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While interactive whiteboards are becoming increasingly popular all across the UK - and the trend is catching up in the States too - many people still aren't quite sure what these products exactly are. An interactive whiteboard is a savvy combination of the simple effectiveness of a whiteboard, the power of a computer - including both offline and online capabilities - and the fantastic teaching tool that is interactivity. Interactive whiteboards utilise large, interactive displays that can be engaged with directly on the display surface or at the teacher control console and are used to create lessons that are a class above the rest. Allowing everything that can be done on a normal computer screen to be projected onto a wall for classroom consumption, interactive whiteboards take standard computer projection to a new level: they allow students to interact with the material and thus gain a whole new sphere of learning. Many of us are aware that the best learning is done when we can engage with what it is we're doing. Whether that means learning to do something simply by doing it or pausing to quiz ourselves and attempt to explain what it is we're learning to see how well we have understood it, by challenging ourselves the best results are gained. Interactive whiteboards allow teachers to challenge their students in much the same respect, but with countless more variety in their options. From getting primary school children to get up and identify animals, letters or numbers on the big screen to asking university students to use wireless audience response units to register votes and opinions in polls that are immediately compiled into graphs and charts for instant results that can be digested and discussed right away, there is no end to what interactivity will do for you and your class. Best of all, the addition of an interactive whiteboard is known to make the entire teaching and learning experience more fun for all parties involved - and that's something everybody wants from their education. If we're having fun while we learn, the chances are that the senses are fully engaged with the material, concentration is at its peak and the greatest volume of information is being taken in and retained. When compared with the use of stuffy textbooks and the age-old lecture format, it's no surprise that many are saying interactive whiteboards are creating a new style of teaching - because they are. And that style is one that is easy, effective and, most of all, fun to use - so embrace the technology and try out an IWB today! Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
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