videos.

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Digitalizing a Coach's Clipboard (Brandon E-T)

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Digitalizing a Coach's Clipboard (Brandon E-T)

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This short video provides insight to the newest technology for coaches. Not only are digital smart boards or whiteboards being used in the classroom, but also used outside the classroom for coaches. Coaching and teaching go hand and hand. It is important for coaches to also use new technologies, such as smart boards, to maximize their coaching and athletes understanding.

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Basketball coach Keith Rumjahn developed an app that can change the way we play sports by digitalizing a coach's clipboard. The WSJ's Eva Tam reports on how a simple idea made its way into a Hollywood film.

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Creative Ways to Use Your Interactive Whiteboard (Brandon E-T)

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Creative Ways to Use Your Interactive Whiteboard (Brandon E-T)

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This article provides different ways interactive or digital whiteboards can be used in the classroom. Whats interesting about this article is that it breaks down beginner, intermediate and advanced activities to do within the classroom. As students begin to use or be exposed to digital whiteboards, it is important to bring them on at a certain pace instead of throwing a bunch of technology at them at once. This article provides insight on how to use digital whiteboards depending on the skills or acquisition levels of the classroom and students.

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Creative Ways to Use Your Interactive Whiteboard

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Shake up your classroom with fresh ideas for engaging your students. Try these tips for interactive group games and note-taking.

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Using Digital Whiteboards to Support English Language Learners (Heidi B)

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Using Digital Whiteboards to Support English Language Learners (Heidi B)

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This article provides evidence as to why digital whiteboards help to enhance learning for students learning English as a second language. What I find most important about this article is it specifies that the whiteboard must be used efficiently for there to be a significant difference in language acquisition.

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Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning (Heidi B)

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Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning (Heidi B)

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This article gives examples on how to use a digital whiteboard as more than just a whiteboard for teacher lead discussions. The main idea is that interactive digital whiteboards should be, as the name suggests, interactive.

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TeachersFirst: Hands off, Vanna! Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning

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Introduction Ever since Bill Ferriter's January, 2010 article, " Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards," the debate has raged about expenditures on IWBs. Central to anti-IWB arguments is the notion that IWBs promote teacher-centered lessons and lecture-based teaching methods. Whether or not IWBs are worth the expense, they are already in our classrooms. If we have them, let's use them well.

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Google Classroom: Collaborate with Aww Web Whiteboard (Chancey Y.)

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Google Classroom: Collaborate with Aww Web Whiteboard (Chancey Y.)

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This article introduces a popular Web Whiteboard program called Aww App. This program integrates nicely with Google Classroom which is a necessity in my future classroom!

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Google Classroom: Collaborate with Aww Web Whiteboard - Teacher Tech

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Google Classroom Whiteboard with Aww Web Whiteboard. Have students collaborate on drawings and connect with Google Classroom.

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What is an Online Whiteboard? (Chancey Y.)

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What is an Online Whiteboard? (Chancey Y.)

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This article highlights the distinct differences between digital whiteboards and web or online whiteboards. I found this to be a helpful source when approaching this weeks assignments.

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A online whiteboard is a learning space where both teachers and students can write and interact with students in real time via the internet.

Whiteboards (traditional, digital and web) are found in almost every classroom because it makes it easy for teachers to explain and explore ideas with students. Let's not overlook the three key amazing qualities a whiteboard has. You can wipe it quickly, it's highly visible (even to little Johnny in the back row) and it focuses student attention.
A web whiteboard is not a 'digital whiteboard'
Digital whiteboards (the big touch screens placed at the front of a classroom) are slowly replacing traditional whiteboards as the tool of the future. They allow the same experience as a traditional whiteboard but they are also connected to the internet and digitise the content written on the online board.

This means teachers can access instantly any online material on YouTube videos; any learning resource; any online learning activity. Anything written on the board can be digitised, saved onto the cloud and reviewed later.
Sounds great, so why aren't digital whiteboards revolutionising the classroom?
It's been almost 27 years since the first digital whiteboards were introduced but far too many teachers still use a digital whiteboard like a tech version of their old whiteboard. This what I would call a "dumb board".

Digital whiteboards can weigh as much as they cost ($3000 - $30,000) so if a teacher isn't trained on how to think differently about the equipment, it can be a wasted opportunity. Even if the equipment lasted 3 - 5 years, that's $1,000 - $10,000 tied up in hardware each year. With 10 classrooms, that's $10,000 - $100,000 per year plus financing. How many schools can afford that kind of investment?
The web whiteboard of the future
A web whiteboard allows a teacher and student(s) to interact on the same online whiteboard web page at the same time...from anywhere.

Firstly, they can be accessed by any device (e.g. the teacher's laptop or the student's tablet). This means there are some obvious applications for distance learning and using a web whiteboard with Skype.

Secondly, they can be displayed in a physical classroom with a simple projector. Of course it would be nice if every classroom had a massive touch screen at the front of the class, but many schools will not be able to afford one. However, they could afford $10 - $30 per month for web whiteboard software. There's no cost for updates and means that more schools can use web whiteboards and improve the effectiveness of their teaching.

Thirdly, they can be used even without a projector in a physical school. Almost every student has a smartphone, many have tablets, most schools have fast internet, a digital pen costs less than $5 and almost every learning resource is online...If every student can access a screen, Why put the material up the front when you could put the learning material in the hands of students?

Let's look at an example. Let's say you're a teacher that wants to explain a concept and wants all students to be able to see it.

Rather than writing with a whiteboard marker on a physical whiteboard, a teacher could writes on the online whiteboard from their computer or turns their mobile phone into a mouse pad with a cheap stylus.

This speeds up the class. With a physical whiteboard, you used to invite the student up and get them to write on the board. The student (often painfully slowly) would work up the courage to get out of their seat, waddle up to the front of the class and fills out the exercise (well done Jimmy!...everyone claps wildly until you spot the extra apostrophe ;)

An online web whiteboard is hosted on a private page on the internet that enables a teacher to control who joins the class, what's goes on the whiteboard and which students can participate at a time (it's the next best thing to a mute button...hopefully that's not far off though).

When a teacher or student writes on the whiteboard, both sides can see it. The lesson materials, video, audio can be displayed and used inside the whiteboard (with the teacher setting the pace of the class) and notes from the class are digitised, can be save with one click and shared with all students after the class.

The best online whiteboards of the future will come loaded with instantly accessible and curated content, special whiteboard features for subjects like teaching English as a second language or Maths, professional lesson templates, track data for comparative reporting, automatically identify errors, allow you to create blank version of the same interactive materials to enable peer work and so much more.

This ease of use opens the door to a different way of teaching by combining the good parts of both cloud technology and modern pedagogy to encourage teachers to act more like 'facilitators' of learning rather than a knowledge-transfer service.

But the really exciting news for educators, especially in developing countries, is that this technology enables a teacher to teach students in a poor country or even in a war-torn country where students may not feel safe making their way to a physical school. Global initiatives like Project Loon (Balloon-powered internet) and Facebook free internet gives hope that anyone can access the internet and a web whiteboard, so anyone can teach or learn.

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A online whiteboard is a learning space where both teachers and students can write and interact with students in real time via the internet. Whiteboards (traditional, digital and web) are found in almost every classroom because it makes it easy for teachers to explain and explore ideas with students. Let ...

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Are you making the most of your interactive whiteboards? (John)

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Are you making the most of your interactive whiteboards? (John)

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This is a great artcile from a blog I yet again found on Pinterest. It is a little dated but I think all the information in there still holds. While nothing is super mind-blowing in the article it is still a grounded approach on how to use a IWB effectively.

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Dear Cult of Pedagogy, I walked into my classroom this week and saw that I've been given a Smartboard (No warning! No training! Tons of expectations!). I'm not concerned about learning how to USE it, but more how to capitalize on its interactive nature. I teach high school English. Do you know of any resources?
So your school just spent an insane amount of money on interactive whiteboards without much forethought, and at the expense of other needs. Awesome!

All snark aside, some teachers have done amazing things with interactive whiteboards (IWBs), adapting their teaching to really take advantage of what IWBs can do. Others basically use them to show videos. How do you get the most out of your board? Since you asked about English, and that's my background, I'll share my own ideas at the end. First, here's a summary of the best advice I've found online.

d tech columnist Ben Stern advises teachers to Treat the board as one tool, not the focus of the room. E use whiteboards selectively. If a task doesn't really lend itself to IWB use, then don't use it for that task. "Often I hear teachers say that they're using it to prove to their principal that they've used it," he says."Make sure that you're using it for the students." One of the best uses I've seen for IWBs is as a station: Students rotated between independent seat work, hands-on manipulatives, a teacher-led activity, and a small-group task done on the IWB. Which leads to our next item...

Have the students use it.Critics say that IWBs put instructional focus right where it does not belong: on the teacher, in front of the room. But if students are using it to really engage with their learning, that board starts earning its keep. For tons of solid, specific ideas for getting kids on the board, take a good look at this presentation from Candace Hackett Shively: Hands Off, Vanna! Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning. A lot of her ideas would work very well in an English Language Arts classroom, and not once does she ask you to buy new software.

Remember...it can do everything your computer can. Stern's article also reminds us to think way beyond the software that comes with your IWB. If we limit ourselves to those tools, we're missing out on a lot. Whenever you get stuck, remember that anything online that your school allows access to can now become part of your classroom: This means Skype calls, webinars, online discussion boards, and up-to-the-minute news articles are just a click away. And the tools you have on your computer are there, too: presentation software, word processing, and games can now be built into your instruction, for your use and the students'.

conducted by Marzano & Haystead found a 16 percentile point increase in achievement in students whose teachers used IWBs Go easy on the bells & whistles. A 2009 study effectively. Teachers who used lots of non-relevant visuals and virtual applause, rather than focusing on the content, actually got worse results with IWBs. If you find yourself falling in love with features, be careful not to let them take over.

Learn more with the right search. Since there are several brands of this kind of board, online research will be most fruitful if you search with the term interactive whiteboards. This covers all brands and will most likely yield academically based results not sponsored by one brand or another. Be wary of "research" published by the manufacturers of one particular board - their primary goal is to sell you more product.

And for the English class...Since my background is in English Language Arts, I'll throw in my two cents. I would use it first for writing. Teaching students how to brainstorm, draft, revise and edit is complicated and challenging. Teacher and student modeling is an essential part of this process. Editing text directly on the IWB is one of its most basic features, and it's one that would be invaluable for writing teachers. I used to do this on an overhead, but IWBs allow you to save your work, move things around, and just do things much more cleanly. My other main use would be for demonstrating all the online tools that allow students to brainstorm ( Xmind), collaborate ( Google Docs), and publish their work ( Scribd). And I would have students do most of that demonstration: They pick up on technology much faster than we do, so if they are aware of something new and better, let them teach the rest of the class how to use it.

I hope this helps get you off to a good start. Come back later and tell us how it's going!

Readers: What other advice do you have? I'm excited to hear what you have to say. Add your own experiences in the comments section below.

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Are You Making the Most of Your Interactive Whiteboard?

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Interactive whiteboards are a fixture in many classrooms, but are teachers taking advantage of all they have to offer? Here are some ways to improve your use.

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards (Taylor)

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards (Taylor)

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This article includes seven benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom. It is always important for educators to constantly be adding new tools in their toolbox, and digital whiteboards are one of them. Some of the included benefits are enhanced lessons, interactive learning, and flexibility in the classroom.

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Copier Houston TX - Platinum Copier Solutions

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In our fast paced tech-driven world, capturing the hearts of children is a challenge. Keeping their attention is an even bigger challenge. The best teaching is an art and a science. Educators are integrating technology in the classroom with amazing results. Consider the following 7 ways interactive whiteboards will enhance your classroom.

