Journal 7: Interactive Boards, NETS V

The technology that I researched on Classroom 2.0 was interactive boards. I chose interactive boards because even though I personally was not familiar with them I had heard that they were an incredibly interesting and useful tool. After following a few threads and doing a little research I learned that interactive boards are large interactive white boards that use touch technology to aid in interactive classrooms. Interactive boards also known as smartboards consist of a wall mounted white board and a projector, images are then projected onto the white board and the white board itself becomes a large touch screen where both teachers and students can interact and manipulate material. I followed the thread "how are you using your classroom smartboard?" where all types of teachers explained how they were using their interactive boards in the classroom. I learned that teachers are using interactive boards in in a variety of ways. Teachers reported using their interactive boards as a public computer for the classroom where the students can research and learn collaboratively. Another teacher described using them to make graphic organizers, reading logs, and concept maps as well as using interactive boards to play educational math and science games. Another thread that I followed was "Are interactive white boards necessary", this thread examined if using interactive boards are really necessary in the classroom considering that they are rather expensive and asked if using a less expensive simple projector and a digital sketch pad could be used instead. Teachers that have had the experience of using interactive boards seem to all agree that they are indeed an advantage to the classroom and are well worth the hefty price tag. The whole point of interactive boards are to place the students at the center of attention and to give them something that they can interact with digitally. Students now are able follow along with the teacher interactively and at the same time able to apply what they are learning.