We’ve talked about the rising acceptence, effectiveness, and popularity of Smartboards, or interactive whiteboards a lot recently on the Mono Blog. As a younger more tech-savvy generation of teachers take over America’s classrooms new technologies like these are finally becoming effective. Many of the older generations of teachers though that tech like this would just be a distraction and never really catch on. Most people that don’t use them daily don’t know that Smartboards, like your Android or iPhone, have applications, or “apps”, like a graphing calculator or Jeopardy game that offer added interactivity to the lessons. This interactivity along with teaching with a variety of mediums has been proven to reach a broader range of students and help students with ADHD to better focus. Now, even iPads are being integrated in with the Smartboard instruction, offering an even more interactive experience. Here’s a selection about these apps, from “Smartboard apps appear to be endless“, by student writer Isak Kvam with the Advocate Tribune:

As YME adds new technology to their classrooms, teachers are becoming more and more creative in how they can use it to their advantage and make learning easier and more interesting.
Within the past few years, teachers have begun using Smartboards so that instead of using overheads to write notes on, teachers can use a projector to display their computer screen onto the Smartboard, which acts as a giant touchscreen.
The Smartboard comes with a lot of applications, such as a graphing calculator that allows teachers to show directly what buttons the students should use; the board also allows students to play a jeopardy tournament hands-on or give a speech with a PowerPoint presentation.
6th grade teacher Stacy Hinz has also been using Google Docs, Flip cameras, and netbooks in her classroom. Google Docs is an online program that allows individuals to make an account and save documents, presentations, and workbooks completely online so that they can be accessed anywhere from any computer.
The great thing about it is it allows you to share your work with others, so Hinz has her students type their writing assignments on their netbooks (a smaller and more portable laptop), share it with their classmates for peer review, and finally share it with her as well so that she can grade them.

Interactive Whiteboards

Here is an excerpt from “SMART boards super for special needs children,” from the Brownsville Herald:

And they loved the interaction. Sometimes, while answering, a child would put extra graphics on the pictures. “Frank” loved to draw faces on the screen, especially when some of the PowerPoint stories on the Internet were placed on the board. The teacher could easily freeze a screen and talk about the picture.

The children also enjoyed the variety of fun “games” available on News 2 You, including matching, ABC order, weather, tic-tac-toe, and number mazes, to name a few.

The teacher could always count on up-to-date issues on the program, like Black History Month, new stamp issuances, upcoming popular movies, elections and environmental concerns. Plus, she had plenty of other software programs on the Hatch computer SMART Board combination and the Internet to keep the children engaged.

Fortunately, SMART Boards have been integrated into many preschool programs around the country. Studies show remarkable gains in reading and math skills for children preparing to enter Kindergarten.

Initially developed for preschool interactive learning, the technology has proven to be a powerful learning tool for children with disabilities. They are no longer for preschool children alone. The Internet has thousands of applications for children at all grade and skill levels. Plus, direct interaction with the SMART Board improves academics and communication for children with autism.

 

This is really just the beginning of the transition into lesson plans that are interactive to this degree. So far early research is showing improved test scores and teachers are noting improved participation and excitement from the students. As long as creative teachers continue to use new technologies to add value to their lessons, these trends should continue. I look forward to seeing what education will look like in ten, twenty, or fifty years.

Interactive Whiteboards

Due to thin and stylish design using aluminum frame, the CR-5 will
fit comfortably into many working spaces. It is especially suited to
small meeting rooms, or an office where it can be within an arm’s
reach of a desk, or even in break areas where it can be used for
casually sharing ideas.

The Copyboard CR-5 enhances face to face communication simply yet
effectively. By writing ideas or business process on the board and
then sharing them immediately and accurately through a printout or
digital data, efficiency is enhanced and productivity increased. The
CR-5 is truly an innovative tool.

(a) The PLUS Copyboards are well established in Japan with a 53%
share of domestic electronic whiteboard sales (2008, JAN by JBMIA)

–  Dimensions are width 1,140mm x height 690mm. It is so thin of
65mm and lightweight of 8.5kg. The CR-5 comes standard with
wall-mount equipment. A cubicle mount kit is optional, as is a
rolling floor stand. When used with the floor stand, the CR-5
can be placed in either a horizontal or vertical position.

- Environment friendly product

–  The Copyboard CR-5 complies with RoHS Directive.

–  It is paperless unlike a flipchart.

–  Low power consumption equipment due to using the contact image
sensor.

–  Recyclable aluminum is used for frame to prevent waste.

–  Small group discussion

–  Instead of a flip chart

–  Brainstorming session

–  Save written contents and circulate to non-participants via
e-mail

–  Explanation of complicated business processes