SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard For Dummies

Exploring the Interactive Whiteboard: The Big Picture

You may be thinking, “I’ve seen one of these interactive whiteboards, but what exactly is it and how does it work?” Well, you’re about to find out. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a digital whiteboard that gives you all the capabilities of your computer on a whiteboard. Plus, you can use your finger to write on the screen in digital ink. Then you can save, print, or distribute your notes at the touch of a button; access multimedia files; collaborate on activities by allowing two or more people to write on the screen at the same time; access the Internet; and teleconference.

Some teachers have held lessons with classrooms of students spread across the world. How cool is it to be able to write on the screen in the United States and have students in Canada or England seeing what you’ve written and participating in your class?

How it works

The interactive whiteboard (see Figure 1-1) connects to your computer and a projector. Your computer desktop is projected on the interactive whiteboard surface. You control the desktop by touching the screen with your finger, a pen, or an eraser, or you can use a keyboard and mouse. The display is touch sensitive, allowing your finger to become the mouse to control writing on the display and control your computer.

Interactive whiteboards versus electronic whiteboards

You may have heard ...