Monday, July 13, 2009

Interactive Whiteboards in UK education system.


Interactive Whiteboards in UK (United Kingdom) education system is going to play an important role in enhancing teaching. Reports show that schools whether primary or secondary in UK are integrating Interactive Whiteboards into learning and teaching nowadays.UK education system is getting real benefits by implementing ICT. Today ICT solutions like interactive Whiteboards have become an important part of learning environment in UK. Every school, college and university in UK is implementing Interactive Whiteboards into their classroom. Interactive Whiteboards supplier provides different types of Interactive Whiteboards based on their technology. Some are finger touch board while others are having electronic pen. Only go for that Interactive Whiteboard supplier who can provide best support and training services to your staff. ICT is fantastic motivator and enabler, but that it is necessary to choose only the technology that will enhance learning and their teaching tools. Using appropriate technology provides opportunities to develop independent learning skills. Using interactive whiteboards into education enhances children’s creativity and builds their self esteem. There are different types of Interactive Whiteboards in the UK based on technology. An IR(Infra Red) interactive whiteboard uses infra red beam to make the board touch sensitive. A resistive membrane board consists of two resistive sheets separated by air gap. Electromagnetic Board is composed of grid of wires, operated with stylus. Interactive Whiteboards in UK are used at all stages of education as a replacement of traditional whiteboards or flip charts. There are different manufactures of Interactive Whiteboards in UK providing wide range of Interactive Whiteboards.

Interactive Whiteboards in the schools


Interactive Whiteboards are larger interactive displays which are connected to projector and computer. A projector projects the computer desktop on the active area of Whiteboard. User operates the computer with finger or pen. Interactive Whiteboards are generally wall mounted. They can be put on floor stand. Interactive Whiteboards are used in classrooms at all stages of education as a replacement of traditional whiteboards or flip charts. They communicate with computer using USB (Universal Serial Bus) or serial port cable. Bluetooth device or RF (Radio Frequency) device is used for providing wireless communication. Teacher can operate computer functions with finger or pen. Using the supplied software, Teacher can write, draw and annotate on Interactive Whiteboards. The annotations can be saved as an electronic file in various formats such as Picture format, power point format, PDF, HTML (Hyper text markup language).These files can be used later for teaching purpose or send to absent student as an e-mail attachment. The software has a built in gallery of images on different subjects which teacher can incorporate into their lessons. Interactive Whiteboards allows teachers to record their session in video format which can be shared in to their classroom. Some companies provide educational content with Interactive Whiteboards. They have lots of tools for presentation like spotlight, snapshot, reveal etc. Spotlight shapes helps to focus attention on specific part. Reveal feature allows you to hide information and reveal in any direction. There are different types of Interactive Whiteboards in the market based on technology. An IR (infra red) interactive whiteboard uses infra red beam to make the board touch sensitive. A resistive membrane board consists of two resistive sheets separated by air gap. Electromagnetic Board is composed of grid of wires, operated with stylus.