Interactive Whiteboards

When hooked up to a computer, the whiteboard's screen becomes a "live" computer desktop, which can be tapped to pull down menus, highlight, and move or open files. Users can also circle relevant sections on the projected image, draw geometric figures, and underline. Then they can save the screen — complete with annotations — which can then be e-mailed, made available on a shared server, or printed out.

Ways to use Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom (from the Instructional Technology Department of the Wichita Public Schools):

* Save lessons to present to students who were absent
* Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to the server or web. Example- How to create a graph in Excel or hoe to burn a projects to cds
* Use the built in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals.
* Present presentations created by student or teacher
* Have students create e-folios including samples of their work and narration
* Digital storytelling
* Teach whole group computer or keyboarding skills
* Brainstorming
* Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations
* Reinforce skills by using on-line interactive web sites
* Creating a project calendar
* Teach editing skills using editing marks
* Use in the 6 trait writing process
* Use highlighter tool to highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
* Use it with Kidspiration or Inspiration
* Teaching students how to navigate the Internet
* Illustrate and write a book as a class. Use the record feature to narrate the text.
* Use the Interwrite software to create lessons in advance at home or at school. Then save them for future use or to be shared with other teachers
* Diagramming activities
* Teaching steps to a math problem.
* Have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences
* Graphics and charts with ESL learners and special ed students.
* Teaching vocabulary
* Electronic Word Wall
* End each day by having students write one thing that they learned

Encouraging Critical Thinking. Interactive whiteboards encourage critical thinking. Imagine using the whiteboard with concept-mapping software like Inspiration or Kidspiration, for example. Students' ideas could be written directly on the whiteboard; if the teachers switches to outline view, the class can brainstorm together in an organized fashion.

For Students with Special Needs. Interactive whiteboards may be beneficial to students with special educational needs. The large fonts and bright colors might be helpful for both visually impaired students and those who have trouble staying on task, while students who respond well to kinesthetic learning will benefit from touching the board.
Jeffrey Branzburg from techlearning.com