The 5 Benefits of Interactive Displays in the Classroom
Classrooms have completely evolved over the past 20+ years. We all remember the days of messy chalk on blackboards and overhead projectors. Those big, bulky pieces of machinery wheeled in on a cart in the middle of the classroom. Who doesn’t remember the thrill of being allowed to write on the transparency with a dry-erase marker and seeing the results projected on the wall? Fortunately, there has been an evolution in how educators can display their lessons.
When technology like interactive whiteboards were introduced into classrooms, it was a game changer. Teachers dropped the chalk to teach with a mouse, stylus and a swipe of their index finger. Students born into the digital age could not resonate with anything static – they want interaction. Interactive whiteboards invite students to engage with the lessons and teachers aren’t limited in what they can present to students.
Luckily, technology is also becoming more comfortable to use and takes less time to implement. With the ability to use the display as a touchscreen device, an interactive whiteboard allows teachers to accomplish a wide range of tasks, from presenting to collaboration. Here are five benefits to using an interactive display in the classroom:
Boosting student engagement
Interactive whiteboards are an excellent way for kids to interact with the material they are learning from. Children thrive with hands-on learning, so their understanding of the material comes from touching, drawing or writing on the board. Interactive whiteboards offer immediate feedback, which allows students and teachers to easily assess student progress.
Accommodating different learning styles
Interactive whiteboards are a useful tool for integrating learning styles. Students can learn in a way that best fits for them, while experiencing a connection to their learning by hearing, seeing and interacting with the board through touch. Movies, PowerPoint presentations and graphics can be used in addition to standard text-based lessons. Because of this, students learn better and remember more.
Ease-of-use
One of the biggest perks of interactive whiteboards is that they don’t require a lot of maintenance. Data is easily marked using a stylus or a finger for highlighting, drawing and writing. There is no need for extra tools, which means no mess or cleanup!
Infinite resources
As interactive whiteboards are connected to the internet, teachers have access to an inexhaustible amount of resources for their lessons. As they are online, they allow educators to rely on a variety of sources for content, videos, games, programs and lessons. Being connected to the internet also means that lesson time is significantly enhanced, as teachers do not have to spend time writing, reading and working from a book or physical resource.
Flexibility
An interactive whiteboard can host many different platforms. Teachers have a wide array to choose from, whether it be photos, graphs, illustrations or videos. Sharp AQUOS BOARD® interactive displays offers plug-and-play compatibility for quick integration with various cloud-based platforms, including Google Classroom, allowing presentations on a large-format display inside the classroom. Additionally, precise 20-point multi-touch functionality allows multiple people to collaborate effectively and creatively to facilitate effective learning.
A smart classroom equipped with an interactive whiteboard and modern tools help with effective learning outcomes for all students. They enable learners to absorb more. Having the right technology in your classroom can make the biggest difference in both teachers and students lives.