Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i21LteI16292; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 16:55:41 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 16:55:41 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <A4AA05CE92DACC43886D133DB94A926E0560B7D1@medicine-exch1.medicine.uiowa.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Hopkins, Shane" <shane-hopkins@uiowa.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3178] RE: Using Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2657.72) Status: O Content-Length: 9127 Lines: 217 Using a tablet PC with a typical projector instead means your output is still up in front of the class, but the input device is the tablet. You can still draw with different pen sizes, colors, highlighters, erasers, etc., but the ink is digital using a stylus instead of real markers. It's something you have to try out to really get a feel for. The input can be pressure sensitive and stroke width is then dependent on how hard you press. Some stylus types allow you to flip it over and use an "eraser" just like a pencil. Yes, you lose the ability to have several people draw on the board at the same time since it's literally the size of a tablet notebook rather than a chalkboard, but you gain portability since it only weighs a few pounds and therefore you can use it in several classrooms instead of needing several whiteboards. As far as manipulating items on the board, you can easily do that with the stylus--anything you do with a mouse you can do with the pen. When you hover the stylus over the tablet it moves the mouse, and when you tap on the tablet, it's a click. When you want the stylus to be a pen instead of a mouse, you just change the controls (I assume similarly to the whiteboard.) In this way you can drag things around, circle things, etc. Tablet functionality is built into MS Office 2003, but for documents that don't have it built in, you "print" the document to file (similar to Acrobat distiller) that you can open in software called Journal and draw all over it. If you are interested in seeing some examples of homework or notes, let me know and I'll e-mail you privately. You can review soft-copy homework submitted from students with a digital red pen and then return it to them electronically via e-mail or printed out. You can carry the tablet to someone's seat in the class and have them work a problem from there since it has a wireless network connection (assuming you have a wireless network and separate computer hooked to the projector). Other stuff that may not be as relevant in the classroom is that the operating system has voice and handwriting recognition built in so you can record memos, type them, or just jot them down in handwriting, and then the audio or handwriting can be converted to text. It's a full computer, not just an input/output device. I got my tablet specifically to use for my health literacy research (allowing cancer patients to use the computer without using a mouse or keyboard). Since getting it I've been very impressed, and unless it is important to have several people using the whiteboard at once, you ought to consider a tablet and projector. Shane -----Original Message----- From: nifl-technology@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-technology@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Marian Thacher Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 2:07 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3176] RE: Using Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom? Thanks, Shane. It's true that interactive whiteboards are more expensive, but they do allow students to manipulate things on the board, which has some advantages for group work. What do you like about the tablet pc? Is it mainly the handwriting input? Marian nifl-technology@nifl.gov writes: >Although not personally experienced with using Whiteboards in the >classroom, >I am personally experienced with using a Tablet PC. The latest generation >of Tablet PCs have become technically easier to use and are about the same >price as a laptop (*much* less than a Whiteboard from what I'm told). >They >allow for keyboard input and handwriting input with a stylus. Projecting >the display of a tablet PC allows for the benefits listed below, but avoid >the drawbacks. > >Sorry I didn't respond in time to be a part of the below compilation of >feedback. But I think it's important for those considering Whiteboards to >realize that there is a cheaper and, in the opinion of my Med School's IT >Long Range Planning Committee, far superior alternative. > >-----Original Message----- >From: nifl-technology@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-technology@nifl.gov] On Behalf >Of Marian Thacher >Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 7:17 PM >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3174] Re: Using Interactive Whiteboards in the >Classroom? > >Thank you to those who responded on the subject of interactive >whiteboards. What I found out is that not many adult ed programs have them >because they're not cheap, but some do, and here is a summary of people's >ideas and suggestions: > >Classroom Uses of Interactive Whiteboards >1. Demonstrate computer processes and software >2. Group editing a revision of writing projects (one example: scramble >and >unscramble sentences by moving words around on board with your finger) >3. Share internet activities like job search or buying a car >4. Play interactive computer games, possibly with teams >5. Show videos and other media (flash, shockwave, online games) >6. View and edit diagrams and other visuals, such as maps or charts >7. Save and print results of brainstorming sessions > >Benefits of the Interactive Whiteboard >1. Frees students from note-taking because you can print all the notes >from the board >2. Have students both at the computer and at the white board, for >interactive activities >3. Allows students to physically participate in group computer >activities >4. Students that have trouble using a mouse (older students, visually >impaired) may find it much easier to use the whiteboard > >Drawbacks >1. They're not very mobile, so programs that planned to move them from >classroom to classroom found that this didn't work too well >2. They're relatively expensive >3. If you don't have the back-projection model, students standing in >front >of the board cast a shadow on the image, which makes it hard to play >interactive games or do other activities that require precise movements. > >A Few Web References >* http://www.tech21.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=view&catid=94 - report >from >an adult ed teacher in CT, using the board for small group presentations > >* http://www.tech21.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=view&catid=137 - report >from >an adult ed teacher in CT, using the board for a class-created Web site >project, and for GED Geography she was able to project maps, write notes >on them, and then print them out. > >* http://www.smarterkids.org/research/paper.asp - a research paper >about >6th graders playing cooperative math games on the smart board. One >conclusion was to keep the groups small, no more than 4. > >* http://www.smarterkids.org/research/paper6.asp - A survey of 39 >students >who used an interactive whiteboard on uses, advantages, and disadvantages. >Study found that the most popular use was to demonstrate computer >activities or software. The second most popular use was group editing and >revision of writing projects. This paper was useful for getting some new >ideas. > >Marian Thacher, Coordinator of Technology Projects, OTAN >Sacramento, CA >nifl-technology@nifl.gov writes: >>Marian, >> >>Not an answer to your specific question, but you (or anyone) who is >>interested in the use of digital whiteboards might want to look at an >>article that was recently cited on the venerable EDTECH list from the >>February 2004 issue of The Reading Teacher, called "The digital >>whiteboard: A tool in early literacy instruction," by Pamela A. Solvie. >> >>The article is not available via the Reading Teacher site but is >>available online at: >> >><http://www.smarterkids.org/research/paper13.asp> >> >>Some other articles on the effectiveness of interactive whiteboards in >>the K-12 classroom can also be found here. >> >>Jeff >> >>----------------------- >>Jeff Carter >>jcarter@worlded.org >>----------------------- >>www.worlded.org >>www.literacytech.org >>www.literacytech.org/blog.html >>www.brilliantbeast.com >>----------------------- >> >>On Feb 18, 2004, at 6:36 PM, mthacher@otan.us wrote: >> >>> Is anyone using an interactive whiteboard with students? A program in >>> California has recently put a couple in ESL classrooms, and the >>> teachers >>> are wondering if others have used them and found good activities or >>> ideas. >>> >>> I know they are good for demonstrating computer processes, like how to >>> make an address label. They are good for demonstrating something >>> quickly >>> on the keyboard, like how to make a capital letter, or where the >>> question >>> mark is. >>> >>> They are good for kinesthetic learners because you can go up and >>> actually >>> do the computer action on the whiteboard. Students can also scramble >>> and >>> unscramble sentences by dragging the words around on the board. >>> >>> Any other ideas? Do you use the page-saving function? Do you print out >>> pages of what's written on the board for yourself or your students? Do >>> you >>> have ideas for structured learning activities? Have you used the >>> function >>> that changes handwriting into text, and did it work? I would like to >>> collect some ideas. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Marian Thacher, OTAN >>> Sacramento, CA >>> mthacher@otan.us >>> >>> <Header> >> >
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