Interactive Whiteboards and their role in Pedagogical functions

 

Remember the days…

As a child I fondly remember drawing on the chalkboard, smelling the chalk, and getting the white powder all over my hands and clothes. My friends and I would rush to the board to work side by side answering math problems. I used to love to be the student helper who got to clean the boards at the end of the day, but I hated the fact that all that hard work that was done on it was erased and gone. I would have loved to have today’s technology hardware to preserve lessons with the ability to go back and review them later.  While today’s classrooms no longer include chalkboards, we still offer an instructional platform for group teaching that includes a visual presentation method.  From chalk, to dry erase, to now digital pens and smartboards educators are continuously looking for the most current way to engage our learners. As today’s students are all about technology, the internet, entertainment, and instant accessibility, I set out to review interactive whiteboard options to implement in the classroom and evaluate their potential pedagogical functions.   

Smartboards

I started my research by reviewing smartboards and their features.  Students are familiar with them as they have been inspiring learning by bringing technology to the forefront of the classroom. Teachers can take what is on their computer and as if by magic project their lesson on to a giant screen in the front of the classroom.  Not only does this save time but engages learners as teachers can annotate slides, provide demonstrations, upload presentations, documents, tutorials, videos, and interactive games to enhance learning.  I wanted to know if they included a feature that was like an old school white board where students could write, draw, and erase but also be able to insert images and collaborate digitally.  Two options captured my attention the most.

IPEVO IW2

I stumbled across IPEVO while researching and discovered it to be a very affordable option. The IPEVO IW2 is a jaw dropping easy to afford $169 to set up an interactive whiteboard system. I know only $169! The set includes a sensor cam, interactive pen, and wireless receiver.  This system does not come with a projector but can be easily connected to an existing one.  If you do not have a projector in your classroom, they can be purchased within a wide range of prices depending upon the quality you desire and the budget you have allocated.  With your projector you need a flat surface (existing board or flat wall) and your computer and then you can begin set up. Within minutes you are ready to go having everything on your computer presentable to your students.  Specifically, regarding the whiteboard feature you can write and record digital notes, with a variety of features, colors, and pen styles, or just draw.  This is a fun way to engage students in games such as Pictionary and to work on math problems or to brainstorm project ideas.  Children can take turns adding thoughts for creating a science project, adding artwork to a scene, or they can each write a response to an inserted image. Options are available to sketch out ideas and then stream them through video conferencing software, but I would like something simpler and more accessible for kids to use between each other. While I liked the concept of the whiteboard, I was looking for more features and a better way for students to collaborate in our current online learning world.

Want more info?  Check out IPEVO at  

https://www.ipevo.com/products/iw2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vCC0YgbOHg

 For a teacher perspective on ease of use, check out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otpTYk3_p2E&feature=emb_logo

 

Google Jamboard

As I searched on, I discovered Google Jamboard and yes, it is as cool as it sounds and pricey too.  For the dream 55” cloud-powered whiteboard with all the bells and whistles included for the perfect user experience, start saving now.  The board is $5,000, rolling stand, $1,350 and add in a couple hundred more for accessories.  That is a stifling $6,500 plus purchase. While this may be doable in the corporate world that is a steep ticket in the public-school sector unless you have an amazing PTO and a big piggy bank. This savvy piece of hardware is almost like an exceptionally large tablet with a 4K touchscreen display and it can be used across platforms.  The rolling cart setup is beneficial to allow this technology to be used in various locations. Multiple students can add content simultaneously with text, images, and graphics. With the ability to continually add to the board thoughts and ideas can keep flowing in real time. When there is a break, all content has been automatically saved so there is no need to take a picture of your work, send it somewhere, or fear of it being erased. And here comes the icing on the cake…it can be accessed from an app.  

Check out the link below to view a video on what it offers and how to use its features.

https://gsuite.google.com/products/jamboard/

An App?  Wait why did we not start with that? Well, as I was initially searching for hardware, I did not start off looking for an app as that is technically software.  However, as the current pandemic has led our students into remote learning, I think the app is the way to go and did I mention it is already included in Google’s G Suite?  So, there is no extra charge. If your school district primarily uses G Suite it is the way to go.  My students are already familiar with Google and as they are using google meets for class this is a great option to implement the positive aspects of writing in real time, specifically for observing how students are solving math problems.  Teachers can help students as they are solving problems and intervene with corrections.  I asked multiple students at the middle school I work at if they have used Jamboard before.  The answer was no, and they were not aware of it. Here is an opportunity.

Students can access Jamboard through their Google account as they would their drive or slides. Once opened a white board is presented with multiple features of pen types, colors, sticky notes, shapes, and image uploads. Backgrounds can be changed to different colors or paper settings such as lined notebook or graph paper making it ideal for assisting with math.  Jamboards are constantly saved in the cloud and can be recorded or saved as PDF or image files.  Multiple frames/pages can be used during a jam and can be customized for groups or individual students.  When setting up a jam an instructor can send and share with their students or create and copy a jam link.  For example, during a Google Meet class session, the teacher can send the link and students can enter the jam. He/she can select view or editing rights for students. The way to optimize the use of this app is to have students work together simultaneously to generate ideas and to receive real time feedback on work.   Just as they would if they were in an in person setting in a classroom with a white board.     

 

Check out tips on using Jamboard with remote learning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9m4HCjOkcA&list=TLPQMDQxMDIwMjB_EgEeKekgdA&index=1

 

Teachers using Jamboard in Google Meet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKZe9vviRaQ

 

Want a little more info on Google Jamboard? 

https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/jamboard

 

Pedagogical Functions

Now that I have found my tech that brings back some of those chalkboard memories, how will I use it to improve my students learning?  I wanted to approach how I could use Jamboard and within the guidelines of The Model, Replacement, Amplification, and Transformation: R.A.T. Model, to enhance learning. 

Replacement: Google Jamboard can be used as a replacement for the traditional white board and chalk board instructional methods. As students are working remotely it is an optimal way to offer real-time step by step instructions, real-time collaboration, and real-time assistance with students working on math problems.  Teachers can watch students solve math problems and catch mistakes that are being made in real time to alleviate a child continuing to try to solve a problem in an incorrect process.  The white board can be used for students to comment on one others work and offer positive feedback.  By working together, it offers more of an in-person atmosphere as they can work synchronously.  For example, the instructor can post an image from a book and have students respond.  A question can be posted such as what would be the next step in our science project? Students can respond in words or with images, a drawn chart or information from documents.

Amplification:  Implementation of Google Jamboard would increase efficiency in my mind because teachers can catch inconsistency in work in, imperfections in solving math problems, and answer student questions in real-time. While teachers and students can converse in Google Meet, it is the ability to exchange ideas and see work in writing in real time through a Jam session that is unique.  It also has the ability to increase student productivity on group projects as students can collaborate with brainstorming and completed work with teacher involvement simultaneously.  

Transformation:  Using Google Jamboard over the course of the semester would fill the in person need of synchronously learning.  It would replace the need to be in person for students to collaborate on projects.  They would be working together building ideas and commenting on work via Google Jamboard.  The online interaction would also step in as the new way for hands on instruction/tutoring in math as students work would be viewed an accessed in real-time.

  

For more information on The R.A.T. model, click here on this link  https://techedges.org/r-a-t-model/

 

Google Jamboard hits the mark for engaging students and assisting teachers with interactive technology that aligns with The R.A.T. model.

So, what are you waiting for? 

Check out Google Jamboard for yourself and join the fun.