Using Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom

Interactive whiteboards allow educators to take standard lessons and turn them into interactive activities. Kids have fun while they learn. Interactive whiteboards like the Sharp Aquos Board are replacing overhead projectors in classrooms across the nation. Here are 7 reasons why:

1) Enhanced Lessons

Interactive whiteboards integrate various learning styles into one experience. Students can learn by seeing, hearing, and interacting with the board through touch. This equips teachers with new, innovative ways to teach the same subject material. Because of this, students learn better and remember more.

2) Interactive Learning

Interactive whiteboards allow children to interact with the learning material. They become a part of the lesson and can even teach each other. Their understanding of the subject is seen through touching, drawing, or writing on the board. Educational games can be played by entire classrooms. They also provide immediate feedback, so students and teachers can easily assess student progress.

3) Easy to Use

Interactive whiteboards are clean and require very low maintenance. No chalk or markers or other writing utensils needed. Data is modified using a specialized pen for highlighting, drawing, and writing. Therefore there is no mess. No cleanup. It's just that easy.

4) Flexibility in the Classroom

Various media types can be displayed on an interactive whiteboard. Whether photos, graphs, maps, illustrations, or videos- teachers have an abundance of options. You can create creative lessons to inspire your students.

5) Connected to the Internet

Interactive whiteboards are connected to the internet which gives you a resource of online tools and information. Teachers have access to various sources to enhance and support their lessons with video, articles, images, learning tools, and more. Students also have a rich resource for research and learning.

6) Integrated Technology

Interactive whiteboard technology allows for the integration of various other technologies to enhance student learning. Any device you can think of like computers, microscopes, cameras, and video cameras can be attached to the boards to enhance instruction. As a result, the possibilities are near endless.

7) Proven Effectiveness

Students are more attentive in the classroom. Comprehension improves. Test scores rise. Literacy increases. Students learn better and remember it. When children engage more in the classroom, learning always increases.

Give Your Students Their Best Chance

Teaching is one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors you could undertake. Having the right tools in your toolkit always makes the biggest difference, especially in the classrom. Equip your classrooms for success. Consider interactive whiteboards like the Sharp Aquos Board in the classroom for your school this year. Your students AND teachers will thank you. Contact Us for more information on using the Sharp Aquos Board in your classroom.

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7 Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom | Platinum Copier Solutions

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In our fast paced tech-driven world, capturing the hearts of children is a challenge. Keeping their attention is an even bigger challenge. The best teaching is an art and a science. Educators are integrating technology in the classroom with amazing results. Consider the following 7 ways interactive whiteboards will enhance your classroom.

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Top Interactive Whiteboard Apps (Taylor) 

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Top Interactive Whiteboard Apps (Taylor) 

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This article includes 10 recommended apps to use with your digital whiteboard. Each given app includes a description of the app, any reviews that have been made, which grades it can be used for, and the price of the app. Most of the apps included are great tools to use in the classroom for student and teacher presentations.

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Top Interactive Whiteboard Apps | Common Sense Education

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Thinking and presentation tools that make sharing and collaborating easy. Explore this Top Interactive Whiteboard Apps Top Picks list of 13 tools curated by Common Sense Education editors to find relevant and engaging edtech solutions for your classroom.

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This article provides several examples of ways to use the digital white boards in the classroom.

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the primary classroom

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using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom | ezTalks

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The benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom affect both the students and teachers positively. The article below explores some of the benefits of integrating interactive whiteboards in the learning curriculum.

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Why Use digital Whiteboards in The Classroom (Terry)

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Why Use digital Whiteboards in The Classroom (Terry)

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This website discusses some of the biggest benefits to using digital whiteboards in the classroom. With the benefits that come from digital white boards it's hard not to incorporate them into your classroom.

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the primary classroom

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using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom | ezTalks

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The benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom affect both the students and teachers positively. The article below explores some of the benefits of integrating interactive whiteboards in the learning curriculum.

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Engaging students in their learning with interactive whiteboards (Maeve) 

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Engaging students in their learning with interactive whiteboards (Maeve) 

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This article focuses on the importance of using technology in the classroom. How technology engages students and makes learning more fun. This article mentions how student participation increasing when they are more engaged. This article also has 2 videos: The first video shows how learning can be fun and interactive for students when using technology in the classroom. The second video is a documentary that discusses how technology in the classroom helps students understand better and aides their education.

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Thanks to technology, students can get to enjoy their lessons. Interactive whiteboards (IWB) has been developed and fitted with education-focused software that has the ability to interact with other smart devices such as tablets, laptops and video conferencing.

IWBs are fast changing the way students learn and lessons have become more stimulating and interactive therefore encouraging learning. IWBs are available in two variations:

A short throw projector fitted with a sensor

A large LED touch display

The large LED touch display has become more popular than the short throw projectors as they are less affected by light, they are more interactive via touch and don't have lamp problems.

Below are the benefits of LED touch display interactive whiteboards.

Improved student participation

Whiteboards have been found to improve student participation more than traditional classroom boards. The interactive whiteboards allow students to answer questions, take votes from their seats and the results are displayed instantly. The whiteboards are touch-enabled, therefore, teachers can tap to perform calculations, reveal layers of information as well as allow the teacher to move information with the tip of a finger.

Ensures data preservation

Information on IWBs is available via a connected computer which means that whatever is done on the board will be recorded directly to the hard drive and can even be copied to removable devices like flash disks.

Teachers are able to recall and reuse the information, especially during a brainstorming session, unlike traditional boards where it can be erased after being copied manually.

Promotes technology interaction

IWBs allow students to have a chance of interacting with technology, therefore, interweaving it with their education. This comes in handy when the students are making their own presentation. Students will finally get to learn more about different devices and software.

Improved learning

IWBs are connected via computers which in turn are connected to the internet. While there are students who absorb information efficiently via spoken word, others learn better via visual presentation. The whiteboards give learners an opportunity of absorbing information in multiple formats. This increases retention and synthesis of information.

Promotes collaboration

IWBs are integrated into classrooms, therefore, allowing students not only to become listeners but also participants. This allows the learners to become part of the learning process rather than just recipients of information.

Improves feedback

During a lesson, students can provide immediate feedback via controls which can be used to ask or answer questions regarding material that is being taught. Teachers are able to identify areas of confusion, therefore, providing answers quickly.

See how AVT Solutions is using Audio Visual Technology in Education to make your class room more interactive.

Our in-house professional Technicians are fully qualified to assist you with your Audio Visual Technology needs and are committed to giving first class, friendly, customer service and support: Contact us

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Importance of Interactive Whiteboards in Education

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Thanks to technology, students can get to enjoy their lessons. Interactive whiteboards (IWB) has been developed and fitted with education-focused software that has the ability to interact with other smart devices such as tablets, laptops and video conferencing. IWBs are fast changing the way students learn and lessons have become more stimulating and interactive therefore encouraging learning.

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Advantages to using interactive whiteboards in Special Education (Maeve 

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Advantages to using interactive whiteboards in Special Education (Maeve 

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This article focuses on how important technology is in the classroom. It emphasizes how technology such as interactive whiteboards can benefit students with special needs/disabilities. It provides examples on how interactive whiteboards can close the gap between students with disabilities and students without in classrooms. It also gives examples of how beneficial interactive whiteboards can be in the classroom discussing specific disabilities such as ADHD. Check out the article below!

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By Written by Cindy Perras, M.Ed., OCT
Introduction

Assistive technology (AT) can be of tremendous benefit to students with learning disabilities (LDs); AT can compensate for a student's skills deficits, needs and/or area(s) of disability. The key to effective AT is finding the right match between the AT tool, the learning disabilities, and the task.

Students with LDs will most often require AT that assists with reading, language, organizational skills and processing information. Examples of AT include computers, mobile technology (tablets, smartphones, iPods, etc.), specialized software programs, scanners, and interactive whiteboards.
For additional information on AT, click here to access an article on the LD@school website, "Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities: Information, Tools and Resources for Teachers".
One type of AT that is becoming increasingly popular, as an instructional tool for educators who teach students with and without learning disabilities, is the interactive whiteboard (IWB). An IWB is a presentation device that interfaces with a computer; computer images are displayed on a touch-sensitive screen by a digital projector, where they can be seen and manipulated. Examples of commercially available IWBs include SMART Boards, MimioBoards, Polyvision IWBs, Epson's BrightLink Pro, and the Promethean IWB. Various types of software and accessories are available for different IWBs.

How do whiteboards support the learning of students with LDs?

Students with LDs may require a variety of accommodations to access the curriculum, including technology. In the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP), accommodations may include voice-to-text software (e.g. Dragon Naturally Speaking), text-to-speech software (e.g. Kurzweil), touch screen technology, and interactive whiteboards. As Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is strongly linked to technology, teachers can use the framework of UDL in the classroom, not just for students with learning disabilities, but for all students.

The Ministry's resource document, Learning for All, notes the use of IWBs, in combination with UDL, as a recommended practice (Ministry of Education, 2011, p. 15):

Assistive Technology and UDL

The use of assistive technology, such as interactive whiteboards, for special education programs and classes provided a powerful starting point for focused discussions about equity, accessibility, and UDL.

Classroom teachers, special education resource teachers, and administrators were challenged and encouraged to think about the deployment of instructional tools to support students with special education needs in the context of school improvement planning. The resulting conversations often involved thinking about how technology might help to improve the achievement of both students with special education needs and students with a range of diverse learning needs in integrated settings.
Click here to access an introductory article on UDL, on the LD@school website.
It is important to understand how IWB technology supports the principles of UDL:

Multiple means of engagement - IWBs are highly engaging for students and assist in sustaining interest and focus, which is especially helpful for students with ADHD;

Multiple means of representation - IWBs provide educators with the ability to present information in a variety of linguistic and non-linguistic formats, e.g. graphics, audio, video clips, text, etc.; and

Multiple means of action and expression - IWBs provide students with options to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and options to interact with and manipulate learning materials; for example, a student with fine motor challenges can use a special pen or finger on the board.

According to Learning for All, differentiated instruction (DI) is based on the idea that it is necessary to adapt instruction to suit students' differing strengths, interests, learning styles, and readiness to learn. A key strategy in differentiated instruction is the use of flexible groupings, which allows educators to assign different tasks to students, individually or in small groups, based on strengths, interests, learning styles, or readiness. IWB technology allows educators to differentiate instruction and provide more individualized learning for all students, including those with LDs.
Click here to watch a YouTube video showing students using assistive technology to support differentiated instruction.
Lastly, the use of IWB technology promotes the inclusion of all students, with and without disabilities, through whole class, small group and individual instruction within the framework of UDL and DI.

Strategies for Students with LDs

The Blossom Learning Centre is a Canadian company, located in Richmond Hill, which provides online professional development for teachers. The resources section of their website provides the following strategies for using SMART Board technology:

Students with LDs in Reading (or dyslexia):

By adding colorful text, video clips, animation and images into SMART Notebook lessons, educators can supplement their oral instructions which can make it easier for students with reading LDs to grasp key concepts.

Educators can incorporate interactive phonics activities on the SMART Board interactive whiteboard into their lessons to help students build awareness of the letter sounds in words.

Educators can use SMART Response systems with their SMART Board interactive whiteboard to give tests and quizzes and keep track of how well students are learning. Points that have not been understood properly can easily be identified and revisited.

Classroom audio systems such as the SMART Audio system when used along side a SMART interactive whiteboard can help students hear the educator's voice better.

Educators can record processes on their SMART Board and then play them back to the class step by step, as many times as necessary.

The SMART Notebook "Spotlight" feature allows educators to block off certain areas of text on the SMART Board which they might not want students to see just yet. This blocked off area can then be revealed as soon as students have processed the necessary information

Students with Reading Comprehension Difficulties:

Enlarging text on the SMART Board to make it more legible

Highlighting parts of the text with digital highlighter ink or the SMART pen tools

Using the "Spotlight" feature to only reveal certain, relevant areas of text

Integrating a SMART Document Cameras to display textbook pages and other hard copy literature on the SMART Board.

