| Whiteboards are a great alternative to using | | | | is also a great way of providing student handouts for |
| chalkboards in the classroom. Whether you are using a | | | | information that is too difficult to transcribe. |
| standard whiteboard or one of the full-featured | | | | Invest in an Interactive Whiteboard |
| interactive whiteboards which are now available, you'll | | | | If you're lucky enough to have an electronic interactive |
| find plenty of ways to improve your presentation | | | | whiteboard in your classroom, there are plenty of |
| abilities while keeping students more engaged. | | | | innovative ways to use it. Interactive whiteboards can |
| Standard whiteboards are much more versatile, | | | | be hooked up to a computer and a projector, and are |
| colorful and easy to read than a chalkboard. | | | | a great way to maximize the use of a computer in the |
| Meanwhile, an interactive electronic whiteboard can | | | | classroom. You can easily project video clips, |
| open up a whole new world of opportunities in regards | | | | PowerPoint presentations, online maps, games and |
| to demonstrations, presentations, and learning | | | | activities, allowing the whole class to share one |
| opportunities. Here are some great tips that any | | | | computer. No matter what your lesson plan is, children |
| teacher can use to get the most out of a whiteboard | | | | just always seem to be more interested when it's on a |
| in the classroom. | | | | whiteboard. In fact, studies have shown that students |
| Optimize Your Whiteboard | | | | respond more easily to colorful displays. As an |
| If you have a standard whiteboard in the classroom, | | | | educator, you will enjoy your newfound freedom with |
| make sure you keep it in tip-top shape in order to get | | | | an interactive whiteboard in your classroom. Instead of |
| the most use from it. This means keeping it clean and | | | | being trapped behind a computer keyboard and |
| making sure you have some really great colorful | | | | mouse, you'll be able to simply touch the whiteboard, |
| markers that have plenty of ink. After all, nothing is | | | | using your finger as a mouse. You can also use the |
| worse than a squeaky marker! Students could even | | | | electronic pen or highlighter tool to add notations. As an |
| take turns keeping the whiteboard clean, although it | | | | added advantage, you can then print or save what |
| might not be as exciting as the more traditional task of | | | | was written on the board. |
| clapping the chalkboard erasers together out in the | | | | Foster Enthusiasm in the Classroom |
| schoolyard. Make sure you always write clearly on the | | | | Students simply love using whiteboards. Even students |
| whiteboard so that your students will be able to read it. | | | | who are shy about giving reports in front of the class |
| And never erase the whiteboard without asking the | | | | seem to enjoy writing and drawing on these boards. |
| class if it's okay to do so. You don't want to squelch a | | | | Interactive whiteboards are great for allowing students |
| student's desire for note-taking by erasing the board | | | | to create and then share their own PowerPoint |
| before they have a chance to copy it. A digital | | | | presentations with the class. Of course, they'll be |
| camera is also a great partner for a whiteboard. If | | | | having so much fun that they won't realize they are |
| you've written something very useful on the board and | | | | developing the kind of good presentations skills that |
| want to save it, simply take a picture. Then, you can | | | | they will use the rest of their lives. |
| print it out and refer back to it whenever needed. This | | | | |