Many teachers write out notes on whiteboards or show power points on their projectors. In the last decade, ceiling-mounted projectors have become commonplace in the classroom and blackboards have gradually been replaced with whiteboards. More recently, companies like SMARTtech and HP have created interactive whiteboards. These interactive whiteboards (SMARTtech's below) allow teachers and students to participate in activities and interact with a computer that displays on the board.
Below are a few products that would allow teachers to incorporate this technology into their classroom.
HP Pocket Whiteboards are significantly more cost effective than SMARTboards and offer a similar range of capabilities. Each unit costs about $700.
The oblong device sticks onto a whiteboard and is connected to a computer (via wire) and a projector. This simple setup transforms an average whiteboard into an interactive one that can be written on using the stylus and can still be used as a normal whiteboard. During use, a color dial appears onscreen to enable users to choose from the full color spectrum.
This product's advantages include the fact that it can be used on virtually any classroom surface and does not require a large or complicated assembly. Most classrooms already have a projector and computers, so this product would be the easiest to implement.
For implementation of this technology into classrooms, a technology grant could provide the funds to buy several of these; then, they could be inserted into the already preexisting link between computers and projectors.
An additional, helpful accessory could be the Digital Sketch, a touchpad on which teachers can still interact with what's on the board while walking around the classroom. It costs $45.
One significant advantage of this product is that even when it is off, the whiteboard can be used; while the SMARTboard must have a stylus.
Below are a few products that would allow teachers to incorporate this technology into their classroom.
SMARTboards
A SMARTboard is rather expensive and does not double as a white board. Only a stylus can be used to "write" on the interactive surface, and the trays have been known to malfunction. Furthermore, each unit costs about $5,000. However, here are some of the cool things it can be used for.- Teachers can use the SMARTboard software on a computer to make power points and lesson plans using its built-in gallery and tools
- The program has built-in tools like a "magic pen" that zooms in on pictures when a square is drawn around that area or spotlights something if a circle is drawn around it. (Useful during class time to emphasize a point)
- Import pre-made lessons from the SMART Exchange, a community of teachers that upload interactive lessons
- Import documents or PDFs to be annotated on the computer or on the screen for students to see
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| SMARTboard diagram. Credit: http://guides.libraries.uc.edu/c.php?g=222501&p=1472596 |
Helpful Videos:
See this video for detailed how-tos for how to use the SMARTboard.
See the SMARTboard in action
The HP Pocket Whiteboard
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| A unit and its easy setup Credit: Universidad Icesi |
HP Pocket Whiteboards are significantly more cost effective than SMARTboards and offer a similar range of capabilities. Each unit costs about $700.
The oblong device sticks onto a whiteboard and is connected to a computer (via wire) and a projector. This simple setup transforms an average whiteboard into an interactive one that can be written on using the stylus and can still be used as a normal whiteboard. During use, a color dial appears onscreen to enable users to choose from the full color spectrum.
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| Digital Sketchpad Credit: HP Digital Sketch |
This product's advantages include the fact that it can be used on virtually any classroom surface and does not require a large or complicated assembly. Most classrooms already have a projector and computers, so this product would be the easiest to implement.
For implementation of this technology into classrooms, a technology grant could provide the funds to buy several of these; then, they could be inserted into the already preexisting link between computers and projectors.
An additional, helpful accessory could be the Digital Sketch, a touchpad on which teachers can still interact with what's on the board while walking around the classroom. It costs $45.
One significant advantage of this product is that even when it is off, the whiteboard can be used; while the SMARTboard must have a stylus.
Helpful Videos:
See the multifaceted uses for HP Pocket Whiteboard
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