Change text colors and backgrounds to make it more readable on the SMART Board.

Students with Fine Motor Difficulties:

Students using the SMART Board can write on it using a finger, a pen from the SMART pen tray or a soft object like a tennis ball or hacky sack to practice their handwriting. The SMART Notebook software can then convert these handwritten letters to text using its handwriting recognition capabilities.

Educators can show pre-lined paper templates on the SMART Board to make it easy for students to keep their writing on the SMART Board straight.

Educators can help students with constructing letter forms by asking them to trace over built in alphabet letters and numerical symbols that are included with SMART Notebook Software

Students can annotate over web pages, images and electronic documents on the SMART Board to practice their writing skills.

Students with ADHD:

SMART Board interactive whiteboards can help teachers to teach students with ADHD by getting them more involved with the lesson, while keeping the lesson structured.

Educators can allow students to manipulate the SMART Board screen with their hands, and interactive games and activities can be imbedded into SMART Notebook lessons to keep students engaged and focused.

Features of SMART Notebook software like "reveal" and "spotlight" that keep from too much information being displayed on the SMART Board screen at once can help students with ADHD to focus on key areas, and educators can encourage students to highlight these key points and ideas on the SMART Board by drawing on the SMART Board screen in digital ink.

English Language Learners who may also have LDs:

Audio can be embedded into SMART Notebook lessons to reinforce important or difficult learning concepts.

Students can practice their writing on the SMART Board with the SMART pen tools, which is then converted to text and spell checked by SMART Notebook Software.

Educators can use digital highlighter ink to emphasize certain things on the SMART Board screen. Notebook software features can be used to hide text and reveal it bit by bit.

SMART Response systems can be integrated with SMART Board interactive whiteboard systems and used to gauge student comprehension of topics covered.

References

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2011). Learning for All - A Guide to Effective Assessment and Instruction for All Students, Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Related Resources on the LD@school Website
Click here to access the resource chart, "Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities Through a Universal Design for Learning Approach to Technology". Click here to access the article, "Tiered Approaches to the Education of Students with Learning Disabilities".
Additional Resources
Click here to access the Research Monograph, "Assistive Technology Tools: Supporting Literacy Learning for All Learners in the Inclusive Classroom". Click here to access a Canadian research-based article, "Smart Inclusion for the 21st Century Classroom: Integrating SMART Boards with Assistive Technology".
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Interactive Whiteboards: An Assistive Technology Tool for Students with LDs

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By Written by Cindy Perras, M.Ed., OCT Introduction Assistive technology (AT) can be of tremendous benefit to students with learning disabilities (LDs); AT can compensate for a student's skills deficits, needs and/or area(s) of disability. The key to effective AT is finding the

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Easy to Access Digital Whiteboards (John)

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Easy to Access Digital Whiteboards (John)

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I found this blog through my new Pinterest account actually. This article tells of a few different creative ways they can be used in an elementary classroom. The author also provides some online digital whiteboards to check out!

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Easy to Access Digital Whiteboards with Collaborative Options

Do you teach elementary students and are looking for easy to access digital whiteboards that can be used on Chromebooks/computers and no sign in is required? Well look no further! This post contains a few of my favorites that even have the option for students to collaborate with one another. These are even great to use when introducing students how to work with others in a digital environment. You can read THIS post about an easy intro activity that will help guide, teach and model effective digital collaboration using a web whiteboard.

How Can Digital Whiteboards Be Used in the Elementary Classroom?

replace individual whiteboards and markers

sketch/plan/brainstorm

work out math problems

draw & label diagrams

the possibilities are endless!

Witeboard

I love Witeboard (yes, that is how you spell it) for its simple layout and easy to use tools. This is a great one to use with primary students. Users can go straight to the website and a blank canvas will launch for them to immediately start working. If they would like to share their work with a peer, they simply click the share button in the upper right hand corner and the link is automatically copied to their clipboard for them to share. *Towards the end of this post I will share how you can make this collaborative process easier while also keeping tabs on student work*.

Web Whiteboard is another easy to use digital whiteboard with a collaborative option. Students go to the site, click Create a free whiteboard and the canvas pops up. The boards do expire after 21 days with the free version. The url is automatically created when the board appears so students would just need to copy it from the address bar to share with others. Students do have the option to download their board as an image file.

Aww App

Aww App also has a free version which has lots of neat options including the ability to upload images, PDFs, and PowerPoints. Students can export their boards as images or PDFs! They can invite others to their board by clicking Invite and grabbing the url or copying the url in the address bar.

Whiteboard Fox

Whiteboard Fox is a slick website that has lots of options besides drawing and adding text. The background is made up of grid squares to help students spatially. There are other options such as the ability to add images, take a snapshot of your canvas, replay what you drew and more!

Creating and Giving Access to Collaborative Boards

The really nice feature of the web whiteboards mentioned above is that they can be shared with others and turn into a collaborative experience. Whoever creates the whiteboard just shares the url with their team member(s). This may sound easy but many primary students would struggle with this step. Therefore, assignments like these would require the teacher to create multiple boards for group work. What I like to do is prepare the boards ahead of time by creating each one and pasting the url into a chart in a Google Doc that labels each board with student names or group names. This way everything is housed in one location and I can even jump on their boards to check on their progress. All I do is share the Google Doc link the with class (via Google Classroom, Seesaw, LMS, etc.). Here is an example:

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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Easy to Access Digital Whiteboards with Collaborative Options

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Do you teach elementary students and are looking for easy to access digital whiteboards that can be used on Chromebooks/computers and no sign in is required? Well look no further! This post contains a few of my favorites that even have the option for students to collaborate with one another.

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Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Literacy (Lena)

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Interactive Whiteboard Activities for Literacy (Lena)

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This Scholastic page offers up many free activities to use for Literacy engagement across elementary grade levels. The activities engage students by allowing them to interact with texts, move objects, practice letter sounds and identification, and work collaboratively. This is a great resource to use if an educator wants to increase use of the interactive whiteboard and is unsure about how to begin!

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Interactive Whiteboard 101: A Resource of Activities for Literacy Instruction | Scholastic

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Web-based lessons, activities, and literacy games to use on your classroom's interactive whiteboard

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Online Whiteboards with Realtime Collaboration (Lena)

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Online Whiteboards with Realtime Collaboration (Lena)

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This article lists ten digital whiteboard resource tools. This is where I found Conceptboard, the tool I discussed in my screencast. This list explains the pros and cons of each tool and how they are used. The article also includes a helpful chart with the features of each tool for easy comparison. Although this isn't education specific, you can easily imagine classroom applications by reading the descriptions of each tool.

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The 10 Best Online Whiteboards with Realtime Collaboration | GetVoIP

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White boards are great for those times your team needs to crowd around the same space and collaborate, and with digital whiteboards you can have the same experience online.

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ClassFlow: Create Dynamic and Interactive Lessons for the 1:1 Classroom (Carolyn)

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ClassFlow: Create Dynamic and Interactive Lessons for the 1:1 Classroom (Carolyn)

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This article provides a nice overview of my favorite digital whiteboard tool, ClassFlow. The article includes screenshots, videos, and brief descriptions on how to use the main features. This platform allows to create interactive lessons and assessments. It also allows you to share the resources that you create with other educators. If you haven't tried ClassFlow before, I would recommend reading this article.

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ClassFlow is a free software for interactive learning and collaboration created by the folks at Promethean. The system offers an impressive combination of features, including the ability to differentiate lessons, add interactive content, collect real time feedback on formative assessments, and track student behavior. Overall, it's an excellent resource, so let's take a look!

Before jumping into the review, here's a short overview video from the ClassFlow team that covers the basics of what the software is all about:
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As shown in the video, ClassFlow covers a whole lot of bases. From designing lessons, to creating interactive content, to tracking student behavior, to a whole lot more. For those interested in a tutorial on getting started with ClassFlow,
here's a good one to start with. There are also a TON of short tutorial videos throughout ClassFlow that you can use if you run into any trouble.

Once you've created a free account, a good place to start is the Marketplace. From here, you can explore, use, and customize lessons that other educators have already created. You can filter the pre-created lessons by both subject area and grade level.

When you click on a lesson you'll get a detailed description of what it covers, what standards it addresses, and so on. You can also choose to import the lesson into your ClassFlow resources (in order to use and edit later) or send the lesson out through email.

If you prefer to create or use your own lessons, rather than those that have already been created, that's definitely an option as well. You can import basically any presentation format (PowerPoint, SMART Notebook, ActivInspire, PDF, etc.) and use it within the ClassFlow system, or you can create your own lesson from scratch as well. To begin, just click the New button and choose file upload or SMART Notebook upload.

From there, you'll want to provide some basic information about your lesson (name, description, grade level, subject area, standards, etc.) and then you'll be ready to start building or adding in the slides that you've uploaded.
After you import your slides, you'll still need to head into the lesson builder, so that you can integrate what you uploaded with the assessments and other interactive content that you want to add.

For PowerPoint slides, there's no way to edit the content of the slides once you've uploaded them (although you can reorder them), so it's best to make sure your presentation is all set up and ready to go before you import it into the system. When you are ready to make your lesson, just click New again and choose lesson to jump into the Lesson Builder.

Once you've provided that basic information, you're ready to start making your lesson. If you hit Insert at the top, you can add in any slides you've imported. If you're building from scratch, you can use the + button at the bottom left to add in a new card (aka slide) or section (like a title/header slide).
All the typical options for a presentation creator are available. You can add in text, images, links, and even HTML content if you'd like to embed something you've created on another site. You can also change your themes, add in teacher notes, and basically anything else you might want to do.

I should also mention, there is one feature that I really love, which is the ability to add student slides in addition to your teacher slides, so that what you see on your device can be different than what the students see on their device. To set this up, click on the four squares at the bottom left and then you can add in student cards to pair with any and all teacher cards that you would like to.

You'll need to name the set, and then from there, you can add in the individual questions that you want to by choosing Quick add (great for multiple choice questions) or add (great for all other types).
Next, let's talk a little bit about adding in formative assessment options. The easiest way is to click on the settings gear at the top right corner of a card and choose add questions. You'll be taken into the Assessment Builder where you can create as many question sets as you want. Think of a question set as a group of questions that you want to be able to use.

If you go with Add instead, you'll have the option of adding in a large collection of question and assessment types:

Once you've added in your questions, and finished your lesson, you'll be able to share it out with your students. We'll cover how to add students in a moment, but if you click Present from the lesson builder screen, you'll be able to launch an ad hoc presentation where students can join in by going to
www.classflow.com/student and entering in the code at the top right corner of your screen.

You can also choose to launch a poll from the right side menu, even if it's something you haven't pre-created in the assessment builder. This is a great feature for when something comes up during class that you hadn't prepared for or planned out ahead of time. Here's a great video that shows how this can be used, and also shows how you can use interactive content in your polls as well:
It's important to note that you won't be able to preview any of your built-in assessments until a student joins in. Once they've joined the session, then you'll be able to start the assessment (and get feedback on how students are doing) whenever you'd like to.

As I mentioned earlier, you'll also want to set up your classes at some point. From the Classes menu at the top of the application, you can choose to Add a Class and then define some basic characteristics about it (name, grade level, etc.). I'd recommend using the "student created roster" so that students will create a ClassFlow account and then just enter in the class code that you're given. This way, you'll be able to track assessment data of your students.

Once you have your classes, lessons, and assessment set up, the general idea would be that you would:

3) Have your students login to ClassFlow and enter the presentation code.
4) Start presenting and launch your assessments whenever you'd like!

As a teacher, you can also be logged in on two separate devices (i.e. your projector computer and an iPad or cell phone). That way, you can see student response data on one device, while still using the other device to show the presentation. ClassFlow will collect all sorts of student assessment data so that you can get a quick snapshot of exactly where your students are at with the assessments you've sent out.

