Electronic Whiteboards: Another Tool in a Teacher’s Toolbox

Presented by:Presented by:

Kristen KellyKristen Kelly

Rachel FortnerRachel Fortner

Josh JesseeJosh Jessee

Kristy AdkinsKristy Adkins

What is an Electronic Whiteboard?Features and functions can be diverse, but certain Features and functions can be diverse, but certain

functions are constant among all products:functions are constant among all products: Capture hand-written annotations and drawingsCapture hand-written annotations and drawings Store this info for future useStore this info for future use

Print outPrint out Floppy disk or hard driveFloppy disk or hard drive HTML document for web postingHTML document for web posting

Common In-Demand Features

Whiteboard’s ability to interface with Whiteboard’s ability to interface with computer and/or projectorcomputer and/or projector This enables traditional software This enables traditional software

applications to be demonstrated or taught applications to be demonstrated or taught in a new and more effective wayin a new and more effective way

Where have you seen this before?

Remember John Madden’s commentary on Remember John Madden’s commentary on NFL games?NFL games?

The Telestrator he used was a conducive film The Telestrator he used was a conducive film overlay on a television monitor, an early overlay on a television monitor, an early form of an electronic whiteboard.form of an electronic whiteboard.

It is also on display and open to public use at It is also on display and open to public use at Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center.Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center.

History and Evolution of Electronic Whiteboards Leonard Reiffel, an electronics prodigy, is Leonard Reiffel, an electronics prodigy, is

credited with its inventioncredited with its invention Reiffel revised the Telestator he created into Reiffel revised the Telestator he created into

the Discon teleconferencing system, which the Discon teleconferencing system, which he introduced to the business world in 1981he introduced to the business world in 1981

As businesses adopted the Discon and its As businesses adopted the Discon and its variations by competitors, educators began variations by competitors, educators began to imagine its use in academiato imagine its use in academia

History and Evolution of Electronic Whiteboards In 1998, Georgia Tech adopted and initiated In 1998, Georgia Tech adopted and initiated

a project created by part if its College of a project created by part if its College of Computing and Graphics, Visualization and Computing and Graphics, Visualization and Usability CenterUsability Center This Classroom 2000 project had a This Classroom 2000 project had a

primary goal of providing electronic primary goal of providing electronic whiteboards in all campus classrooms whiteboards in all campus classrooms

Growing Popularity of Electronic Whiteboards In October 2003, the Thomaston-Upson In October 2003, the Thomaston-Upson

County School District in rural Georgia County School District in rural Georgia became the first reported public school became the first reported public school system to install electronic whiteboards in system to install electronic whiteboards in every district K-12 classroomevery district K-12 classroom

An Example

Various Products Overview

1.1. Small receivers attach to a traditional Small receivers attach to a traditional whiteboard with suction cups. Receivers detect whiteboard with suction cups. Receivers detect and transfer annotations on whiteboard to a and transfer annotations on whiteboard to a connected computer, saved to disk, or printed connected computer, saved to disk, or printed immediately after completion.immediately after completion.

Some do not require computer connection but Some do not require computer connection but can store info internally for later download can store info internally for later download through a USB portthrough a USB port

2.2. Plasma overlay, fitted on computer screen, Plasma overlay, fitted on computer screen, use infared sensors to detect writing from use infared sensors to detect writing from digital ink, or on-screen finger taps digital ink, or on-screen finger taps

3.3. Simple graphic tablets can be connected to Simple graphic tablets can be connected to a computer to allow teacher to make a computer to allow teacher to make annotations on computer presentationannotations on computer presentation

Example, circling important points of a Example, circling important points of a PowerPoint presentationPowerPoint presentation

4.4. One of the newest products use cameras One of the newest products use cameras mounted in the corners of a traditional mounted in the corners of a traditional whiteboard to determine exact location of whiteboard to determine exact location of a finger or marker on the board.a finger or marker on the board.

Does not require special markers for Does not require special markers for detection, which can make it an detection, which can make it an attractive product for schoolsattractive product for schools

All of these variations can be connected to All of these variations can be connected to projectors mounted in the front, rear or projectors mounted in the front, rear or ceiling of classroom to make presentation ceiling of classroom to make presentation visible to moderate and large audiencesvisible to moderate and large audiences

What does it Cost?

