Features of Interactive Whiteboard

Interactive whiteboard is the modern replacement to the normal whiteboard that students are used to. It is an interactive display board which is operated by a touchpad that is connected to a computer which is in turn connected to a projector. Some of these interactive whiteboards are independent touchscreen devices equipped to perform different operation and carry out commands. The interactive whiteboard enables instructors to carry out tasks that were previously not possible.

The use of interactive whiteboard allows the instructor to alter the different information present in the board which can even be copied and transferred to the next slide. The data that is present in the board can be clicked on, moved, copied and analyzed. The interactive whiteboard also allows the teacher to write like the any other whiteboard but it also turns the handwritten notes into texts which can be later referred to at any moment of urgency.

Unique Pedagogical Features of Interactive Whiteboard:

Let us look at some unique features of interactive whiteboard which improves the quality of the education in classrooms.

1. Media Content

The interactive whiteboard is designed to run all sorts of files and programs, it even supports different applications that are designed for a computer. The device can be used to surf the net, play videos, demonstrate presentations etc. This feature of the interactive whiteboard plays a major part in the improvement of a classroom. For example, in field medical studies the interactive whiteboard enables the instructor to demonstrate a three dimensional diagram which can be can be moved around viewed from different angles for better understanding. The instructor can also zoom into different parts, label them and save the edited image.

2. Spotlight

This feature of interactive whiteboard allows the user to darken the whole image and highlight a specific area in the whiteboard. This enables the user to move the attention of his students quickly. The tool is really simple to use and the user just needs to drag the spotlight to the area where he wants his audience to focus.

3. Screen Shade

Interactive whiteboard is also very useful to an instructor as it allows him to hide information from his audience and reveal it when he wishes to. This tool can be extremely useful while hosting a Q&A session and while teaching subjects like mathematics, physics etc.

4. Magnifier

Interactive whiteboard helps the user to magnify images and zoom into images when he needs to. The window also contains a smaller window within it which shows the area that is viewed.

5. Pointer

The pointer allows the instructor to mark data in the whiteboard and also highlight specific portions. The pointer is simple to use, the instructor can use his fingers to move the pointer around and remove it by double clicking.

6. Screenshots

Though this feature does not offer much in normal computers they are highly significant in case of interactive whiteboards. The screen capture feature allows the instructors to print out images of the of every slide that they teach on. These images later be studied or handed out to students. Picture source from pngix, pinpng, jing.fm, trzcacak.