How to Use an Electronic Whiteboard

Electronic whiteboards are great for teaching, presentations and business. Their touch screen and data capturing features make them useful in multiple applications. Use the following guideline to give you some ideas on how to use this powerful tool.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use it to write notes with a stylus or finger. The information can then be saved to a file and distributed to others by email, printout or on a CD.

2. Teach students a new computer software application. Students can interact with the software on the electronic whiteboard while the instructor uses an attached PC to manipulate features in the program.

3. Accommodate individuals with limited motor skills. Since the use of a mouse is not needed, fingers can be used to point and interact with images, text and other objects on the screen.

4. Run an adventure-type video game (like Myst) on the electronic whiteboard to have students interact and stimulate ideas for creative writing. Ask participants to describe the visuals they are seeing as different areas of the game (such as a forest, building, beach or space ship) are explored.

5. Attach a small video camera and have students create podcasts for presentations. Public speaking can be a little intimidating for some people. Recording their own clips and reviewing them may help boost their confidence and improve their skills.

6. Use comic book software (like Comic Book Creator) to educate students on history or story writing. Create your own comic book and display it on the whiteboard for interactive discussion. Or, import your own images to create a new comic book and have participants type in dialogue to coordinate what is being viewed on the whiteboard.

7. Utilize the electronic whiteboard's built-in world maps to teach geography. The map's detail can be zoomed in by use of a stylus or finger.

8. Teach grammar skills. Use the whiteboard's "highlighter" tool to have students highlight the nouns, verbs or adjective words.

9. Show students how to use the Internet and have them try out their skills with the use of the whiteboard.

10. Educate students about mathematical equations. Teach the individual steps and get the students involved with the process of solving the problems.

11. Use interactive websites with the whiteboard to get deaf students involved with various educational topics like Foreign Language, Arts, Science and Social Studies. (See Resources.)

Resources

• Website with links to interactive websites useful for deaf students.
• Learn about the SMART Board, one of the most used electronic whiteboards.
• eBeam is a popular electronic whiteboard with wireless features.
• Kidspiration is a great software tool that can be used with the whiteboard to help teach reading, writing and math skills.
• Click here to find out more about the Comic Book Creator software and how to use it as a teaching tool.

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[smeeter]

on 4/6/2009 Good article. We just ordered one from iShopit.com and are very pleased.