Costs vary widely depending upon the product, its Costs vary widely depending upon the product, its functions, and the manufacturerfunctions, and the manufacturer

Examples:Examples: Graphics tablets can be as little as $100Graphics tablets can be as little as $100 SmartBoard, one of the most inclusive of SmartBoard, one of the most inclusive of

functions useful in academic settings, sells a functions useful in academic settings, sells a basic unit for $1600basic unit for $1600

Several mid-range products and accessories Several mid-range products and accessories range form $600 to over $2000range form $600 to over $2000

Applications in Classrooms

DemonstrationsDemonstrations Helpful in computer classes by enabling Helpful in computer classes by enabling

teacher to mark on computer screen teacher to mark on computer screen exactly what student should look at or exactly what student should look at or click onclick on

One Computer ClassroomsOne Computer Classrooms For schools that can only afford one For schools that can only afford one

computer per room, a whiteboard is less computer per room, a whiteboard is less expensive than more computers and can expensive than more computers and can allow entire class to be actively involved allow entire class to be actively involved in computer activitiesin computer activities

Distance LearningDistance Learning Lecture notes placed on web can enhance Lecture notes placed on web can enhance

distance learning students educational distance learning students educational experience experience

Save to disk, save to web, print featuresSave to disk, save to web, print features Accurate record of class lecture and Accurate record of class lecture and

discussion for studentdiscussion for studentStudents can focus more on discussion Students can focus more on discussion

rather than taking notesrather than taking notes Accurate record for teachersAccurate record for teachers

Teacher may think of important point Teacher may think of important point during one lecture that he may not during one lecture that he may not think of in future lecturesthink of in future lectures

Useful in creating testsUseful in creating tests

A long way from John Madden’s “chalkboard” The Thomaston-Upson County school The Thomaston-Upson County school

district installed the ACTIVboard systemdistrict installed the ACTIVboard system Includes an accessory that allows Includes an accessory that allows

teachers and students to control the teachers and students to control the whiteboard from anywhere in roomwhiteboard from anywhere in room

Also, a wireless student peripheral allows Also, a wireless student peripheral allows teacher to gain instant feedback teacher to gain instant feedback

Picture of Use in Classroom

This district, as well as other individual This district, as well as other individual schools and colleges reported use of schools and colleges reported use of electronic whiteboards have enhanced both electronic whiteboards have enhanced both the teaching and learning environmentsthe teaching and learning environments

Advantages in Classrooms

Accommodate different learning stylesAccommodate different learning styles Tactile learnersTactile learners Audio learnersAudio learners Visual learnersVisual learners

Large format aids students with disabilities Large format aids students with disabilities or limited motor skillsor limited motor skills

Color capabilitiesColor capabilities Students tend to respond better to color Students tend to respond better to color

presentationspresentations Group InteractionGroup Interaction

Students tend to want to participate in Students tend to want to participate in discussion because use of electronic discussion because use of electronic whiteboard is an attractive novelty to whiteboard is an attractive novelty to themthem

Interactivity means students learn better Interactivity means students learn better

Whiteboard’s ability to interface with Whiteboard’s ability to interface with document and video camerasdocument and video cameras

Teacher and student have an accurate Teacher and student have an accurate record of class lecture and discussion for record of class lecture and discussion for future referencefuture reference

Disadvantages in Classrooms

Depending on exact model, screen size can Depending on exact model, screen size can be small and restrictivebe small and restrictive 62 inch diagonal area is small when 62 inch diagonal area is small when

viewed by 20, 40, even 60 studentsviewed by 20, 40, even 60 students Use can be complicated and require Use can be complicated and require

training, which can be intimidating and training, which can be intimidating and prevent teachers from using it in classprevent teachers from using it in class

Computers driving the whiteboard need to Computers driving the whiteboard need to be upgraded every few years – expensive as be upgraded every few years – expensive as compared to traditional chalkboards that compared to traditional chalkboards that can last 15 to 20 yearscan last 15 to 20 years

High price tag can prevent schools from High price tag can prevent schools from even seriously discussing purchase, even seriously discussing purchase, regardless of its benefitsregardless of its benefits

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