SmartBoard & Beyond

This week’s article, Interactive Whiteboard Study reviews the interactive whiteboard, or SmartBoard (brand) as many call it. Learn how this interactive learning method works, and read about a study that reveals how this classroom technology can change your workload and your students’ learning.

Although the article primarily discusses the interactive whiteboard, there are other interactive learning products available. For example, there’s a portable interactive panel that can be connected to the PC that works well for roaming teachers and an interactive panel that attaches to a wall-mounted plasma screen, which offers functionality not available with the Interactive Whiteboard.

Portable Interactive Panels

Interactive panels, when connected to the PC (desktop or notebook and a projector), also allow you to face your classroom while you teach, edit, and annotate computer applications directly from the panel. Using an interactive panel is very similar to using an interactive whiteboard, except the panels are usually much smaller: 15", 17" or 18". However, the screen image can be projected through a multimedia projector to various sizes onto a screen, making it perfect for large auditoriums and lecture halls. The advantage to an interactive panel is that it’s portable, making it ideal for roaming teachers or limited budgets.

Panels for Plasma

Plasma screens with an interactive panel or overlay have the same functionality as interactive whiteboards; however, they offer even more versatility because they can also be used as televisions to utilize public education channels or DVD’s.

Another advantage of using a plasma screen is that the presenter doesn’t cast a shadow, unlike front-projection interactive whiteboards. The biggest disadvantage with the plasma screen is the cost and screen size (40-52”). However, plasma screens do provide much sharper images than do similarly priced projectors.

If you would like to learn how the interactive whiteboard works or how it can impact your workload and your students’ learning, read Interactive Whiteboard Study. Also, please participate in our poll: select SmartBoard if you already use an interactive whiteboard.