Multi-touch whiteboards
As a classroom teacher, the presence of an IWB or Interactive Whiteboard in the classroom helps in a huge number of ways. With this tool you can…
- prepare presentations with increased functionality
- use the spotlight and other tools
- recall lessons and students input
- save and package lessons for revision
- record lessons with voice overs
- prepare and share resources
- easily reset and rewind classes back to previous materials etc
The list goes on, they are great but… BUT! the interactivity is limited to the one person at the front of the room. More often than not this is a tool for the teacher. Students are captivated but often the level of involvement is equal to a traditional whiteboard (Please note the often not always, I know of sterling examples of integration, but its is not always the case)
However things are changing…..
Promethean has a whiteboard (they call it an activboard) which accepts multiple input (2 pens) at once and input from several slates at once. – this is a step forward, this starts to make a difference and allows interactivity, to be more than just interactive for the teacher at the front of the classroom.
There is also a New Zealand company that has produced a multi input board. Called Nextwindow (if you were at learning@schools you will remember them click this to watch a video on ZDNET). This is multiple input without the need for specific pens. and the board can be written on with a whiteboard marker and not suffer a horrible fate. Check them out
March 12th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Maybe you can answer a question for me that I have been discussing with my colleagues. With the multi-touch, is it the software that makes it multi-touch allowing the multiple inputs or is it the board itself. We have a smartboard that is just recently new and were wondering if Smartboard might upgrade the software at some point to allow multi-touch on the boards they have now or whether everyone is going to have to buy a new board to take advantage of the multi-touch. If it is just the software, it would be a lot cheaper to take advantage of the new technology.
Ian
http://mrhclassblog.edublogs.org/
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March 12th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
My understanding is that it is a combination of the two.
We have smart technology boards and they are unable to do multiple input to the best of my knowledge.
With Promethenans boards it is a software upgrade that allows the multi touch I think its called activarena
With two touch or Nextwindow its a function of the design of the board which has cameras in corner to find the contact points. The board itself is a ceramic whiteboard, just like to ordinary whiteboard, with bits added to it
I hope Smart Technologies gets its act together and enable multiple touch!
Here’s the Promethean statement on activarena
‘Activarena
Infinite Possibilities for your Activclassroom
Activote VR Promethean is the first-ever company to enable multiple inputs on an interactive whiteboard. The new interaction pack upgrades your Promethean board, transforming it into an Activarena, where you can use multiple pens to interact with your board.
Students and teachers can work together on the Activboard at the same time and classrooms become dynamic arenas for team-based activities, projects, competition, and group work.
Imagine the potential of two, three, or more students working together, or teachers working collaboratively with students at the same time. Transform your classroom with new tools that include multiple pens, activity templates, and software provided by Promethean.
Reinvent your classroom and capture your students’ imagination’
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March 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Some opensource 3D virtual worlds software for the interactive whiteboard is here -> http://edusim3d.com
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October 28th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Hi, I found this while hunting for multiple input info for my Promethean board. I understand they do NOT currently have multiple input, but with their new activsoftware that launches at BETT in London, they will have multiple input. Is this correct?
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October 28th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hi Jonas
My understanding is that the multiple touch software is available on the promethean boards. Thisis not the only board with this capability. Two touch has this facility to – http://www.twotouch.com/2TouchNews.htm
Cheers
A
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