joelzehring Aug 07, 2008 03:14PM Brainstorm: What are the costs and rewards of an interactive whiteboard in the classroom?
joelzehring says Aug 07, 2008 03:16PM "costs" can me other things besides $ (time, energy, opportunities lost, etc.)
kwhobbes says Aug 07, 2008 04:00PM teachers in my school who are using them find them to be very useful. They not only can put notes on them but save the notes for later. The
kwhobbes says Aug 07, 2008 04:01PM videos and other interactive information they find is blended right into their lessons and saved for review. Students can go back to earlier
kwhobbes says Aug 07, 2008 04:01PM lessons if they miss something or need a review of some topic. It allows the teacher to integrate notes, video, games and other technologies
kwhobbes says Aug 07, 2008 04:02PM plus, if you allow the students to use it, allows the students to bring in their own information for presentations and such.
pelgin says Aug 07, 2008 05:26PM I have found that it keeps the students engaged, even those who usually don't pay attention in class
joelzehring Aug 07, 2008 06:34PM I'm noticing that many of the benefits of IWBs also exist for simple LCD projectors
megbg says Aug 07, 2008 08:57PM agree...smart board is great for primary kids...up and down movability
kwhobbes says Aug 07, 2008 08:58PM we use it in the middle years and high school. It seems to work well with them.
joelzehring Aug 07, 2008 10:23PM I can do a lot of "SMARTBoard" style stuff with an LCD hooked up to a computer.
LParisi says Aug 07, 2008 10:26PM But kids love to come up and interact with the board and that can't be done with a projector.
LParisi says Aug 07, 2008 10:26PM joelz Please come on our show Sunday. You have so much to add to the conversation.
pelgin says Aug 07, 2008 10:29PM LParisi I was just thinking the same thing. If there is no interaction, then it is no different than a regular whiteboard.
joelzehring Aug 08, 2008 04:47AM hold on, LParisi, I need to release some air out of my grotesquely big head. Flattery will get you nowhere.
joelzehring Aug 08, 2008 04:48AM elementech can't I just give a student a mouse and have them manipulate the app? Is there really that much magic in the IWB pen?
pelgin says Aug 08, 2008 09:25PM Sure you could, but for 2nd & 3rd graders, the magic is in interacting with the BOARD itself.
joelzehring says Aug 08, 2008 11:31PM elementech several hundred (or even thousand) dollars worth of magic?
joelzehring is Aug 09, 2008 03:06PM reducing the $ cost of an IWB might make the magic more justifiable. how does $100 dollars sound?
✿honeymic says Aug 12, 2008 05:47AM $100 is good, but not as good as free! I won mine at NECC so I can use it guilt free! As long as I don't hog it from my students, I guess.
joelzehring says Aug 12, 2008 12:57PM Nice! Our school tech aide won a mimio last year for our school. I guess I'm a sucker for a little DIY sometimes.