The last thing to mention is that during your presentation, you can also click the Differentiate / Share button on the right side in order to send out different versions of your lessons to different individuals or groups. This way, you could have modified versions of your slides to better meet the needs of students at different ability levels. From the student perspective, they'll all be engaged in the same presentation, but they can also be working at completely different levels if need be.

In addition to presentation and assessment options, you can also create assignments, which are a collection of lessons and resources that can be sent out to students to complete during class or outside the classroom as well. This can be great if you want to build activities that will extend beyond class time (i.e. for flipped learning), or if you want students to be collaborating on different assignments in groups, or anything along those lines.

Finally, you've also got the ability to create and give out custom badges. This feature is similar to what services like Class Dojo offer, where you can award positive and negative points for things the students do, say, or complete. Here's a video explaining more about
creating badges and one on awarding badges.

There are additional features available (rubrics, learning packs, item banks, and courses), but for the purposes of this review, the lessons, assessments, and differentiation possibilities are what I wanted to spend the most time covering.

I'll close by saying, ClassFlow has a lot to it (as you may have noticed), and I think this is a good thing. It combines what would normally take 2-3 different apps into one, very easy to use package. That being said, it might take a little while for teachers to get used to the workflow of the app, which is why it's awesome to see how many video tutorials are offered throughout the site.

Additionally, if you're a school or district leader and able to round up 25 teachers, ClassFlow will actually organize a free professional development session for you so that you can get trained on how to use the software. For classroom teachers who are interested in organizing a PD session, you can check out the ClassFlow House Party option, which is also a great way to organize a training. Sessions like these would also be great to learn a little more about ClassFlow's more advanced features:
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If you're wanting to get started, I would recommend checking out a few of their tutorials inside of the application, because they're not only helpful, but very short and to the point as well. And of course, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have as well, either in the comments or With all that in mind, if you're looking for a way to make your presentations more engaging, and to collect formative assessment data from your students to gain real time snapshots of student learning, I absolutely recommend trying ClassFlow. The ability to differentiate lessons, add student specific slides, create assignments, use badges, and all the other features are awesome as well, and make ClassFlow a well-built, user friendly resource that covers a huge range of classroom needs.
Overall, I'm a big fan of ClassFlow. Learning the ins and outs of the system may take a little while, but I do believe that it's a worthwhile investment of time. If you're using presentations in your classroom, ClassFlow allows you to take them to an entirely new level by adding in a wide variety of formative assessment possibilities as well as the option of differentiating your presentation for the students in your class.

via email.

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ClassFlow: Create Dynamic and Interactive Lessons for the 1:1 Classroom

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ClassFlow is a free software for interactive learning and collaboration created by the folks at Promethean. The system offers an impressive combination of features, including the ability to differentiate lessons, add interactive content, collect real time feedback on formative assessments, and track student behavior. Overall, it's an excellent resource, so let's take a look!

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Jumpstart Engagement with Interactive Whiteboard Classroom Technology (Kyle)

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Jumpstart Engagement with Interactive Whiteboard Classroom Technology (Kyle)

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This website provides history on interactive whiteboards. This website also provides the positives of interactive smartboards and where they are utilized. The smartboards are extremely interactive and provide a quicker ability to research information. This website also provides data on interactive whiteboards as well.

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Nearly a hundred years ago, celebrated educational reformer John Dewey admonished:

If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow.

Never before have there been so many tech tools at our disposal for educating in entirely new, exciting, and promising ways. The interactive whiteboard stands out for its ability to amplify web-based resources and transform the way an entire roomful of students interacts with educational content. The advent of interactive large format displays further expands the options for achieving the documented benefits delivered by this transformative classroom technology.

The Road to the Interactive Whiteboard

Classroom display board technology is a powerful thing. Introduced in 1801, the chalkboard was a transformative classroom technology. It freed teachers from costly and time-consuming handheld slates. The results were far-reaching. First, a dramatic increase in class size. Next, the expansion of education into the American population.

The chalkboard reigned supreme for nearly two centuries. In the early 1990s, concerns about chalk dust and students with allergies prompted the transition to whiteboards. Teachers applauded the new tool, which let them highlight and expand lessons with multiple colors. The classroom as a whole benefited from the elimination of chalkboard mess. ¹

Along with widespread adoption of whiteboards, new classroom tech began to link the boards with computers. Teachers could now save content written on the board to a computer hard drive. This enabled them to make instant print outs, spawning the short-lived name "copy board."

Rise of the Interactive Whiteboard

Introduced in 1991, interactive whiteboards (IWBs) were destined to make an even greater impact on teaching. IWBs let teachers display anything on a computer to the entire classroom, ushering in a new world of educational possibility.

With interactive whiteboards, students and teachers manipulate content directly on the surface of the screen. Teachers were empowered with exciting new tools. Student engagement increased. And classroom collaboration was set to skyrocket. Original interactive whiteboard systems were a display board connected to a projector.

Recently, large-format touchscreen displays, also called interactive flat panels (IFPs) became another option. These interactive whiteboards deliver the benefits of original projector-based IWB systems, plus added functionality. They're also less costly over the lifespan of the device thanks to reduced power consumption and lower maintenance.

In Praise of The Interactive Whiteboard

Today, interactive whiteboards are firmly established as a teaching tool. You'll find them in elementary classrooms and university lecture halls. Instructors praise their ability to foster interaction and focus student attention. Education researchers project that interactive whiteboard use will continue to grow exponentially. ²

Given the many benefits IWBs bring to the classroom, it's easy to understand enthusiasm for this versatile device. Ed-tech pros hail interactive whiteboards for their ability to quickly integrate classroom technology. Even technophobic teachers can use their most basic functions. As they gain experience, teachers are able to leverage the full range of IWB features and benefits.

IWBs infuse lessons with impactful content. Teachers can easily expand their curriculum by integrating new materials into a lesson. Virtually any electronic file or content from the Internet can be used. Along with any online educational resource or app. Students and teachers can annotate on top of these materials with a fingertip or stylus.

Powerful Learning Tools

Teacher enthusiasm for IWBs is palpable in the education blogosphere and on professional sites like Edutopia.org. California Teacher of the Year Finalist, Sue Holland, teaches seventh-grade science. She's been using an interactive whiteboard in her classroom for years.

She raves: "It's very powerful learning! I can insert links to the Internet or go right to a streaming video on the web."

During a lesson, if a student asks, 'What about this?' I can say, 'Let's take a look' and go online to view it, instead of just talking about it.

Holland's students use the board in a variety of ways, both individually and in groups. "I just stand back, and the kids are engaged. For example, we study diseases of the human body in seventh grade. The kids will research a disease, create a PowerPoint presentation, and then share it with the class. They can change their presentation while standing at the board, or write on the board if someone asks a question." 3

Interactive whiteboards are well suited for any type of classroom, lecture hall, or distance-learning environment. The possible uses for IWBs are virtually endless. Among their many features and benefits, IWBs offer the following:

Teacher-directed viewing of any website, app, video or document to support learning objectives

Dramatic emphasis of key learning points with onscreen highlighting and annotation

Save and print capability, for instant handouts, supplementary notes and absent students

Facilitation of group projects and individual presentations

The ability to collaborate on text documents, spreadsheets, design projects, etc.

Video conferencing connectivity for virtual field trips, international sister classrooms and more

Text/data entry via floating on-screen keyboard

On-screen editing and recording of changes or additions

Support for effective special needs education

Student feedback and assessment with optional audience response accessories

Learning Improvements using Interactive Whiteboards

Students and teachers alike are speaking out about the ways in which interactive whiteboards enhance classrooms. Research backs up their enthusiasm. One landmark study of 85 teachers in 170 classrooms showed IWB's impact on student achievement. ⁴ Research author Robert Marzano states that:

The study results indicated that, in general, using interactive whiteboards was associated with a 16-percentile point gain in student achievement. This means that we can expect a student at the 50th percentile in a classroom without the technology to increase to the 66th percentile in a classroom using [these] whiteboards.

Marzano identifies three features of interactive whiteboards that contribute to even greater success. Each, he says, helps boost learning. Classrooms which combine all three will experience the greatest increase in student achievement. In his study this amounted to an overall 31% gain. Performance boosting features of interactive whiteboards are the following:

Graphics and visuals. Using graphs, charts, and other visuals to represent information was associated with a 26 percentile point gain in student achievement. Examples include photos, drawings and video downloaded from the Internet.

Reinforcing instruction. Marzano found that using "interactive white board reinforcers" boosts understanding. These are actions that, for example, signal that an answer is correct or to present information in an unusual context. Anything with action that reinforces the info does the trick. Think applications that enable teachers to uncover information hidden under objects. Or those that drag and drop correct answers or cheer correct answers with virtual applause.

Audience response. Teachers who used an audience response accessory had a 26% additional gain in student achievement. Often called "clickers," these handheld devices enable students to enter responses as well as vote in polls.

Integrating Interactive Whiteboards into The Classroom

As with any new ed-tech tool, training and professional development are critical to success. With experience, instructors progress from tentative first steps to mastery. From learning to use the basic functions, to integrating it into their daily curriculum. From there, they harness the ability to use more advanced features with ease.

When instructors are as comfortable and adept with their IWBs, as they are with a dry erase marker, great things happen. When teachers have mastered more advanced features, interactive whiteboards are at their best.The technology delivers on the promise of simple, intuitive collaboration and learning - and a demonstrated improvement in student achievement. ⁶

Creating a school-wide culture of tech integration is one way to help ensure the success of classroom IWBs. Another is to foster openness to taking risks. The most effective professional development (PD) goes beyond simply how to use the tech. It shines a light on how the tool will bring value to teachers and their students.

Education IT staff must address the common teacher complaint:

Why would I try this when I've been doing just fine without it all these years?"

Ed-tech experts offer a five-step process to do just that: ⁷

1. Build a tech team

2. Scaffold effective professional development

3. Make time for PD

4. Demonstrate the relevancy

5. Provide encouragement and support

Findings from the Marzano study support the importance of teacher training. In this study, some teachers had better results without the interactive whiteboards. This was surprising at first glance. Upon review, Marzano determined that the key was how the teachers used the classroom technology. This included:

Not taking the time to organize content

Poor pacing in delivery of the content

Excessive use of visuals

Reinforcing features in lieu of clarifying content

Using a voting accessory but not adjusting teaching based on the findings

Getting the biggest boost from interactive whiteboards calls for a two-pronged approach. Tech training helps teachers move along the path to mastery of the board's capabilities. Professional development should focus on how the tech will benefit students. In turn, this helps boost teacher's desire to master and use the tool. PD providing details on ways to maximize the benefits of the IWB will deliver the greatest measurable learning impact.

Improvements in Interactive Whiteboard Technology

Administrators, educators, students, and the research agree. Interactive whiteboards bring learning to life and improve student success. Options for using IWBs in the classroom are as unlimited as the imagination. Choices in interactive whiteboard technology are a bit more limited. Until recently, projector-based systems were the only IWB tech.

In 2011, large-format interactive flat panel (IFP) displays became a new alternative. Benefits of these flat screen TV-like displays are many. For one, teachers gain more features for developing and delivering high-impact lessons. IT staff enjoy reduced maintenance. With a lower overall total cost of ownership (TCO), IFPs are a favorite among administrators.

IFP displays are an all-in-one classroom solution that wears many hats and offers many advantages. For one, IFPs are multifunctional media centers with an embedded processor and web browser. For another, they're high-definition displays. Finally, they offer multiple points of interactivity and are as easy to use as a tablet or smartphone.

Cost & Administrative Benefits

IFPs are simpler and easier to manage than projector-based interactive whiteboards. This makes them more cost-effective than traditional IWBs.

