Interactive Whiteboard Tools
Interactive whiteboards are becoming more and more popular in schools. By investing in these interactive "chalkboards," schools can enhance student learning and make it more accessible to them. However, when an interactive whiteboard is not used to its fullest potential, it simply acts as an expensive chalkboard. By incorporating interactive whiteboard tools into the curriculum and school day, teachers can make the most of their learning environments. These tools allow teachers to make their whiteboards more useful in many ways, from helping with time management to helping students develop critical thinking skills.
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Included Tools
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While many educators are given access to interactive whiteboards, the amount of time needed to fully investigate and use the boards significant. Therefore, many teachers do not use the technology to its fullest potential. In fact, many are not aware of the tools available for use with the whiteboard software. By taking a few minutes to review software updates or by accessing the whiteboard manufacturer's website, teachers can often find the tools they're looking for. Included tools can be clocks and timers, flash-card programs, graphic organizers and time lines. Such software allows teachers to help students practice basic skills in addition to guiding them through higher-order thinking tasks.
Subscription-Based or CD-ROM Tools
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Some interactive whiteboard tools are subscription based. Teachers pay a flat or recurring fee for the month or year to have access to a website of tools at their disposal. Some interactive whiteboard manufacturers include basic tools with their software packages and offer access to more or improved features with subscriptions. Subscription-based tools are often more content specific. In other words, a free program may include make-your-own flashcards, while a subscription might offer libraries of flash cards already developed for use in the classroom. Additionally, CD-ROM tool libraries have been developed so that teachers can have many options available.
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Free Software Tools
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Some "free" software tools websites have been developed so teachers can access tools without buying CDs or subscriptions. While there can be an abundance of ads on the tool pages, the advantage is that some tools can be saved and put in other programs or used when off-line so that the ads are no longer part of the display. Free interactive whiteboard tool sites include Classtools.net, Teachers Love Smartboards and AARTPACK Interactive. Many tools are available for free. Several options include random name pickers, fishbone diagrams and hamburger diagrams.
Hardware Tools
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In addition to software tools that increase the level of interaction with the whiteboard, hardware tools are also available to enhance teaching and learning. Several companies produce "clickers," which are remotes that students can use to enter and display information. Other tools include wands, portable slates, tablets and document cameras (updated versions of opaque projectors).
Virtual World Tools
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A new trend in the interactive whiteboard community is to help teachers create virtual worlds in their classrooms. New software and components can allow several rooms to collaborate and video conference at once. Additionally, students can investigate the "inside" of an organism, take a tour of a building thousands of miles away, and become part of an ecosystem. While many of these tools can be expensive to buy and subscribe to, the use of virtual reality in education will become more accessible to everyone in the future.
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References
- Photo Credit aranarth: flickr.com
