Pros and Cons of Interactive Whiteboards

The major factor that has contributed to the success of this exceptional tool is the fact that interactive whiteboard increases the involvement and collaboration of the students in the classroom. The media content on these interactive whiteboards successfully catches the attention of the students and make lectures far more interesting and engrossing. The interactive whiteboard is an economical choice when compared with the investments required for an IT classroom and it is often more effective as it creates a favorable environment for every student in the classroom.

As the interactive whiteboard is a relatively new device to regular classrooms many educational institutions are skeptical about integrating this device into their system. A potential buyer must check out the pros and cons of interactive whiteboards before actually investing in them as it will help him to weigh out the different advantages and disadvantages of the product.

Pros of Interactive Whiteboards:

Touchscreen: One of the main advantages of interactive whiteboard is the fact that it has a touchscreen and allows users to alter the data in the screen with their fingers. The addition of this feature has made its use much simpler and effective. The touchscreen feature also makes the classes for little kids much more entertaining as they are involved to far greater extent. The instructor can also easily move the data around due to the touchscreen feature of the interactive whiteboards.

Online Help: The interactive whiteboard allows the users to access the web through the device. Thus the instructors can take help of any software that is available in the internet. The use of interactive whiteboard also enables the instructors to play videos from the internet when they need to.

Imaging: The high quality imaging that these interactive whiteboards provide make the classes far more entertaining and informative. The involvement of the students and the collaboration from their side increases which enhances the quality of the class.

Smart Tools: The interactive whiteboard offers various tools to the instructors which makes their job much easier. Some of these smart tools are the magnifier, pointer, spotlight, screen capture etc.

Cons Interactive Whiteboards:

Price: Though the cost of an interactive whiteboard is nominal when compared to the investment required for IT classrooms or even providing laptops to each student, there are many schools that are not able to afford this device. These schools thus lag behind other schools which are equipped with modern devices. But if a school has to make a choice between an interactive whiteboard and other essential requirements they should go for what it actually required.

Technical Inability: Old school teachers are not comfortable with modern technology and the interactive whiteboard is no exception. Some teachers find the device complex while others complain about having to change their style due to the device. Schools cannot afford to invest in devices that cannot be used to their full potential and the interactive whiteboard often falls on the wrong side of the argument.

Teacher Training: When a school or any educational institution invests in a modern device such as the interactive whiteboard it needs to make sure it is used to its full potential. The school needs to invest time and money in training their teachers for using the device properly. Not only does the teacher need to use the device he needs to productively integrate it into his teaching style. This requires a significant amount of time and effort and a school should consider such factors before investing in such a device.

Conclusion:

The interactive whiteboard is an extremely powerful tool in the field of education. It enhances the experience of the student as well as the teacher by integrating various tools and enabling the instructor with them. Though one cannot deny that the device has its flaws but it definitely pales out in the light of its advantages and disadvantages of using interactive whiteboard.

 

 

Interactive whiteboards offer a variety of business benefits, from the obvious to the obscure. There are various motivations, ranging from the personal (teamwork, communication) to the practical (reduced IT workload and improved profits).

In education industry, the fact that the interactive whiteboard increases student involvement and collaboration in the classroom is a major factor that has contributed to the success of this exceptional tool. The media content on these interactive whiteboards successfully captures students' attention, making lectures far more interesting and engaging. When compared to the investments required for an IT classroom, the interactive whiteboard is a more cost-effective option, and it is often more effective because it creates a favorable environment for all students in the classroom.

Figure 1. Interactive Whiteboards

1. Pros of interactive whiteboard

Touchscreen: One of the primary benefits of an interactive whiteboard is that it has a touchscreen that allows users to change the data on the screen with their fingers. The addition of this feature has greatly simplified and improved its use. The touchscreen feature also makes the classes for small children much more enjoyable because they are involved to a much greater extent. Because the interactive whiteboards have touchscreens, the instructor can easily move the data around.

Online Help: The interactive whiteboard allows users to connect to the internet via the device. As a result, instructors can use any software that is available on the internet. The use of an interactive whiteboard also allows instructors to play videos from the internet as needed.

Imaging: The high-quality imaging provided by these interactive whiteboards makes the classes far more entertaining and informative. The students' involvement and collaboration grow, which improves the overall quality of the class.

Smart Tools: The interactive whiteboard provides a variety of tools to instructors, making their job much easier. The magnifier, pointer, spotlight, screen capture, and other smart tools are examples of these.

Figure 2. Pros of interactive whiteboard

2. Cons of interactive whiteboard

Price: While the cost of an interactive whiteboard is minimal when compared to the investment required for IT classrooms or even providing laptops to each student, many schools cannot afford this device. As a result, these schools lag behind other schools that are outfitted with modern technology. However, if a school must choose between an interactive whiteboard and other essential requirements, it should choose the latter.

Technical Inability: Many old schoolteachers are uncomfortable with modern technology, including the interactive whiteboard. Some teachers find the device difficult to use, while others complain about having to change their teaching style as a result of the device. Schools cannot afford to invest in devices that are not fully utilized, and the interactive whiteboard frequently falls on the wrong side of the debate.

Teacher Education: When a school or educational institution invests in a modern device like an interactive whiteboard, it must ensure that it is used to its full potential. The school must invest time and money in properly training their teachers to use the device. The teacher must not only use the device, but also productively integrate it into his teaching style. This takes a significant amount of time and effort, and a school should take these factors into account before investing in such a device.

Figure 3. Cons of interactive whiteboard

3. Conclusion

The interactive whiteboard is a very powerful tool in education and other industries. It improves both the student's and the teacher's experience by integrating various tools and providing the instructor with access to them. Though one cannot deny that the device has flaws, they pale in comparison to the benefits and drawbacks of using an interactive whiteboard.

An interactive whiteboard is a collaboration tool that is considered essential for working collaboratively and toward a common goal. With the introduction of new technologies and developed devices, it has become easier to use collaboration tools more effectively to improve company productivity and efficiency. In the collaboration tools, you can now find many improved features such as spreadsheets, slides, instant messaging, group chat, and video conferencing. Furthermore, depending on the availability of the participants, you can set up a video conference or web meeting in a matter of hours.

Figure 4. Invest in interactive screens for more fun teaching

Ricoh Interactive Whiteboards – Connect Through Touch

Designed for business. With its easy-to-use interface and built-in Apps, the new whiteboards offer seamless communication and collaboration. Ideal for hybrid working, allowing multiple people to write on the same screen.

Ricoh Interactive Whiteboards