IFPs deliver better overall TCO and a rapid ROI via:

Easier, faster installation

No initial calibration required

Lower energy consumption

Reduced maintenance: no bulbs or filters to change

Longer lifespan

Typically, free from licensing fees and software/hardware agnostic

Classroom Benefits

Interactive whiteboards of any type boost learning outcomes. All-in-one IFP solutions deliver these added classroom benefits:

Maximizes teaching time; no downtime from burned out bulbs or recalibration

Greater reliability for more uninterrupted class time

Eliminates shadows and glare (from projectors)

Quiet, fan-free operation

Crisp, bright display lets teachers keep the lights on

Easy cart mounting for resource sharing (without recalibration)

Versatile teaching tool for seamless use of cloud resources

Enhances collaboration with multiple touchpoints and the ability to annotate over displayed content

Stunning, High Definition Visuals - Even in Well-lit Rooms

Teachers love the ability to keep the lights on. Students can see their notes. And teachers can see what's going on across the room. ViewBoards® offer 4K resolutions for outstanding image clarity that brings content to life. Exceptional visual performance in well-lit rooms is guaranteed, thanks to high brightness. Easy, projector-free functionality eliminates shadows and glare. ViewBoards even look good when not in use, with an attractive ergonomic design featuring rounded corners and reflection-free tempered glass overlay.

Advanced Touch Capability Fosters Group Interaction

Get more students involved with 20 simultaneous touch points. Stylus or finger, it's their choice. Write, draw or highlight on top of any displayed content. ViewBoards are engineered to deliver a consistent, smooth, soft, and highly responsive touch experience. The slim design and thin bezel eliminate the dead angles that exist in older Windows® environments.

Protective Ergonomic Design

Interactive whiteboards are designed for years of safe, durable use. Rounded corners help prevent classroom injuries, providing a safer environment for active students. To safeguard the display itself, the glass cover features a highly scratch-resistant surface. Rated 7H on the pencil hardness scale, it's designed to withstand everyday classroom abrasions. Included hardware mounts the display securely to the wall for safe, stable use. An optional trolley stand offers added flexibility for mobile resource sharing and height adjustment.

Energy-Saving LED Backlight: Good for Cost Reduction as Well as The Planet

Enjoy more than a decade of eco-friendly use. ViewSonic ® ViewBoard ® interactive whiteboards use an energy-saving LED backlight with a lifespan of over 30,000 hours of average use. In a typical classroom, this adds up to more than a decade of high-impact interactive teaching. With lower power consumption than typical projector-based IWBs, it also adds up to a lower TCO and higher ROI.

Versatile and Easy-to-Use

Busy teachers want tech that's intuitive and easy to use. ViewSonic ViewBoards get them up and going quickly with plug-and-play set up. A host of connectivity options enables the use of a variety of digital devices. Quickly connect to a PC, laptop or tablet to begin benefiting from the expansive universe of online educational apps and content. Inputs include HDMI for connecting to high-definition content sources, plus USB, DVI and VGA ports.

ViewBoard Software Provides Tools for Effective Teaching

Engage students, promote interaction, and achieve improved learning outcomes. ViewBoard software lets you easily write, highlight, edit, and transform documents and images on-screen in real-time. ViewBoard also offers screen recording, magnification, and spotlight functionality to further enhance classroom learning and distance education. For added security, and ease-of-use, myViewBoard.com is your digital whiteboard in the cloud.

ViewSchool Portal Offers Easy Training and PD

Time-pressed teachers benefit from training to help them maximize their effective use of ViewSonic classroom tools. ViewSonic's ViewSchool portal provides technology, tools and training to help educators bring the latest learning advantages to their classroom, school or district.

Free membership brings easy access to special pricing, technology selection assistance, and professional development options that include self-guided videos and customized live online and onsite training. Alice Keeler's education technology videos illustrate how to incorporate the Google Classroom with an interactive whiteboard.

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Jumpstart Engagement with Interactive Whiteboard Classroom Technology

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This article discusses how to improve student engagement by way of interactive whiteboard classroom technology. Never before have there been so many tech tools at our disposal for educating in entirely new, exciting, and promising ways. The interactive whiteboard stands out for its ability to amplify web-based resources and transform the way an entire roomful of students interacts with educational content.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Interactive Whiteboards (Kyle)

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Interactive Whiteboards (Kyle)

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This video provides us with the benefits of interactive whiteboards in the classroom. The video also discusses how the use of interactive whiteboard also assists with students with disabilities and allows all students to be engaged. There are also a few disadvantages that are discussed as well and how to work around it.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Interactive Whiteboards

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This websites discusses the benefits of using digital whiteboards in the classroom and a major part of this site that triggered me to share with you, was the emphasis it places on how interactive it can get students. Many times students aren't engaged, this expresses how a digital whiteboard can assist with this issue.

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Imagine a whiteboard on which you can not only write but play videos, show interactive presentations and recall previously-erased information. That's what an interactive whiteboard does using a special touch-sensitive whiteboard in conjunction with a computer and projector to receive commands and display information. While the information is projected onto the whiteboard, nothing is actually written on the board; it's processed on the computer. This gives interactive whiteboards more functionality than traditional whiteboards, making them advanced tools in places of education and work.

Participation

One of the most significant advantages of interactive whiteboards is that they enable far greater participation than traditional whiteboards. For example, interactive whiteboards can be used in conjunction with individual devices that enable participants or an audience to answer questions or vote from their seats and have their responses collected instantly on the whiteboard. They also enable people to manipulate information in ways that wouldn't be possible or practical on a regular whiteboard, such as tapping to performing calculations on the screen, reveal layers of information, or moving information around with the tip of a finger.

Preserving Data

All of the information on an interactive whiteboard actually comes from a connected computer and is simply projected onto the whiteboard. This means whatever you do on the whiteboard can be recorded directly to a hard drive and even transported on portable storage. This enables you to recall and reuse the information, such as the results of a brainstorming session, any time. By contrast, data on a traditional whiteboard must be copied manually or lost when erased.

Visuals

There are a variety of visuals that can be used with interactive whiteboards. Videos can be uploaded from websites or previously saved files. Additionally, entire presentations can be uploaded onto an interactive whiteboard. You can display and manipulate complex images and graphics. All of this can create a more engaging presentation and that can help keep the audience's attention and even increase their retention.

Technological Interaction

Particularly for students, an advantage of interactive whiteboards is that they give students a chance to interact extensively with technology, thus interweaving technology with education. Particularly if students are allowed to use the whiteboards for their own presentations, the use of an interactive whiteboard can be a great way to introduce students to electronic devices and a variety of software.

About the Author

Leigh Richards has been a writer since 1980. Her work has been published in "Entrepreneur," "Complete Woman" and "Toastmaster," among many other trade and professional publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

Photo Credits

Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images

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What Are the Benefits of an Interactive Whiteboard?

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Imagine a whiteboard on which you can not only write but play videos, show interactive presentations and recall previously-erased information. That's what an interactive whiteboard does using a special touch-sensitive whiteboard in conjunction with a computer and projector to receive commands and display information. ...

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The website listed here discusses online teaching tools and ways to learn and explores the whiteboard that I used for our other assignment, Twiddla. I chose this website being it discussed many of the positive and negative aspects on the source and identifies how you can use it correctly as an educator.

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Twiddla is an online platform that bills itself as one of the easiest online collaborative tools in existence. And, by many measures, Twiddla does meet its goal of maintaining a simple user interface. Twiddla was launched in 2007. A blog is maintained on the website, with updates to the tool.

Some of the noteworthy features of Twiddla include:

Users can collaborate and make changes to images, text, drawings, and even math equations.

No special software or plug in installation required

Works on both PC and MAC computers

The EtherPad function gives all users complete access to the whiteboard, with no limitations

Text-based chat and voice functions are enabled for additional forms of communication

To save work as a PDF or media file, click on the Save button on the top right corner of the screen (this last function is only available to registered users)

Accessibility: Twiddla allows users to collaborate in real-time on a virtual whiteboard. Users can choose to upload images, text, websites, or drawings. No plug-ins or special downloads are required to activate Twiddla. One need not be a registered user to start or join a collaborative Twiddla meeting. Real-time chat and voice functions are made available across all free and paid user tiers. Unlike some of its peers in the community-centered online tool universe, Twiddla does not require users or collaborators to register. Those users who need assistance, however, cannot access live help in real time. Users must e-mail the help desk and wait for a resolution.

Cost: Twiddla adopted a subscription model. For those who choose to sign up, users can choose a tier based on their identity (e.g., casual users who needs to communicate with clients; freelancers/consultants; small teams; people in suits; the big time people). While on the surface, user categories seem to cater to business types, Twiddla's blog emphasizes its utility in the classroom.

ISTE Standards: Twiddla meets the ISTE standard for global collaboration, given the limitless number of users who can participate in multiple formats: text, voice, and drawing.

Workflow: The learning curve in mastering Twiddla is not steep. Clickable icons, graphical displays, and embedded windows are intuitive and visually appealing. A significant plus is Twiddla's ability to allow users to incorporate symbols used in mathematical computations.

Privacy: Twiddla is owned by Expat Software , a firm that employs four workers (including the CEO). Only an e-mail address is provided for contact. There is no phone number or mailing address listed in either Twiddla's or Expat Software's website. It is unclear how long uploaded content is maintained on Twiddla's servers. Twiddla states that it will not share uploaded content with third parties. However, Twiddla also discloses that those terms may change if it is bought by another firm. Several years ago, Google had expressed interest in Twiddla, but later decided against the purchase . Twiddla's terms of service states that the owners are not responsible for the content uploaded to their servers. There is no mention of COPPA or SOPIPA laws, which is intended to protect websites from collecting information from users 13 years old and younger without consent from a parent or guardian.

Equity: Twiddla has the potential to increase tech equity among students. Students who live in rural areas, with limited access to tutors or peers who share similar extracurricular interests (e.g., Math Club), can benefit greatly. Twiddla enables rural students to have access to real-time collaboration, mentoring, tutoring, and problem-solving.

Substitution: Twiddla eliminates the need for students to draw the stages of mitosis, for example, on paper. Instead, students can draw and make quick revisions using Twiddla.

Augmentation: Twiddla allows for real-time collaboration without users having to physically meet in person.

Modification: Collaboration via screen sharing is enhanced by the inclusion of real-time text chatting and voice-to-voice communication. In addition, collaboration is not limited by geography. Twiddla enables users anywhere to join in and participate.

Redefinition: Twiddla's multi-modal abilities allow for seamless collaboration both synchronously and asynchronously.

Learning Activities

Math: Participate in a math challenge with student teams at different sites; a panel of judges can evaluate all work posted to the Twiddla whiteboard and assign points accordingly. Twiddla has the advantage of having many math symbols and geometric graphing options available.

Foreign Languages/English as a Second Language (ESL): Students learning a new language can annotate text collaboratively, highlighting verb forms, tenses, modifiers, etc.

Visual Arts and Communication: Students can jointly critique a visual display or advertisement. Principles of visual communication can be assessed, with students marking up images to show evidence of eye gaze, graphic misrepresentations, etc.

Journalism: The EtherPad function within Twiddla allows all users to write, edit, and revise text-based documents in real time. (Note: If EtherPad is not enabled, the Twiddla host needs to designate which users could have full access to the whiteboard.) Journalism students can watch a live streamed event and using EtherPad can collaboratively write a news story.

Resources

How to Use Twiddla

1. Users can elect to create a free account (or not).

2. Those users who do not wish to create an account still has access to all of Twiddla's basic tier options (Free and paid tiers can be viewed at http://www.twiddla.com/pricing.aspx

3. On the home page, find the green button marked "Go" and click on it.

4. A whiteboard is launched within the browser.

5. The Twiddla host can now upload images, documents, etc.

6. A unique URL is also provided on the right hand of the screen. This URL can be shared with all collaborators to join in real time.

7. To enable EtherPad (which allows all users to have full control of the whiteboard), click on the icon labeled EtherPad.

8. To enable voice to voice communication among users, click on the red icon labeled Audio. Speak into the computer's microphone to ensure others can hear.

