Technology & Learning - April 2008 - (Page 44)

By Jeffrey Branzburg The Whiteboard Revolution Output device Being connected to a computer and LCD projector, whiteboards allow all images on the computer screen— text, photographs, drawings charts, diagrams, and video—to be shown. Similar to a monitor, it is an output device to view information from a computer. Input device It can also be written on. Combine these two simple features (input and output device) and you have a mashup, where teachers and students make For whiteboard annotations, draw, take options, see notes, circle important pages 46–47. points, and so on. Not so easy to do on a regular computer monitor. Finger as mouse Control the connected computer right at the board—your finger becomes the mouse. Scroll through pages, access menus, run programs, all while standing at the board. Save and print it Want to keep the annotated output? Whiteboards give you the same options that you’d have with content on computers—print it out, save it as a file (graphic file, PDF, sometimes even a Word file), e-mail it, or post it on a blog or Web site. 44 | www.techlearning.com T eachers are clamoring to have interactive whiteboards in their Record it Unlike a screen shot, you’re able to save an entire sequence of events in a video. Imagine you are showing the class how to find common denominators. Record the lesson for later review or to share with absent students. Record it and show it to parents during a conference. Size Find interactive whiteboards in many sizes (and for many budgets), from as small as 2 feet by 3 feet to more than 8 feet wide. Connections You’ll need to connect your computer to an LCD projector as well as to the whiteboard itself. Make sure you run the whiteboard control software supplied by the board’s manufacturer. Projector The most common projectors used with interactive whiteboards are front projection, with the projector placed about 10 feet in front of the board. This necessitates wires running along the classroom floor to the whiteboard. There are a number of solutions to this problem: certain whiteboards have wireless access (RF or Bluetooth); there are whiteboards with rear projection; and short-throw projectors that are mounted on an arm atop the whiteboard are also available. These solutions are more costly than the basic setup. Mounting Purchase whiteboards as either freestanding or wall-mounted. Jeffrey Branzburg is a contributing editor and columnist for T&L. classrooms. What is it about this technology that is so useful and so appealing? Let’s look at some of their capabilities. http://www.techlearning.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - April 2008

Technology & Learning - April 2008 Contents New @ techlearning.com Editor's Desk News and Trends Digital Age Assessment: Part 2 Anytime, Anywhere Learning Caught on Video Cover Story: Plan and Deliver Cutting Edge in Carolina Product Guide Reviews Best of the Blogs What's New LOY Profile Series

Technology & Learning - April 2008

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