In education, interactive touch screen displays are poised to bring about unprecedented changes in how teachers teach and students learn. There are numerous reasons to use interactive whiteboards in the classroom, ranging from increased student engagement and performance to increased teacher and administrator efficiency. They also have a few unexpected advantages.
ViewSonic Education Solutions has a complete list of ten ways an interactive touch screen display can improve your students’ learning journeys and classroom effectiveness.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the best classroom display solutions. Schools, thankfully, have options. Most classrooms would benefit greatly from having at least one interactive whiteboard. Many people believe that having multiple displays is ideal for flexible classrooms that maximize active learning.
Interactive touchscreen displays, also known as smart flat-screen TVs, provide numerous advantages.
Here are Six of the most significant benefits of installing an interactive touch screen display in your school
1. ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LEARNING
Interactive touch screen displays are intended to aid active learning. (Assuming teachers use them for more than just showing videos and slides.) It’s one of the most significant benefits these dynamic devices bring to the classroom.
Active learning, as the name implies, is learning through interaction with content. By participating in the learning process. It should come as no surprise to experienced educators that it works so well. There are numerous activities that support active learning, but many, if not most, are enhanced when instructors and students use interactive whiteboards.
Collaboration. Students collaborating consistently ranks first on the list of active learning approaches. Interactive touch screen displays excel at facilitating collaboration, particularly with the multitouch feature, which allows multiple students to write onscreen content at the same time. It’s an excellent tool for brainstorming, presenting, and analyzing text or images. Carry out an experiment or play a learning game. (By the way, all of these are recommended activities for active learning.) With the addition of collaboration software, students can cast and share content from their seats. Even better, use an interactive touch screen display that comes with it or has secure cloud-based capabilities.
Demonstration. Students’ minds are actively engaged in the learning process when they show, explain, and teach. When you do these things on a large interactive screen, the benefits multiply. Do you have a procedure to demonstrate? Take a seat in front of the interactive touch screen and draw it out. Create a presentation with your teammates and present it on the big screen together. Divide the class into workgroups to learn about various aspects of a topic, then teach the rest of the class. Students can access content from the internet using an interactive touch screen. Highlight key points by annotating on top of slides. Insert video and audio clips. And much, much more. Students are skilled at coming up with novel ways to use technology. Provide them with the necessary tools. Give instructions. Then set them free. What they come up with will astound you.
Experimentation. Forget about informing students about scientific findings. The lecturing is out of date. To maximize STEM learning, active learning is essential. STEM subjects come to life with interactive touch screen displays. At the display, students can conduct labs and experiments. Solve equations as a group. In order to spark group discussion, they should screencast their inquiry. Try Digital Frog for a more humane, formaldehyde-free alternative. The iCell App allows you to investigate the inner workings of cells. Alternatively, use Mosa Mack Science Design Thinking activities to construct a tower. The possibilities for leveraging big-screen interactivity are limitless.
2. IMPROVING CRITICAL THINKING CAPABILITIES
Students of all ages benefit from interactive whiteboards in developing critical life skills. Jobs today and tomorrow require greater adaptability, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. Tech tools must be used to prepare students for career and college readiness. And they must use these classroom technology tools in ways that foster the development of these critical skills.
Students must be able to think critically in order to succeed in today’s competitive world. They must have the ability to observe and analyze. To find clever solutions to difficult problems. They must be able to answer higher-level questions that necessitate thought and investigation. They must learn to ask why, and what if and to consider all sides of an issue.
Collaboration abilities are essential. Employers nowadays expect employees to work in groups and collaborate effectively. The traditional one-on-one lecture format does not foster these abilities. Constructivist learning is enabled by interactive displays. They allow students to collaborate in order to make connections and gain knowledge.
By 2030, strong social-emotional skills will be required for 30-40% of jobs. Jobs that require repetitive tasks are being displaced by automation. Today’s students will perform tasks that machines cannot. Such as communicating, managing people, and applying knowledge. The use of touch screen displays with classmates aids in the development of social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies. Self-awareness and self-management are examples of such abilities. Social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making are all important.
3. INCREASE ENTHUSIASM
Students are more engaged in classes that use an interactive touch screen display. They are more attentive. They are more enthusiastic about learning. Teachers frequently report that the top benefits of using interactive display technology in the classroom are increased attentiveness and engagement.
The motivating effect of interactive displays can be seen at all levels of education. A substantial amount of research supports the use of interactive whiteboards in early childhood education. (It should be noted that many researchers still refer to all similar technology as “interactive whiteboard,” “IW,” or “IWB.”) Gains in achievement, participation, motivation, and cooperation are among the benefits. Students were also able to spend more time exploring and engaging in activities. During lessons, focus and attention span improved.
A recent study compared the outcomes of traditional versus technology-based teaching with students aged three to six. To learn and practice concepts, one of the three groups used tablets, interactive touchscreen displays, or paper worksheets. According to the findings, students who used technology were more motivated. They also outperformed those who relied on paper. Furthermore, teachers perceived interactive display learners as the most motivated of the three groups. Why is there such a disparity in enthusiasm between the tablet and interactive display groups? The authors concluded that it was most likely the collaborative component1.
The interactive whiteboard allows multiple students to participate in the activities at the same time, encouraging them to interact with one another. For example, they talked about the correct answers… They were eager to assist their partners if they did not know the correct answer. As a result of increased interactivity and accessibility, the benefits of collaborative learning became very apparent.