9. To begin real time text-based chat with all users, type inside the dialogue box that appears on the right side of the screen.

10. To save a snapshot of the whiteboard or a transcript of the chat, click on the "Save" icon which appears on the upper right hand corner of the whiteboard. Only registered users are permitted to save their work as a PDF file or on Twiddla's cloud.

Research

Santarosa, L. M. C., Conforto, D., & Machado, R. P. (2012). Whiteboard: Synchronism, collaboration and accessibility on Web 2.0. Computers in Education (SIIE) International Symposium , 1-6.

Santarosa, L., Conforto, D., & Machado, R. P. (2014). Whiteboard: Synchronism, accessibility, protagonism and collective authorship for human diversity on Web 2.0. Computers in Human Behavior, 31 , 591-601.

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Twiddla is an online platform that bills itself as one of the easiest online collaborative tools in existence. And, by many measures, Twiddla does meet its goal of maintaining a simple user interface. Twiddla was launched in 2007. A blog is maintained on the website, with updates to the tool.

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Clevertouch 2.0 Plus Digital Whiteboard (Habibah)

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Clevertouch 2.0 Plus Digital Whiteboard (Habibah)

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This digital whiteboard is great for group projects.  students can scan the QR code on their smartphone to receive the lesson.  It is touch screen and you can use your finger to draw or write directly on the board in different colors. It can be used by a number of different teachers by setting up an account and password.

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Clevertouch Plus Educational Digital White Board Explained

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Samsung Flip Digital Whiteboard (Habibah)

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Samsung Flip Digital Whiteboard (Habibah)

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This digital whiteboard is great for presentations. It has pencil like writing tool that allow you to draw on the whiteboard. It can be rotated horizontally or vertically.  It can also be connected through WiFi to your smartphone and used to navigate your presentation from your phone.

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Samsung Flip review 2hrs in: The 55" 4K whiteboard

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Digital Animated Whiteboards in Physical Education (Gary)

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Digital Animated Whiteboards in Physical Education (Gary)

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This short video is from an elementary physical educator named Kevin Tiller who uses the SMART board to make an animated schedule for his students. Tiller makes a valid point about using images and animations to spice up the instruction for physical education. I find this a very interesting idea for elementary physical educators, as well as adding another element of fun in the classroom!

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Phys.Ed.Review (Digital Animated White Board)

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Video of how I created a digital animated white board so students can "see" what the plan is in Physical Education class. More than just a traditional white board, I created one that has small animated GIFs embedded into a powerpoint presentation that is projected on a TV or projector in the gym.

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Interactive Whiteboard Success Tips (Carolyn)

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Interactive Whiteboard Success Tips (Carolyn)

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This article encourages educators to get the most out of the interactive whiteboards available in their classrooms. It described several suggestions on how to incorporate an interactive whiteboard into everyday instruction. Some suggestions require more tech savvy than others, but the article also offers sources for professional development so that readers can learn to implement the more technical suggestions.

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Interactive Whiteboard Success Tips - WeAreTeachers

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Whiteboard Success: 13 Bright Ideas for the Interactive Whiteboard By Natalie Lorenzi Whether you've been using an interactive whiteboard (IWB) for years, or you've never turned yours on, ramp up your students' learning with these easy-to-learn (and teach!) strategies. Hold ...

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Smart Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards (Gary)

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Smart Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards (Gary)

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This article talks about how using SMART boards in the classroom enhances the experience for all students. From expanding creativity, to working together with the teachers, this article describes two instances on how teachers utilized SMART boards in their classrooms.

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How to create interactive exercises using the Lessons activity tool - SMART tutorials for teachers (Mariah)

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How to create interactive exercises using the Lessons activity tool - SMART tutorials for teachers (Mariah)

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This is a video I found describing how to make interactive lessons on a SMART board Notebook application. I feel it is very useful to teachers who have this application. It shows new ways to develop lessons and learning games to use on the SMART boards. It's a very useful video.

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How to create interactive exercises using the Lessons activity tool - SMART tutorials for teachers

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Importance of Interactive Whiteboards in Education (Mariah)

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Importance of Interactive Whiteboards in Education (Mariah)

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This website includes two videos and a description why Interactive Whiteboards should be used in the classroom. It is a very useful source and gives great advice how to use them.

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Thanks to technology, students can get to enjoy their lessons. Interactive whiteboards (IWB) has been developed and fitted with education-focused software that has the ability to interact with other smart devices such as tablets, laptops and video conferencing.

IWBs are fast changing the way students learn and lessons have become more stimulating and interactive therefore encouraging learning. IWBs are available in two variations:

A short throw projector fitted with a sensor

A large LED touch display

The large LED touch display has become more popular than the short throw projectors as they are less affected by light, they are more interactive via touch and don't have lamp problems.

Below are the benefits of LED touch display interactive whiteboards.

Improved student participation

Whiteboards have been found to improve student participation more than traditional classroom boards. The interactive whiteboards allow students to answer questions, take votes from their seats and the results are displayed instantly. The whiteboards are touch-enabled, therefore, teachers can tap to perform calculations, reveal layers of information as well as allow the teacher to move information with the tip of a finger.

Ensures data preservation

Information on IWBs is available via a connected computer which means that whatever is done on the board will be recorded directly to the hard drive and can even be copied to removable devices like flash disks.

Teachers are able to recall and reuse the information, especially during a brainstorming session, unlike traditional boards where it can be erased after being copied manually.

Promotes technology interaction

IWBs allow students to have a chance of interacting with technology, therefore, interweaving it with their education. This comes in handy when the students are making their own presentation. Students will finally get to learn more about different devices and software.

Improved learning

IWBs are connected via computers which in turn are connected to the internet. While there are students who absorb information efficiently via spoken word, others learn better via visual presentation. The whiteboards give learners an opportunity of absorbing information in multiple formats. This increases retention and synthesis of information.

Promotes collaboration

IWBs are integrated into classrooms, therefore, allowing students not only to become listeners but also participants. This allows the learners to become part of the learning process rather than just recipients of information.

Improves feedback

During a lesson, students can provide immediate feedback via controls which can be used to ask or answer questions regarding material that is being taught. Teachers are able to identify areas of confusion, therefore, providing answers quickly.

See how AVT Solutions is using Audio Visual Technology in Education to make your class room more interactive.

Our in-house professional Technicians are fully qualified to assist you with your Audio Visual Technology needs and are committed to giving first class, friendly, customer service and support: Contact us

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Importance of Interactive Whiteboards in Education

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Thanks to technology, students can get to enjoy their lessons. Interactive whiteboards (IWB) has been developed and fitted with education-focused software that has the ability to interact with other smart devices such as tablets, laptops and video conferencing. IWBs are fast changing the way students learn and lessons have become more stimulating and interactive therefore encouraging learning.

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I saw this new interactive whiteboard on YouTube that is created by Google. It's intended more for offices but I thought that this tool looked to be more fun and engaging for students and children. It makes working and learning fun!

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Google Jamboard: a surprisingly fun 4K ‘whiteboard’

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The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction (Kindra B.)

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The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction (Kindra B.)

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This article on the Reading Rockets website talks about Pamela Solvie's experience with using digital whiteboards. She goes in depth about how the whiteboard works and how it can be used as an organizational tool.
I personally enjoyed reading her input on digital whiteboards.

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Introduction

Throughout years of working with primary-level students, ongoing coursework, and continual reading, I have attempted to remain abreast of current research and to employ methods of instruction that effectively address the diverse learning needs of my students. My desire to create a positive learning environment to engage young children while at the same time recognizing their developmental needs has continued to guide instructional practices in my classroom. This desire to improve my practice and meet children's needs prompted me to acquire a digital whiteboard for use in my first-grade classroom.

Because I believed that student acquisition and application of early literacy skills would increase if students' attention to task could be gained and maintained during early literacy skill instruction (Adams, 1990), I felt a digital whiteboard would help me to better teach reading. I applied for and received a research grant to investigate the whiteboard's effectiveness. I acquired the digital whiteboard and the stand to support it with part of the funds.

While my research indicated that the digital whiteboard did not result in a significant improvement over traditional skill instruction, I found it to be effective in other ways. It proved to be an organizational tool for lesson preparation and an effective way to follow up on instruction. It also scaffolded learning for students within the literacy lessons, providing support to model and guide reading efforts (Tompkins, 2003). Finally, it engaged my primary students in literacy learning. In what follows, I will share what I have learned about the whiteboard and how it can be used for early literacy instruction.

The digital whiteboard and how it works

The digital whiteboard is an electronic version of a dry-erase board. I connected my digital whiteboard to a computer and installed the accompanying software. (Software to configure the board is available for both Macintosh and PC.) I configured the whiteboard so it became the computer's monitor. The board could be mounted either on the wall or on an adjustable, portable stand.

The digital whiteboard can be written on with regular dry-erase markers. Because it's electronic and is connected to a computer, electronic "virtual" markers or pens can be used. The markers are virtual in that they contain no ink, and they function by responding to their movement on the surface of the board.

The virtual markers are color-coded but the colors and marker line widths can be reconfigured easily from digital whiteboard software menus. I reconfigured the markers, making some write with thin lines and others with wider lines. I configured one of the markers to serve as a highlighter, leaving a wide fluorescent yellow line. The varying widths and colors were used to code text and conventions of print, sort and classify information in charts and Venn diagrams we created, and make revisions on drafts of stories.

For example, the first graders decided during one writing lesson to identify in red all describing words in our interactive writing exercise. Naming words would be in blue. Coding the text with color allowed students to discuss ways in which the story was made more meaningful with use of descriptive words. I was able to model writing and reading tasks on the large screen and to have some work prepared ahead of class. The digital whiteboard encouraged students to read, highlight, add, and remove print from the text.

The virtual markers were activated when lifted from the pen tray that held them on the digital whiteboard frame. Only one virtual marker could be used at a time. Students quickly learned to replace a marker before selecting another.

The board engaged students through kinesthetics as they used markers or their hands to respond to the text, highlighting with color or drawing boxes and circles with the tips of their fingers or the palms of their hands. The first graders loved writing with the markers and their fingers on the board. Fingers could be used when someone held the marker, leading the board to recognize and create the line width and color of the missing marker. Writing with fingers allowed the children to feel the shapes of words they outlined, feel and see letter components that created sounds they uttered, and experience a true "hands-on" approach to creating and erasing text.

While these features of the board were fun to work with during the literacy lessons, the efficiency and usefulness of this tool - as opposed to traditional dry-erase boards or chart tablets and markers - was enhanced because everything was saved to the computer. Work could be revisited, revised, printed, and shared - either electronically or via hard copies - immediately and within the context of the lesson. The first graders often decided they would like a copy of the story we created. At other times, I chose to print copies for small groups to continue the work we had begun as a large group.

The digital whiteboard worked with other software I had on my computer. When I opened another program while running the whiteboard software, we were able to write over or illustrate on whatever was displayed on the digital whiteboard. I used PowerPoint to create slides of vocabulary we studied in connection with stories we read. The "vocabulary slides" let us highlight letter combinations, inflectional endings, and graphemic components of the words in our study of phonics and sight vocabulary. This exercise made interaction with text fun and engaging. With the touch of a finger on the board, we could move to a new slide and a new word. Touching the board functioned in a similar way to clicking mouse buttons. Students manipulated the slides to move from word to word-quickly when known words were displayed and more slowly when studying individual word parts.

The digital whiteboard allowed me to incorporate the Internet with my literacy lessons in more useful ways. The visibility of the 60-inch digital whiteboard was useful, but being able to draw on the illustrations and underline, circle, or highlight text found on the Internet sites really engaged the students. This helped to create meaning, make connections, and develop understanding during literacy lessons. Anything we created or re-created through such investigation during the literacy lessons could be saved or printed out for further work.

