Smart Board Systems Enhance the Classroom Experience
You may have grown up using dusty chalk boards or traditional dry erase boards, but those days are fading fast. The new sensation in tech-friendly schools around the United States is the Smart Board. At first glance, this device has the appearance of a regular white board, but it is hardly the same. Touch screen technology allows students to interact with the material with the touch of a finger. A projector is connected to a computer and the output is displayed on the Smart Board. Another major difference between a Smart Board and a white board is the writing utensil that is used. Unlike the squeaky dry erase markers used in the latter, Smart Boards come with digital pens, which can be used to write or draw images on the screen using digital ink that can be erased with the touch of an eraser. One of the disadvantages of this system has been that the board could only recognize the markings of one pen at a time. However, new improvements are changing this and facilitating dual-pen use.One of the appeals of this board is the way in which it combines multiple functions. Power point presentations, videos, or websites can all be cast onto the screen. Allowing students to come to the board and actually add to the material displayed there, rather than simply watch, increases interaction and participation.Many different software programs are available for use with a smart board system such as SMART Sync , which allows a teacher to monitor work being done by students on student computers in the classroom. SMART Response is another interactive program that allows a teacher to create a quiz and have students answer questions using a remote control.