Primary-age students were similarly more motivated when interactive displays were used. The positive impact of interactive technology was substantial. Student learning improved, as did the learning environment’s quality. Furthermore, the interactive displays clearly increased interest in the lessons.
Continuing your education. The results continue to demonstrate the allure of interactive flat panel displays. A comparison of classes taught with and without an interactive touch screen display was conducted on first-year students. Those in the “with” group had higher levels of “academic press,” or the degree to which they cared about academic achievement. According to the researchers, the difference was a significant positive correlation.
4. ENCOURAGE STUDENT-LED LEARNING
Students require feedback in order to know when they are on the right track. Decades of research have shown that less instruction combined with more feedback results in better learning. In fact, it doubles the rate at which students learn.
Eric Mazur, a Harvard Physics professor, was among the first to notice this. His introductory physics students were struggling. They were book-smart, but they were failing to apply their knowledge in other ways. They were able to get back on track thanks to the professor’s peer-instruction model. Mazur gave students problems to think about and then discuss in small groups.
Mazur did not use an interactive touch screen in this example. But he very well could have. EdTech provides numerous opportunities to generate effective feedback. When students have access to technology, small group discussions become more creative. Whether it’s an iPad, a Chromebook, or a touch screen display. Students who are technologically savvy will use their devices to research, draw, diagram, describe, and defend. Throughout these discussions, students provide continuous feedback on their ideas and understanding to one another.
How Should Student-Led Learning Feedback Be Provided?
On that note, not all feedback is equal. Timely and consistent feedback is the most effective. It is given frequently and close to the learning event. Interactive whiteboards can increase the effectiveness of feedback. Use them with formative feedback apps such as Formative, Kahoot, and Socrative. Engage children with interactive learning apps such as MathPlayground, DuoLingo, and Tiny Cards. Students working at interactive display boards receive immediate feedback on their performance. They can try again because of quick action and repetition. As a result, they receive the consistent, ongoing input required to convert feedback into learning.
If your school does not require advanced device management features, there are other great options available, such as movie board Display, which allows you to easily present and collaborate without the need for an APP download or lengthy pauses in between.
myViewBoard Display is another simple web-based solution that mirrors your screen by using a one-time password. There is no need for additional setup so you can begin your collaborative class activities right away.
5. IMPROVING CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Touch screen interactive displays can help keep classes running smoothly. For one thing, students who are more engaged are less likely to be disruptive. Students are naturally more captivated by the content when lessons are made more dynamic. (After all, who doesn’t enjoy learning through a game, video, or lively discussion with onscreen annotation?)
For another, interactive displays allow for the use of eye-catching visual aids. Visual timers, such as Time Timer, keep children focused. They assist children in conceptualizing, managing, and visualizing time when taking tests or taking turns. Visual noise level cues make “shushing” more enjoyable and keep the teacher from being the villain. Bouncy Balls and the Too Noisy app are two popular options to try.
Finally, experienced teachers understand that creating a cohesive classroom community is half the battle. (Or even more.) The interactive touch screen display in the classroom serves as a focal point for building that community. Use it for your morning meetings. Even better, give students the opportunity to audition for the role of morning moderator on the big screen. Break away from the traditional Star Student posters. Allow students to create multimedia presentations that allow them to express themselves in a fresh new way. Challenge them to team up with cooperative gaming apps.
When schools implement one-to-one learning programs, students may end up spending a significant amount of time in front of a screen. They were preoccupied with their own activities. This can be very beneficial for differentiated learning. Not so good for fostering a sense of community in the classroom. The interactive display redirects students’ attention back to the community. The display, whether presented by the teacher or a group of students, creates a shared experience.
The more you use your interactive touch screen display, the more it will become a focal point. A visible method of bringing classmates together. Collaboration projects, presentations, and gamified learning are all effective methods. Alternatively, take a group break from the stresses of the day. Incorporate Calm School Initiative mindfulness activities.
6. INCREASING INCLUSIVITY
Teachers can provide more learning opportunities to their students by using interactive whiteboards. Lessons that require students to come to the board allow kinesthetic learners to get up and move. Visual and auditory learners are drawn to videos and multimedia presentations. And what about those who learn best by reading? Teachers can capture and save on-screen notes and share the files with students for independent review.
For students with special needs, classroom technology can be a great equalizer. Interactive touch screen displays work well with assistive technology. Captions, text highlighters, and text-to-speech software, for example. Students who have difficulty holding a pen can use a finger or a tennis ball to write on the display. Young children can trace letters and shapes. At the display, advanced students can collaborate with classmates on more complex lessons.
Students with limited mobility may be unable to participate in a wall-mounted display. Look for adjustable height and multiple tilt angles. In addition, the ability to go completely horizontal. More options increase accessibility for more students.
Enhancing Learning Outcomes
Both students and teachers agree that interactive whiteboards are entertaining. They captivate students, increase attention span, and increase student engagement. They can be an excellent foundation for classroom cohesion. They’re also a tried-and-true method for helping students learn more, learn better, and apply what they’ve learned as they progress in life.
We know that active learning is effective. A meta-analysis of 225 studies concluded that it reduces failure rates by 55% when compared to passive information receipt. It also demonstrated how active learning promotes higher-order thinking in a variety of ways. The very foundation for the most in-demand skills among employers.
We also know that interactive displays and active learning complement each other. That these dynamic and adaptable touch screen displays enable a plethora of active learning adventures.
Early research found a 6-point improvement when 85 teachers used interactive displays in 170 classrooms. When instructors used graphs, charts, videos, and other visuals to reinforce information, this increased to 26 points. Under ideal conditions, success increased by 31 percent.