Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards have quickly replaced regular whiteboards as an essential teaching tool in education and corporate Australia. The flexibility and ease of use in an electronic format have seen a transformation in the way educators present and how students learn.

Over the last 5 years, Interactive whiteboards and touch technology have evolved to ensure whatever a users application, there will be a solution.

Interactive Whiteboard Panels

Interactive whiteboard technology is being delivered through the use of flat panels or LCD displays. Manufacturers such as Smart, Samsung, NEC and BENQ have developed touch technology that has re-invented 21st-century learning.

Using the front of room interactive displays that seamlessly integrate with the software and devices teachers and students already use provides a natural and intuitive solution and allows users to focus on their tasks, not operating the technology.

When educators combine their expertise with technology, they open the door even wider for students to discover their fullest potential. Interactive whiteboard solutions bring children’s natural, back-and-forth interactions into the learning environment, allowing the whole classroom to engage.

At InSight Systems, our focus is to connect everyone and everything – teachers, students, devises and content – through integrated displays and software designed to work better together, creating collaborative learning environments that improve learning outcomes and inspire greatness.

Find out more about the BENQ Classroom panels and how they contribute to a healthy classroom here

Interactive Projector

An interactive smartboard, also known as an interactive whiteboard, is a classroom tool that allows images from a computer screen to be displayed onto a classroom board using a digital projector. The teacher or a student can “interact” with the images directly on the screen using a tool or even a finger.

With the computer connected to the internet or a local network, teachers can access information around the world. They can do a quick search and find a lesson they used previously. Suddenly, a wealth of resources is at the teacher’s fingertips.

For teachers and students, the interactive whiteboard is a powerful benefit to the classroom. It opens up the students to collaboration and closer interaction with the lessons. Multimedia content can be shared and used in lectures, keeping students engaged.

Whether in the classroom or lecture theatre, using finger-touch or dual pen interactivity, Epson’s interactive teaching solutions make it easy to display and edit a wide range of content. Annotate presentations in real-time, write, draw and add comments and answers directly onto the screen, as well as saving and sharing collaborative work.

New interactive pens are more comfortable to use, with hard or soft tips and battery life three times longer than previous models. Some projectors also feature finger-touch control for even easier involvement.

According to a recent article from Yale University, interactive lessons presented on a smartboard or whiteboard increased student engagement. The technology encourages active learning in students. Students asked more questions and took more notes, enabling more effective group activities like brainstorming and problem-solving. More and more teachers are using interactive whiteboard technology in the classroom. Here are four ways teachers are engaging with students using this technology.

1. Presenting Additional Content on the Interactive Whiteboard

The Interactive whiteboard shouldn’t replace teaching or lecture time in the classroom. Instead, it should enhance the lesson and provide opportunities for students to better engage with the information. The teacher has to prepare additional materials that can be used with the smart technology before class starts – such as short videos, infographics, or problems the students can work on using the whiteboard.

2. Highlight Important Information from the Lesson

Smart technology can be used to highlight essential information as you work through a lesson. Before the lesson begins, you can outline the sections to be covered in class. As each section begins, you can break down the key topics, definitions, and critical data for students on the interactive whiteboard. This can also include graphics and videos in addition to text. This will help students not only with note-taking but also to review future topics you will be covering.

3. Engage Students in Group Problem Solving

Centre the class around problem-solving. Present the class with a problem, then pass over the interactive whiteboard to the students to let them solve it. With the smartboard technology as the centre of the lesson, students can better collaborate in the classroom. The digital technology unlocks the internet as they work, allowing students to connect the lesson to the technology they use every day.

4. Answer Student Questions via the Interactive Whiteboard

Engage the students using the interactive whiteboard and questions from the class. Look up additional information or data using smart technology. Write the question on the interactive whiteboard and then work through the answer with the students. Let them see how you answer the question or pull in additional or data. When you are finished, you can save the results of the question and send it to the student in an email for later reference.

To find out more about interactive whiteboards and how they are revolutionising classrooms around Australia and the world, call 1300 369 451 to speak to one of our audiovisual consultants or email sales@insightsystems.com.au.