[Yr7-10it] Interactive Electronic Whiteboards

[Costello, Rob R]

Spoke with some IWB salespeople at school last week 

 

We agreed IWBs seem better utilised in primary schools -

(seen them used for voting etc in primary - everyone comes up and
touches the screen to vote) 

 

not obvious to me, or the sales people, how the tactile aspect is that
useful for most secondary applications 

 

maybe I just need to see some examples 

 

(eg the CAD teacher says he would love one to teach with one) 

 

I'm used to teaching with digital projectors - and I find that aspect
very useful  

 

I use the projection aspect every day - tactile part not at all. I like
the idea of kids interacting from their desks with the wireless board. 

 

Don't mind students using the board either - just can't see how touching
it is much different to interacting via the adjacent keyboard / mouse 

 

(ps we have the ones that you can't write on with a normal marker -
which I think is a mistake. The one's you can annotate with normal
marker seem to make more sense) 

 

Rob 

 

 

________________________________

From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Roland Gesthuizen
Sent: Monday, 10 March 2008 1:01 PM
To: eLearning mailing list; Open Source Software Mailing List; Year 7 -
10 IT Mailing List
Subject: [Yr7-10it] Interactive Electronic Whiteboards

 

A neighbouring school has IWB's gathering dust as they are used as an
expensive whiteboard / projection systems. From what I can see, only one
unit is used effectively by an inspiring teacher who teaches only in the
same room.

I am typing this post on an Ubuntu Linux desktop (excuse me for being a
power user). The USB waicom tablet that I loaned from school just
plugged in and started working. Again, this got me thinking about the
benefits of a 'touch sensitive' IWB as compared to just using a wireless
bluetooth enabled mini-keyboard with trackpad / USB port and a bluetooth
Waicom tablet. 

In theory two (or more) sets of these units can be shared amongst
students and the teacher in a classroom, perhaps one per team of
students. When necessary or desirable, they can then collaborate,
annotate on the big screen, all using a portable or existing projector
system. 

This week, I am going to order two sets of these wireless devices for a
trial.  Whilst I am not trying to reproduce the traditional IWB and
might miss out on some of the "eye candy", the cost saving and approach
where students can contribute from their team desks is very appealing. 

What do others think?

Regards Roland

-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret
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