Interactive_Whiteboards

=**What Is an Interactive Whiteboard?**= Imagine standing before a giant computer, mouse pen in hand, and directing the screen to do your bidding. An interactive whiteboard does just that. Sensitive to the touch of a specially designed pen (in the case of district-owned Intelliboards), you control a computer directly through the board itself. The computer is connected to a projector and board, and the computer's screen image is projected onto the board. By using your electronic 'pen' as a mouse, the action is conducted by the computer as if you were actually manipulating a traditional mouse and looking at your monitor. =**What Can I Do with an Interactive Whiteboard?**= (from the [|Instructional Technology Department of the Wichita Public Schools]): =How Do I Get Started?= The district owns both Promethean and Intelliboard interactive whiteboards. These models require the use of a special pen that functions as a mouse and interactive writing tool. To use the board, make sure it is connected to a computer that in turn is connected to a projector. The computer and projector should be "on" and the computer will automatically recognize the board. If this does not happen, press the function F8 key or the function F4.
 * Save lessons to present to students who were absent
 * Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to the server or web. Example- How to create a graph in Excel or how to burn a projects to cds
 * Use the built-in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals.
 * Present presentations created by student or teacher
 * Have students create e-folios including samples of their work and narration
 * Digital storytelling
 * Teach whole group computer or keyboarding skills
 * Brainstorming
 * Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations
 * Reinforce skills by using on-line interactive web sites
 * Create a project calendar
 * Teach editing skills using editing marks
 * Use in the 6 trait writing process
 * Use highlighter tool to highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
 * Use it with Kidspiration or Inspiration
 * Teaching students how to navigate the Internet
 * Illustrate and write a book as a class. Use the record feature to narrate the text.
 * Use the Interwrite software to create lessons in advance at home or at school. Then save them for future use or to be shared with other teachers
 * Diagramming activities
 * Teach steps to a math problem.
 * Have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences
 * Graphics and charts with ESL learners and special ed students.
 * Teaching vocabulary
 * Electronic Word Wall
 * End each day by having students write one thing that they learned

We recommend that you use the software that accompanies the Promethean boards. This software, called ActivStudio Professional, can be located in your Intelliboard folder. Begin by taking the tutorial located at http://www.prometheanlearning.com. Explore resources at http://www.prometheanplanet.com. Sign up for inservice courses. Call Janice Friedman to arrange for small group or one-on-one coaching with our technology staff developer, Susan West. Click on the link below to discover websites and tools to help you become a successful and adept interactive whiteboard user. Be sure to put the pen in the hands of your students--they may be the best teacher you will have!

=Interactive Whiteboard Resources= = =