The board as an organizational tool

I prepared slides with lesson components ahead of time. I could use the whiteboard software to rearrange slides that I felt would lead to connections for my students regarding lesson components. The slides allowed me to frame lessons, moving from whole to part in our language study. In other words, we could begin with story text and move to parts of the text, to individual word study, and then to graphemes and phonemes within words. Lesson order could be negotiated within the presentation on the basis of students' needs. Slides or components of the planned lesson could be skipped if not needed or revisited with groups of students who needed additional work later within the context of guided reading sessions or small skill groups.

While the digital whiteboard software displayed work on the screen, smaller frames displayed the other slides on the right side of the screen. Such organization benefited me as a teacher because I was able to more accurately prepare and present lessons while making more effective use of time I had with the students. In addition, the ability to print copies of lesson text immediately for the students allowed the lesson to flow smoothly from large-group to small-group and independent work.

Creating an environment for early literacy learning

I wanted to create an environment for natural learning in my first-grade classroom (Bertrand & Stice, 2002; Cambourne, 1991; Cambourne & Turbill, 2001). Specifically, I worked to create a print-rich environment in which to immerse my students. I demonstrated reading and writing in ways that would lead to development of skills and strategies my students needed for independent reading and writing, and I created opportunities for them to approximate, take responsibility, and begin to use skills and strategies we studied. Through use of the digital whiteboard I modeled the ways in which readers and writers interact with text. I not only shared effective strategies with my students but also created an environment where students would interact with me and with others in their reading and creation of text (Tompkins, 2003). Mini-lessons, guided reading, and writing tasks were possible through use of the board in my primary classroom.

The digital whiteboard allowed me to prepare lessons that included morning messages, cloze activities, vocabulary exercises, daily oral language sentences, phonetic activities, graphic organizers, and text narratives. With the board as a tool for literacy instruction, I was able to interact with the class, demonstrating and modeling, and manipulating what was on the board by touch. I was not confined to, or focused on, a computer that separated me from the class. Proximity was important for me in creating an environment of being and working together as a community of learners.

Using the Internet along with the digital whiteboard, I made use of video and audio clips to develop background knowledge and provide information on authors, characters, and settings, as well as appropriate background information on places and artifacts not found in our rural community. Students used their fingers on the board in lieu of a computer mouse to navigate to links. The video and audio clips provided sensory data, prompting engagement in the language and literacy lessons. While students were engaged with text and the board, I was able to monitor students' understanding and adjust instruction as needed.

At the conclusion of work with the board-before and after reading of books and students' written work-changes were saved to any print or graphic constructed, and copies of the group-constructed lesson text were printed so each student received a copy of the lesson for follow-up work in small groups with peers or the teacher. Such follow-up work could be reworked and reread, encouraging further engagement in the lesson. The "saved" work remained on the digital whiteboard for review and further follow-up if needed. Statements such as "Remember that day we worked on..." prompted the class to revisit, review, and reread text. Continual efforts were made to help students make connections between work done on and with the digital whiteboard and literacy activities done without the whiteboard (Lankshear & Snyder, 2000).

Student engagement, the digital whiteboard, and early literacy

The digital whiteboard was novel and created enthusiasm for learning. Students commented that their "fingers were magic" and "the board made the lesson work easier." Visual display in the form of diagrams, webs, and pictures, as well as use of colors and shapes to highlight text, prompted engagement. Reviewing text to identify phonemes and graphemes in word study, reading aloud, and modeling reading and writing strategies were facilitated through use of the digital whiteboard, which made manipulation of text fun and engaging work. Such activities helped to create meaningful links from activity to application and from activity to other reading and writing tasks in literacy instruction.

When I touched the board and manipulated text while modeling writing and reading behaviors in shared reading and guided writing (Dorn & Soffos, 2001; Fountas & Pinnell, 1996), my first-grade students were interested and contributed to the lesson. However, when students themselves manipulated text on the board, their enthusiasm increased, and they were immediately engaged in the lesson. This prompted me to use the board not only for whole-group lesson presentations but also for small-group and one-on-one instruction.

Students also were actively engaged in the preparation of slides with graphics and text to demonstrate their understanding of thematic material. These theme projects were shared with classmates and with parents. Students spoke about their slides while touching the board to move to other slides.

Students viewed work done on and with the digital whiteboard as being fun. At the same time, they saw it as another learning tool. They made suggestions as to how text could be created with the board. They also began to use accurate terminology to describe menu items and graphics tools. When the board was bumped and needed to be "realigned" in order to correctly respond to movement on its surface, they recognized this and described it in a manner that reflected their understanding about the use and care of this technology.

Respect for the technology was evident, but students also recognized its limitations when they wished to perform functions the board was unable to perform, such as retrieve text they had not saved or recognize marks they placed on the board when the board was out of alignment. The fun they had did not overpower their respect for the texts that were the result of their work with the board.

The board facilitates beginning reading instruction

This technology has much potential for early literacy instruction. For me it became an extension of my right arm, in that I was able to point at, rearrange, and re-create text quickly, while still maintaining good eye contact and communication with my students. This connection with students maintained their involvement in the lessons. The digital whiteboard let me prepare and present literacy lessons in a manner that allowed for easy navigation to lesson components. The board allowed use of multiple senses, leading to increased levels of engagement and greater understanding. Color and visual display drew attention to concepts about text and conventions of print. These advantages, as well as the ability to manipulate text, were all important considerations for me for use of the digital whiteboard.

While all of these factors greatly influenced my enthusiasm for use of this technological tool, as a teacher of young children I continue to be cognizant of the need to vary activities, use authentic reading and writing materials and experiences, and incorporate movement and change of location. Play, art, music, and movement were necessary components of the new technology. In other words, while the board served as an extremely useful tool for literacy and language instruction, the developmental levels and thus the developmental needs of young children must be kept in mind.

In the future I will work to increase student engagement during literacy lessons through use of the board in small-group settings where students may more frequently respond to text through manipulation of it. It's important to keep the focus on literacy and language learning, and not on the tool. My goal is to model this through my attitude, words, and actions.

The process of learning to read is truly complex. As educators we continue to learn more about this process and to seek ways to help young children become successful readers and writers. Incorporating the digital whiteboard in our practice as a tool to teach early literacy skills may help us reach young children in many positive and powerful ways. The students' involvement with and demonstration of skills when the digital whiteboard is used may prompt continued use and research of this tool. As we persist in learning more about the reading process and effective instructional practices, this tool may assist young learners as they become excited and ever more proficient readers and writers.

About the author

Solvie teaches at the University of Minnesota, Morris, Division of Education, 600 East 4th Street, Morris, MN 56267, U.S. E-mail: [email protected]

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The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction

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Throughout years of working with primary-level students, ongoing coursework, and continual reading, I have attempted to remain abreast of current research and to employ methods of instruction that effectively address the diverse learning needs of my students.

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(Delmarie Moore) This website shares some top whiteboard sites for tutoring. They list 8 different sites with a small description about the site.

I never even thought to use digital whiteboards for tutoring. I believe that is because of the limited time I would have with the student. This could be a very good tool to use for the student.

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Today, technology has gradually revolutionized and integrated into classrooms around the globe. Most tutors view it not only as a useful teaching aid but also as an essential one.

Besides, there is no better time to incorporate an online whiteboard into your teaching. The best online whiteboard should be simple and easy to use to prevent students from getting lost during the study session.

While the blackboard and the modern whiteboard have been the go-to methods when drawing, planning, brainstorming or teaching, these productivity tools have been transformed in the digital version.

There is no denying the merits of a collaborative whiteboard as an operative means of laying out plans, ideas, and explanations in large visible format.

Although whiteboards have gained popularity, with the digital trends, having a traditional board does not make sense, except for virtual online whiteboards with collaborative features. In this guide, we discuss some of the best online whiteboards in the market.

WHITEBOARD FOX

Whiteboard Fox provides an easy and quick to use a whiteboard with zero setups required. In fact, it only requires you to navigate to whiteboardfox.com using your browser.

Once on site, you will get a blank canvas. Even though the canvas is blank, it has a grid that helps users in writing and drawing. The options are easy to use and understand, and the functionalities include an erase, draw, and undo and navigation buttons.

In addition, it provides online tutoring companies an opportunity to integrate whiteboard learning into their learners.

One of the main advantages of using Whiteboard Fox is the fact it is an interactive whiteboard that works in real time. In addition, learners can view all the changes made on the canvas instantly on their screens.

TUTORROOM WHITEBOARD

In fact, it can easily be referred to us a meeting site for both tutors and students since it encourages interactions between them without limitations.

Besides, one can easily share this whiteboard. In addition, you can use this digital whiteboard with your friends to revise and discuss the concepts offered in the virtual class.

In addition, Tutorroom.net offers the best online tutoring services. Sign up with them today to get the best online experience.

THE CONCEPTBOARD

The Conceptboard moves beyond the blank canvas. It pushes the virtual board beyond the digitized version. The board can be used for online tutoring services.

Labeled as a collaborative tool, it is all about tracking progress and sharing ideas mostly on virtual projects. With the main focus on visual projects, the entire app houses all your projects by allowing for an in-depth management of specific and overall project tasks.

In addition, the tool allows users to input images and files directly onto the board.

Launched and directly run over a web browser, Aww app is a virtual live online tutoring whiteboard. It best fits those who need an on-the-go type of best whiteboard.

Using the app is as easy as directing your browser to the awwApp.com webpage. Once you are logged in, you can invite other participants to collaborate with you. Although the free access version allows you

to access the online whiteboard with other participants you have invited, it limits your tools to basic ones only.

Besides, the free version does not allow saving beyond snapshots and images. For large scale team use, you can upgrade to access more tools.

This is another web-based best whiteboard template. It is shareable, zoomable, and offers real-time virtual whiteboard.

The Ziteboard is a lightweight whiteboard based on HTML5 with real-time updates to your drawings. Besides, it does not require any logging in or setup.

Tutorsbox is one of the best online whiteboard template tutoring management solution. It enables educators to provide live tutoring classes to students on a variety of subjects.

It has a rich, real-time interactive online learning environment. Due to the evolution of education, Tutorsbox has developed this e-tutoring web-based solution to help learners and tutors connect easily with each other.

For tutors, the platform allows them to optimize their actual teaching time and provide access to a wide range of content. On the other hand, for students, it offers a more interactive and shorter session for better focus. Besides, students can use it to track their performance.

Real-Time Whiteboard

Real-time digital whiteboard is specially designed as the best online tutoring platform. It breaks the past physical limitations of the traditional whiteboard.

It offers a collaborative and flexible nature to share drawings and ideas. Besides, the tool has a wide range of templates that can help you in brainstorming.

Bring your teams creativity with Google whiteboard also known as the Jamboard. The board gives users the opportunity to sketch their ideas in style while still benefiting from the connectivity and access of an interactive canvas.

You can add notes, draw images or pull assets directly from the web while still collaborating with your team member from anywhere. In addition, this board allows you to unlock the potential of your teams with real-time co-authoring.
Final Thoughts
The best online whiteboard should work well by ensuring that it offers the best online whiteboard tools. In addition, it should be easy to use without problems.

While this guide provides a list of online tutoring companies and whiteboards, TutorRoom stands out to be the best online whiteboard for teaching. It best suits maths and science.

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Top 8 Best Online Whiteboard for Tutoring | Tutoroom |Tutoring Site

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Today, technology has gradually revolutionized and integrated into classrooms around the globe. Most tutors view it not only as a useful teaching aid but also as an essential one. Besides, there is no better time to incorporate an online whiteboard into your teaching.

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Interactive Whiteboards Enhancing Classroom Instruction  

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Interactive Whiteboards Enhancing Classroom Instruction  

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(Delmarie Moore) Interactive whiteboards help teachers embrace technology and capture their students interest. There are many advantages that come along with an interactive white board being in the classroom.

I personally enjoy using the Whiteboards. Yes, there are some disadvantages that come along with it but they are minor. Classes are starting to have more technology within them. It is important to keep it updated.

