Don’t know what an interactive whiteboard is? Perhaps you’ve heard of some of their brand names - SMART Board, ActivBoard, eBeam, Mimio, and Interwrite are some of the most widely used at this time. 1
“Interactive whiteboards (IWB) are used in many schools as replacements for traditional whiteboards or flipcharts. They provide ways to show students anything that can be presented on a computer’s desktop (educational software, web sites, and others). In addition, interactive whiteboards allow teachers to record their instruction and post the material for review by students at a later time.” 2
3 is the Magic Number to keep in mind!
There are three components required for an interactive whiteboard in a classroom: three components to an interactive whiteboard, three kinds of technology that underlie the various brands of whiteboards, and three main considerations when selecting an interactive whiteboard.
3 components to the IWB
- Computer
- Projector
- Board
First, the interactive whiteboard is connected to a computer through a wired medium (USB, a serial port cable) or wireless connection (Bluetooth). The computer is then connected to the projector to project onto the whiteboard. The software that accompanies the whiteboard runs on the computer and is projected onto the whiteboard surface.
3 Kinds of IWBs
There are three main types of technology that “power” the interactive whiteboard:
- Resistive – Finger or touch sensitive
- Electromagnetic – Must use a provided pen
- Portable
Resistive technology consists of a membrane or skin over a pocket of air. When a finger, pen, or pointer touches the screen and depresses the pocket of air, the board registers it and responds. Resistive technology is easy to use and just about anything is an input device.
Examples: SMARTboard and Polyvision
Video demonstrating touch recognition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91VxJ9YYITc&feature=channel
Electromagnetic can be made of any material with embedded magnetic coils that are activated by a stylus or provided pens/erasers.
Examples: Interwrite and Promethean
Portable electronic whiteboards can be used with any white board or flat surface (wall, window, etc). The size is variable usually up to 4’ by 8’. The technology is often ultrasonic and infrared and is activated by the provided pens and erasers.
Examples: Mimio and eBEAM
3 Considerations for Selecting an IWB
- Touch, Stylus or Portable – Different brands will tout their technology as superior, but which is best? The brands that use a stylus claim that it is developmentally appropriate. Brands that utilize touch technology maintain their ease of use is critical to successful integration. Portable units can be extremely convenient if the technology needs to be shared between multiple locations. Think carefully about how you plan to use the tools and try each technology before making a purchase.
- Software – The software for the different boards are at the same time similar and very different. All the software does similar tasks. However, each software program has additional features that distinguish it from the others. Whether it is integrated test questions, online resources, or an intuitive interface, the best way to make this decision is to see the software in action. Most companies offer free upgrades for life on the software, and some offer free copies for students to use at home. These also could be strong selling points.
- Customer Support – The final aspect of this equation is the support. Will face- to-face training be included? What will be the training cost? Is there online support? What kind of technical support is offered for troubleshooting? Finding these answers can help determine what it will take to sustain whiteboards in the classroom.
Sources:
1. Technology Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/whiteboards.html 2/09
2. Wikipedia 2/09
Tags: doc cam, response_systems, whiteboard
