kode12:
The traditional blackboard has been around since far back as there have been classrooms and the modern form of education, but this age old teaching tool is being gradually replaced by a more apt equivalent for the digital era, the interactive whiteboard. With an interactive whiteboard, teachers and other instructors have the capabilities of a computer and web access on the board, with an added functionality to make notes, annotate over notes and images and seamlessly share contents and ideas with the class in real-time.[img][/img]
Essentially, an interactive whiteboard combines a dry erase whiteboard, with an LCD projector mounted either on the wall or floor stand and powered with intuitive easy-to-use software. With the software combinations, the whiteboard screen becomes a computer screen that can be viewed by an entire class or group of people. The projector projects the content of the computer while the instructor can control the content either with a touch of the hand or with a stylus or infrared pointing device.
How instructors are using the interactive whiteboards in the classroom and for training is simply a matter of imagination and the age group under focus as, the interactive whiteboard technology affords the instructor freedom to embed materials in multiple formats into the presentation.
Research has repeatedly demonstrated that students learn better when they are fully engaged and that multisensory, hands-on learning is the best way to engage them. Interactive whiteboards facilitate multisensory learning and collaboration.
The following statistics demonstrates the immense benefits accrued from the implementation of interactive aids in education.


• A study of the University of Wisconsin confirmed that using visual aids improved learning up to 200%.
• Harvard and Columbia Universities found that student retention is improved by up to 38%.
• Wharton School of Business proved that the time to explain subjects is reduced by 25% to 40%.

Some of the use strategies of the interactive whiteboards to include:
1. Creating more engaging lessons- Teachers can make lessons more interesting and engaging with Web content, animation, video, audio, and other tools that turn a classroom lecture into an interactive learning session.
2. Group note taking- For younger students, using a whiteboard as a traditional blackboard allows teachers to save the notes and distribute them to the students. Students can then add their own insights and discoveries to the saved materials and record the day's lessons learned.

3. Spelling competitions -Students love a little friendly competition. With its built-in spell
checker, the digital whiteboard is an ideal tool to support a spelling bee.

4. Virtual field trips- Google and other online destinations can take students to remote locations anywhere on the globe, including outer space. Designed to be interesting and engaging, these interactive Web field trips may include quizzes and other learning tools, and can be used either as stand-alone teaching tools or to help prepare for an actual field trip.

5. Recording presentations- Whiteboards also are useful for recording and sharing classroom videos. For example, teachers often record their own presentations and share their video lessons with their peers so students can learn from multiple staff members via the digital whiteboard.
6. Capturing student presentations- Whiteboards equipped with cameras and sound recording can be used to capture student presentations for later review or critique.
In all the possible use cases for interactive boards, it remains glaring, the benefits attainable from using these technologies. Interactive whiteboards:
• Makes Learning Fun
• Engages Students
• Easy To Use
• Saves Costs
• Offers Preloaded Teaching Aids

source: www.candelanetworks.com.ng IG: candela_networks