Description: Interactive whiteboards are used in many schools as replacements for traditional whiteboards or flipcharts. They mirror a computer's desktop to more visually demonstrate educational software, web sites, and DVDs, and more to classroom students. In addition, interactive whiteboards allow teachers to record their instruction and post the material for review at a later time. Interactive whiteboards can be a very effective instructional strategy for students who benefit from repetition or who need to see the material repeatedly to reinforcement learning. They are also valuable for students who are absent from school, struggling learners, or need an additional tool to prepare for examinations.
Features of Interactive Whiteboards: A combination of hardware and software empowers the whiteboard to convert handwritten notes into digital text. It provides a gallery of images and templates to assist in presenting material. Included in the software of most intelligent whiteboards are tools to save a recording of all actions on the screen, for creating notes over video, changing settings on the fly, control the projector and computer or other input/ output devices, and to perform diagnostics and troubleshooting applications. (Smart Technologies, 2010).
Advantages: Interactive whiteboards allow learners to absorb information more easily. They foster participation in group discussions by freeing students (and teachers) from note taking, allowing learners to work collaboratively around a shared task/work area. When used to test understanding, whiteboards can provide learner feedback rapidly and efficiently.
Disadvantages: Interactive whiteboards can be more expensive than projector/ screen combinations. Their surface is easily damaged by scratches or using improper markers and replacements are expensive. Front projection boards can be obscured if not raised to a proper height; unfortunately, this sometimes raises the board beyond the writing height of the teacher. Fixed height boards are often too high to reach the top or too low for their bottom to be readily visible.
Video Demonstration:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzqg1OAnZZM&feature=related
Learn More About Interactive Whiteboard and Classroom Research: Read case studies, school profiles, and white papers at: http://www.teq.com/case-studies
Description: A webcam, or web camera, is the freely used term for any camera that generates images accessed by or displayed on the World Wide Web. A webcam is essentially a digital camera connected to a computer, either directly or wirelessly, that gathers a series of images for remote display elsewhere. Webcam technology is widely used by teachers and students for a variety of different reasons (Figure 1).
Web camera
Webcam sites allow users to upload and store their webcam images (often without cost). They vary in their capabilities and features, and these variances are reflected in price.