Interactive+Whiteboards

= Interactive Whiteboards = An interactive whiteboard, or SmartBoard, is a tool used in classrooms to promote engaged learning. It is a board that can be written on, used as a computer, or many other possibilities for students.

Ideas:
This is a video about the ease of use of a SmartBoard. This is something that students can very easily become involved with the lesson and is very easy for teachers to learn how to use. media type="custom" key="24275298" This video shows different activities that can involve your students with the SmartBoard. All content areas can be brought to life with a SmartBoard. media type="custom" key="24275370"

Samples:
I have used the SmartBoard in our Communication Block classes. Dr. Ford and Dr. Parks often have activities that involve the SmartBoard to allow us to learn how to use them before we teach. We used the markers, eraser, and the mouse to navigate through the pages. I would like to learn more about SmartBoards because I feel they are very important for the future of the classrooms. While using the SmartBoard, I had to write with the markers, which is a lot harder then it looks. Because it is a computer, it has to think about what you are writing and there is a bit of lag time while writing. It was hard to get used to at first, but I got used to it by the end of the assignment. Erasing was an issue for my group. There is a tool that you can circle the whole group of writing and then press the center of the circle with the eraser and then everything in the circle would erase; not in our group. We tried numerous times to do this and it would not work. Dr. Ford went up to the board to try it and it worked just fine. Obviously, I need a bit more practice in working with a SmartBoard.

Thoughts:
There are numerous websites on the internet about how to use interactive whiteboards, different tips, and activities and lesson plans for the SmartBoard. Many students enjoy using these interactive whiteboards and often are more engaged while using them. One way that I will use these interactive whiteboard in my classroom is to teach my lessons. I can have components of my lesson that will require the students to come up to the board and participate in the lesson.