As many schools are still transitioning to interactive whiteboards, not every classroom a child enters during the day will have one. Music classrooms are often the last to receive technology upgrades. However, there are alternatives student teachers can use to bring their traditional whiteboards into the 21st century.
PROJECTOR AND TRADITIONAL WHITEBOARD
Slides or activities can be prepared on a computer and then projected onto a traditional whiteboard. Students then use dry erase markers to write on the projected image, much in the same way they would use the digital markers on an interactive whiteboard. This allows for several customized images to be displayed for the whole class, rather than printed on handouts or made into several transparencies. Though this method does not allow for automated interaction between students and software, the attached computer can be used by the teacher or students to manipulate elements of slides in response to student actions.
PROJECTOR AND PRESENTATION SCREEN/BLANK WALL
If no whiteboard is available a mounted or portable projector can be made to display on a pull down screen or a white wall. Students can still interact with the projected materials using physical manipulatives. Paper icons can be cut out and adhesives used to attach then to the screen or wall. Students then use the icons to select answers or categorize concepts projected from the computer. Large pieces of paper can be temporarily attached to the surface to allow written responses.
PROJECTOR AND TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE
Interactive whiteboards project onto a touch sensitive surface, allowing students to manipulate the images directly where the class is looking. If an interactive whiteboard is not available though, a different touch screen device can be projected onto an ordinary board or screen. The interaction then occurs just between the student and the device, but the entire class can see the projected result.
Different devices can be set up for wired or wireless projection. Second and third generation iPads for example, can be linked to a projector via a VGA or HDMI cable and the appropriate adapter. Students then come up to the device just as they would an interactive whiteboard.
Wireless setups allow a device to be passed to students in their seats, or multiple devices can be distributed to students and which device is projected can be alternated as needed. With iPads this is possible one of two ways. Apple TV, a small digital media receiver, is able to mirror the image displayed on an iPad wireless via AirPlay. Alternatively, there are several remote desktop apps that display the screen from a computer and allow touch control using the iPad. The computer is still wired to the projector, but because the iPad controls the computer’s actions it can be used anywhere in the room. Splashtop Whiteboard is specifically designed for this use, but many other apps will also work.
Most of the materials necessary for these setups are available from the BGSU College of Education Technology and Resource Center.
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•LCD Projectors
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•Laptop Computers
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•Audio/Video cables
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•Cricut® electronic die-cut machines
and paper to create cutouts
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•iPads (individual or class sets)
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•iPod Touch (individual or class sets)
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Questions, Suggestions, or Contributions? Contact Matt Rebman, rebmanm@bgsu.edu