Interactive whiteboard in education

What are interactive whiteboards?

There are two very different kinds of interactive whiteboards: The first is a ‘virtual’ electronic version of a dry wipe board on a computer that enables learners in a virtual classroom to view what an instructor, presenter or fellow learner writes or draws. It is also called an electronic whiteboard and can be found in conferencing and data-sharing systems such as Microsoft NetMeeting. The second type is a large physical display panel that can function as an ordinary whiteboard, a projector screen, an electronic copy board or as a computer projector screen on which the computer image can be controlled by touching or writing on the surface of the panel instead of using a mouse or keyboard. This briefing is about the second type of interactive whiteboard. Typically, interactive whiteboards are used in lecture or classroom environments and the technology allows you to write or draw on the surface, print off the image, save it to computer or distribute it over a network. You can also project a computer screen image onto the surface of the whiteboard and then either control the application by touching the board directly or by using a special pen. The computer image can be annotated or drawn over and  the annotations saved to disc or sent by email to others.

Benefits?

Because interactive whiteboards are so like conventional whiteboards, they can help even technophobic teachers to use this medium with ease for presentations from the front of the room. They help in broadening the use of e-learning because they rapidly demonstrate the potential of alternative modes of delivery.
1. They make it easy for teachers to enhance presentation content by easily integrating a wide range of material into a lesson, such as a picture from the internet, a graph from a spreadsheet or text from a Microsoft Word file, in addition to student and teacher annotations on these objects.
2. They allow teachers to create easily and rapidly customized learning objects from a range of existing content and to adapt it to the needs of the class in real time.
3.  They allow learners to absorb information more easily.
4.  They allow learners to participate in group discussions by freeing them from note-taking.
5. They allow learners to work collaboratively around a shared task or work area.
6. When fully integrated into a VLE (virtual learning environment) and learning object repository there is potential for widespread sharing of resources.
7. When used for interactive testing of understanding for the entire class, they can rapidly provide learner feedback.

Shortcoming?

1. Interactive whiteboards are more expensive than conventional whiteboards or projector
and screen combinations.
2. Their surface can become damaged, necessitating expensive replacement.
3. Front projection boards can be obscured by one or more users.
4. Fixed-height boards are often mounted too high for users to reach the top of or too low to be readily visible by all users.
5. Free-standing boards (and their associated projectors) are more difficult to secure
and need to be realigned every time they are moved.
6. If multiple data entry is allowed, inputs can get jumbled, resulting in on-screen gibberish.
7. If remote access is allowed, some users may be tempted to send disruptive comments or drawings to the screen.