Description+and+Purpose

= Topic Description and Purpose: =

An interactive whiteboard or IWB, is a large interactive display that connects to a computer and projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's surface, where users control the computer using a pen, finger or other device. The board is typically mounted to a wall or on a floor stand. They are used in a variety of settings such as in classrooms at all levels of education, in corporate board rooms and work groups, in training rooms for professional sports coaching, broadcasting studios  and more.

Uses for interactive whiteboards include: · Operating any software that is loaded onto the connected PC, including web browsers and proprietary software · Using software to capture notes written on a whiteboard or whiteboard-like surface · Controlling the PC (click and drag), markup (annotating a program or presentation) and translating cursive writing to text (not all whiteboards) · In some instances the Interactive Whiteboard may be provided with an integrated Audience Response System  so presenters can carry out polls and quizzes and capture the feedback on the Interactive Whiteboard

Interactive whiteboards are used in many schools as replacements for traditional whiteboards or flipcharts or video/media systems such as a DVD player and TV combination. Users can also connect to a school network digital video distribution system using an interactive whiteboard. Interactive whiteboards can also interact with online shared annotation and drawing environments in the form of interactive vector basedgraphical websites. The software supplied with the interactive whiteboard will usually allow the teacher to keep notes and annotations as an electronic file for later distribution either on paper or through a number of electronic formats.

In addition, some interactive whiteboards allow teachers to record their instruction as digital video files and post the material for review by students at a later time. This can be a very effective instructional strategy for students who benefit from repetition, who need to see the material presented again, for students who are absent from school, for struggling learners, and for review for examinations. Brief instructional blocks can be recorded for review by students — they will see the exact presentation that occurred in the classroom with the teacher's audio input. This can help transform learning and instruction.

Many companies and projects now focus on creating supplemental instructional materials specifically designed for interactive whiteboards. Recently interactive whiteboards are being used for shared reading lessons. Mimic books are one such resource which is being used for shared reading and allows teachers to project children's books onto the interactive whiteboard to mimic books.