Digital Whiteboards

“Build Your Own Board,” by Keith Vallis and Peter Williamson

Interactive whiteboards have become increasingly popular across the world. They are a great tool to get students to pay attention much better than traditional lectures could. It also solves the problem of having only one computer projecting the screen for all 30 students. It also makes it fun for both teachers and students to interact with educational software. This interactive whiteboard is called a “brightboard.” Teachers can build and guide lessons from the back of the classroom or from the midst of group activities, and students can contribute to their learning individually or in groups without having to walk to the front of the room. Some argue that these brightboards are more cost effective than a regular whiteboard. For every 10 wireless pen tablets purchased (needed for the brightboard), you can buy one $3,000 whiteboard. Others would say that the brightboard is not for everyone. For the teachers that would not use it regularly, this would not be the route to go. They say that in order for it to be effective, one must use it on a regular basis. Because of the budget crisis, some schools could actually be saving money by using brightboards, because you get more brightboards for your money than you would a regular whiteboard. Another benefit to the brightboard is that it can be used on school halls or theatres. You can write on the brightboard, and even the people in the back can see it.

I think that the brightboard is a great tool for the classroom. I also think that whiteboards are affective too. But schools that are headed in a more technology savvy direction would really benefit from this. I think it is great that you do not have to waste time going up to the board and writing things down, when you can just write as you are interacting with the class. I would use this in my classroom because I think it is a great way for students to be exited about learning. It is something so new and interesting to them, and I really do agree that it would probably hold their attention longer rather than a traditional lecture.