The blackboard complete with chalk, ruled supreme in classroom for many years. Then came the whiteboard, bringing along it own companion, the marker. This was not an earth shattering development, because they still had the same function. They were there so that teacher had a place to write where all in the classroom could read. Right now a new king is being crowned. Touch screen learning is going to revolutionize our idea of teaching.
This star performer in the classrooms of tomorrow is truly cutting edge technology. No chalk or markers are required. You work with a fingertip. The difference between the old and new whiteboards could maybe be explained as similar to the difference between a book and television.
This new board has many uses. It has a connection to a computer set up in class. Anything that can be displayed on the computer screen can be displayed on the whiteboard. The display is controlled by touching the board. The list of what can be done is a long one and includes viewing the web and watching movies.
With the new whiteboards learners can become part of the process. The teacher can call on one or more to perform certain tasks on the touch screen. They are more involved, therefore their attention is captured. The also enjoy the lesson.
When educators use a whiteboard, it allows them to take notes and after the lessons are done, these notes can be printed out for distribution to the students. This keeps those slow writers up to pace with the rest of the class. Students can concentrate on what is being taught instead of writing notes. Certain systems actually allow a video to be taken of the lesson so people can view it at a later point in time.
Students are now able to see objects from all angles. In this way it is possible for the teacher or lecturer to paint a more complete picture. Lessons can go into details about fine aspects of topics covered. Information shown is up to date because of the net.
Not only can images be projected on the screen, but you can interact with them as well. Students can learn by manipulating the images as you move from point to point. Teachers can show pictures, worth a thousand words as the old saying goes. And as they show the pictures, they can progress through them as if they were in them. An educator can also connect their computer to the whiteboard to open up another world of possibilities. Users of this tool are already raving about its ease of use.
More than one student can make use of the whiteboard at the same time. They can for instance work on a single project from different angles or build different aspects of it. Because images on the board can be moved, the can merge their work at the end to complete the assignment.
The interactivity of touch screen learning with its advantages of student participation and student attention may make this new technology a must in every classroom. Some teachers are using laptops and screen projectors which can produce similar results, but touch screen whiteboards are the next step. We should see them in a lot of classrooms very soon.
The Vinci touch screen for babies is not just an iPad for kids, but a new approach to early and touch screen learning through the use of specially designed apps and advanced technology.