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Interactive Whiteboards and Digital Displays Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning

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Interactive displays have evolved over the past few years, but teachers continue to use them to engage students.

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How Digital Whiteboards Enhance Learning 

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How Digital Whiteboards Enhance Learning 

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(Tyler Rondeau) This article highlights how digital whiteboards can be interactive and enhance learning.

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Classrooms have come a long way from the dusty chalkboard. In most classrooms, the chalkboard has bowed down in favor of interactive whiteboards. And whiteboards aren't just "next generation" places to write out the day's lesson plans. A recent study at the University of Adelaide demonstrated that when used correctly, interactive whiteboards can help students adopt a deeper approach to learning and lead to a more collaborative classroom.

Interactive whiteboards, essentially large touch screens connected to the Internet and controlled with electronic pens, are becoming more popular in classrooms, and teachers and students are seeing some real advantages from using them.

Here are some of the benefits driving educators to choose interactive whiteboards.

The typical classroom of yore was traditionally set up with all students facing forward, focused on the board as the teacher scribbles notes that they then diligently transcribed in their notebooks. When a student was called upon to answer a question, they approached the board, and picked up chalk (or dry-erase markers). The interactive whiteboard has changed this scenario in a few ways.

Wi-Fi connectivity. Computers can connect to interactive boards. This gives teachers the ability to interact face-to-face with their students while the board displays images and information relevant to the lesson being taught. This "eyes on the students" method increases interaction between students and teacher, and allows students to read their teacher's body language and facial expressions. Studies show that positive nonverbal communication between students and teachers can have a positive impact on learning.

Tablets in the classroom. Many schools are incorporating and in some cases, mandating, tablet use in the classroom. Tablets can be connected to interactive whiteboards allowing students to write their answers and/or equations, on the board, from their own desks. Teachers have better control over the class and can easier spot students who need assistance when they can monitor their students' work from one device.
Adapt ing to Different Learning Styles Interactive Whiteboards are Easy to Use
Interactive whiteboards support multiple learning styles. They benefit the visual learner who can see associated images and supporting evidence displayed on the screen, while interactive videos are helpful for the auditory learner, and touch screen capabilities engage hands on or tactile learners.

While interactive whiteboards use advanced technology that parents may have only dreamed of using, they are relatively user-friendly for students and teachers alike.
Teachers Can Take Advantage of Online Tools
Without the streaky lines of a dry-erase board or the ghostly chalk imprints of days past, the neat and clean appearance makes images, videos, and text crystal clear, even for students in the back row. There is no cleaning required as it only takes a click of a button to erase notes, and no ink to worry about, as the pens are completely electronic.

The interactive whiteboard lets teachers add online resources to help reinforce every part of their lesson plan. With access to instructional videos and vast amounts of online knowledge at their fingertips, students easily access more reliable information than any textbook could ever give them. And teachers can use real life examples and visuals to teach harder to grasp subjects, such as math or science.

The return on investment for interactive whiteboards is fantastic. Teachers should take full advantage of the technology interactive whiteboards have to offer when incorporated into their classrooms and teaching methodology. Students will continue to benefit from the variety of learning styles the boards offer, and be engaged by the interactivity these whiteboards brings to learning.

Photo Credit: eBeam via Compfight cc

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Can Interactive Whiteboards Enhance Learning? Yes.

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Classrooms have come a long way from the dusty chalkboard. In most classrooms, the chalkboard has bowed down in favor of interactive whiteboards. And whiteboards aren't just "next generation" places to write out the day's lesson plans.

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom 

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom 

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(Tyler Rondeau) This is a great article that demonstrates the benefits of using interactive online whiteboards. It also explains how they can benefit both students and teachers, enhance the learning process, and benefits for students with various disabilities.

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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benefits of interactive whiteboards in the primary classroom

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using interactive whiteboards in the classroom

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Benefits of Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom | ezTalks

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The benefits of using interactive whiteboards in the classroom affect both the students and teachers positively. The article below explores some of the benefits of integrating interactive whiteboards in the learning curriculum.

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(Lisa Kentris) Zite Board is an online tool that allows for online whiteboards to be interactive places for students and teachers in real time.

This could be great for students who are struggling with homework and need a 55-10 minute mini-lesson to get them through the work.

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Math tutoring whiteboard tools for realtime collaboration

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Why Ziteboard is ideal for math tutoring? Ziteboard is a simple online tool for sketching and drawing together in teamwork. It is optimized for instant, stable access and user experience. The main scenarios are:

I'm on the tablet with someone on a vide conference and we want to take plan together. We have to brainstorm together. I just share whiteboard, give everyone the access link, and we're working together instantly. We have a mutual whiteboard for our project plan, design tasks. We have another board for our educational overview. You can use it as if traditional whiteboard or flip chart on the wall. What's the difference other similar collaboration tools? It is simple and intuitive. Anybody can use it without guideline, since it just emulates a whiteboard with pens and sticky notes. What are the key features of Ziteboard Whiteboard? Drawing, sketching, doodles Writing, editing text Moving, zooming, dragging, moving sticky notes around drag and drop images, posting pictures and links export the whole board as image or png or svg or Ziteboard format Export images in email, a picture of your board Undo and redo changes & go back to older version of your board Presentation mode read-only sharing: letting other people see but not edit your board Password-protected boards For voice chat, video chat use Skype, phone, Google Hangouts, google Talk. All these features is ideal for math tutoring, especially when you teach mathematics online as a math tutor.

Ziteboard, the best online whiteboarding tool is primarily a tool for writing and drawing together. To keep things simple. Currently it is follow the freemium model. That is, the basic version with all essential features will still be free, while a premium version will be available to those who want more advanced features such as infinite many boards, password-protected boards, history, more fine-grained access control, long-lived whiteboards.

With this type of software, several people can work on the image at the same time, each seeing changes the others make in near-real time.

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Math tutoring whiteboard tools for realtime collaboration

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Why Ziteboard is ideal for math tutoring? Ziteboard is a simple online tool for sketching and drawing together in teamwork. It is optimized for instant, stable access and user experience. The main scenarios are: I'm on the tablet with someone on a vide conference and we want to take plan together.

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(Lisa Kentris)
This article gives statistical evidence about how the use of interactive whiteboards  positively impacts student achievement.

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November 2009 | Volume 67 | Number 3
Multiple Measures Pages 80-82

Robert J. Marzano

Interactive whiteboards have become popular over the last few years, and it appears that their use will continue to grow exponentially. Indeed, books like The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution (Betcher & Lee, 2009) attest to the depth and breadth of change that this tool can promote in classroom practice.

For those who may still be unfamiliar with the technology, an interactive whiteboard is a large display that connects to a computer and a projector. The projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's surface, where users control the computer with a pen, finger, or other device. The board is typically mounted to a wall or floor stand. Various accessories, such as student response systems, enable interactivity.

Although many teachers have enthusiastically adopted interactive whiteboards, little research is available on their effect on student achievement. However, in a study that involved 85 teachers and 170 classrooms, the teachers used interactive whiteboards to teach a set of lessons, which they then taught to a different group of students without using the technology (see Marzano & Haystead, 2009).

What the Research Found

The study results indicated that, in general, using interactive whiteboards was associated with a 16 percentile point gain in student achievement. This means that we can expect a student at the 50th percentile in a classroom without the technology to increase to the 66th percentile in a classroom using whiteboards.

In addition, three features inherent in interactive whiteboards have a statistically significant relationship with student achievement. The first is the learner-response device-handheld voting devices that students use to enter their responses to questions. The percentage of students providing the correct answer is then immediately displayed on the board in a bar graph or pie chart. Using voting devices was associated with a 26 percentile point gain in student achievement.

A second feature is the use of graphics and other visuals to represent information. These include downloaded pictures and video clips from the Internet, sites such as Google Earth, and graphs and charts. Use of these aids was also associated with a 26 percentile point gain in student achievement.

A third feature is the interactive whiteboard reinforcer -applications that teachers can use to signal that an answer is correct or to present information in an unusual context. These applications include dragging and dropping correct answers into specific locations, acknowledging correct answers with virtual applause, and uncovering information hidden under objects. These practices were associated with a 31 percentile point gain in student achievement.

What We Saw in the Classroom

One of the more interesting findings from the study was that in 23 percent of the cases, teachers had better results without the interactive whiteboards. To determine why this occurred, we examined video-tapes of teachers using the boards. These disclosed some potential pitfalls in using the technology:

Using the voting devices but doing little with the findings. In many classrooms, teachers simply noted how many students obtained the correct answer instead of probing into why one answer was more appropriate than another.

Not organizing or pacing the content well. In these cases, the teachers incorporated video segments from the Internet or images intended to represent important information in their digital flipcharts. However, they ran through the flipcharts so quickly that students, although impressed with the graphics, did not have time to analyze and interact with one another about the content.

Using too many visuals. Digital flipchart pages were awash with visual stimuli; it was hard to identify the important content.

Paying too much attention to reinforcing features. For example, when teachers who had worse results with the technology used the virtual applause feature to signal a correct answer, the emphasis seemed to be on eliciting the applause rather than on clarifying the content.

Getting the Most Out of the Technology

This study, as well as what we know about good teaching in general, suggests how teachers might use interactive whiteboards more effectively. I recommend the following:

Teachers should think through how they intend to organize information. They should group information into small, meaningful segments before they start developing the digital flipcharts. Once they've organized the content, then they can design the flipcharts to complement the organization. To ensure that they don't run through the flipcharts too quickly, teachers can insert flipcharts that remind them to stop the presentation so students can process and analyze the new information.

Digital flipcharts should contain visuals, but those visuals should clearly focus on the important information. Also, no single flipchart should contain too many visuals or too much written information.

After asking a question and getting student responses using voting devices, the teacher should typically discuss the correct answer along with the incorrect answers, making sure to elicit opinions from as many students as possible.

When using reinforcing features like virtual applause, teachers should make sure that students focus on why an answer is correct or incorrect. Although these features can produce high engagement and certainly enliven the atmosphere in a classroom, they can also be distracting if used without a clear focus on essential content.

Interactive whiteboards have great potential as a tool to enhance pedagogical practices in the classroom and ultimately improve student achievement. However, simply assuming that using this or any other technological tool can automatically enhance student achievement would be a mistake. As is the case with all powerful tools, teachers must use interactive whiteboards thoughtfully, in accordance with what we know about good classroom practice.

References

Betcher, C., & Lee, M. (2009). The interactive whiteboard revolution: Teaching with IWBs. Victoria, Australia: ACER Press.

Marzano, R. J., & Haystead, M. (2009). Final report on the evaluation of the Promethean technology. Englewood, CO: Marzano Research Laboratory.

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Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards - Educational Leadership

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November 2009 | Volume 67 | Number 3 Multiple Measures Pages 80-82 Robert J. Marzano Interactive whiteboards have become popular over the last few years, and it appears that their use will continue to grow exponentially. Indeed, books like The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution (Betcher & Lee, 2009) attest to the depth and breadth of change that this tool can promote in classroom practice.

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(Kay) Good infographic on the structure of a mini-lesson.

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infographic, structure of a mini lesson - Bing images

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Infographic Examples Top 5 Unhealthiest States Infographic Geographic Infographic Adult Obesity Infographic Medical Infographics Health Education Infographics Health Infographic Wellness Infographics Smoking Infographic Tobacco Infographics Mini Homes iPad Mini 3 Mini Logo Mini Food Mini TV Mini Tools iPhone Mini Mini Tablet Mini Apple Mini Money Mini USA Mini Poster Mini Fashion

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Calkins is a leading force on writing;  here she explains the importance of 10 minutes for mini-lessons.

Mini-lessons in online digital whiteboards can be highly effective if targeted to learner needs! I look forward to viewing your mini-lessons!

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Worth a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6EwmrFhogA

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THE best teaching tool for your classroom in years!