Jumpstart Classroom Engagement With Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive classroom displays are becoming a must-have for educators. Whether it’s interactive projectors, smart panels or interactive whiteboards, school administrators are turning to technology to improve education. Interactive whiteboards, like the Genee interactive board, are a popular choice because of their web based resources that can change the way students interact with the material. For this month’s blog we wanted to share a few ways you can use an interactive whiteboard to boost student engagement with your lessons.
Attendance Sign-In
Younger students are usually antsy when they first arrive to class. A good way to settle them down is to give them a task right away. Having students check into an attendance program as soon as they arrive can help shift their brains into “school mode.” This fun morning routine will not only give students a small dose of responsibility but it will also save the teacher some time!
Classroom Music
The main reason interactive classroom displays are so powerful is because of their web connectivity. One great example is how they can be linked with online music services like Spotify and Pandora. This gives teachers a quick and easy way to play background music for the classroom. This can be a useful tool for breaking up any dull silence that would ordinarily accompany individual student work time.
Showcase Videos
A lot of young students are visual learners and your interactive whiteboard is the perfect medium for sharing videos with the class. Youtube in particular has a lot of great content that can enhance your lesson plans. For example, showing videos for science demonstrations can be both entertaining and memorable for students. Additionally, there are entire Youtube channels targeted for younger children that will get your kids excited and help keep them engaged.
Noise Management Software
We all know that classroom noise level can be a recurring problem when teaching younger students. Believe it or not but there are applications that use your interactive whiteboard to monitor the sound level in your classroom. These apps will notify students when they are being too loud and will encourage them to quiet down. Teachers can use apps like these to start incentive programs challenging students to use their “indoor voices.”
Anchor Charts
Every elementary teacher knows that anchor charts can be some of their most useful tools. They can be used to keep track of student progress and reinforce some of the most important concepts to learn. You can use your interactive whiteboard to store and create anchor charts that can be displayed at any time. Storing these charts digitally will not only make them more accessible but will free up valuable wall space for teachers.
