Can ActivBoard be student-centered?

[mote101]

There are many things I really like about the Activboard, and I can envision many ways to use it in my classroom. However, to have a student come up to the board and answer a question on the Activboard while the rest of the class watches is negligibly different than a student coming up to a blackboard or whiteboard and answering a question.

I understand that students can vote, but while that is interactive, it's not particularly student-centered. So many of the flipcharts I have seen are little more than cartoon games. They are fun for a bit, but I don't think they will challenge or inspire the students to think for themselves or engage their inquisitiveness.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can use my ActivBoard in a more student-centered way?????

Thanks,
Andrew

[jurczak]

Have you thought about having the students use the software to create a response to something? You could have them use the resource library to have them find pictures to help define vocabulary words, create a flipchart in response to a story, or have them use the software as a way to showcase what they have learned in a project-based learning situation. I got my board last February and at first used it mainly as you have stated - it was an interactive tool and enhanced my teaching, but I wanted to also use it to practice higher-level thinking skills. I have done some trainings this summer and have some ideas of how I will be using the board and software differently this year in my classroom. The software can be used in similar ways as the iLife programs, Keynote, Powerpoint or the Windows Moviemaker type software in that they can use it to create a response to a research-based question. The students can show their understaning of a topic the same way we as teachers can by creating a flipchart.

[simongreen]

Hi,

I'm sure other people will have a completely different take on this, but these are my thoughts:

The ability to use colour, sounds, videos in itself can engage all students. Even though all students aren’t necessarily coming up to the board, the fact that the Actiboard lessons can involve more creativity can, in itself, engage students more.

It could be argued that getting just one student up to the Activboard at a time makes all students more interested in what they are doing – rather than just listening to the teacher drone on and point at a presentation. Students going up to the Activboard, in itself, creates a more dynamic atmosphere for everyone.

Activboards, I would say, give more opportunity for student interaction and not just by coming up to the Activboard. Students can take control of, say, the Spotlight tool by telling someone else what to do from their desk (Activote and the Activslate also help).

Here are some quick ideas where Activboards can help make lessons more student focussed:

Websites/links

You can use websites relevant to students’ lives.
With the help of a links page in your flipchart, your students could decide what they learn. Let them select the order in which they study a subject.
Images

You can include photos/ videos of your students’ town and school to make learning relevant to their everyday life.
You can also include photos of famous celebrities etc.
Many teachers like to have a stash of photos of their students in the Resource Library, so they can be used in lessons.
Using the technology to its full potential

With written exercises, you can print out the flipchart so all students can work with what they see on screen.
You can send flipcharts to students so they all have a copy for revision. The results of brainstorming sessions, for example, could be sent to all students, rather than being just lost for good once the whiteboard is wiped.
The teacher doesn’t have to be in charge

The Activboard is also a workspace. During groupwork, students can themselves prepare interactive topics at the Activboard.
You can rerun lessons. Teach your students something, click the Reset Page button and see if they can run through the same points with you.

[LouB]

I think another point to add here (probably for those who teach younger children) is that children are more engaged in the lesson when they know they have the opportunity to come up to the board in the lesson.

In my last class I had a child who had challenging behaviour, however, he also had a love of the IWB, so if he listened carefully and behaved appropriately he had the chance to share his ideas/reveal the answer etc on the board.

I have also found that we will use a flipchart in a lesson and then for days if not weeks afterwards the children will access these flipcharts over and over again during their choosing time. Child initiated learning!!!!

Lou +wave+

[mote101]

LouB,

I guess my concern is that I don't want my classroom to run in such a way where students are simply watching me (or even other students) and waiting to come up to the board. Students learn best when they are doing.

I agree that some students will behave better/be engaged in the ActivBoard simply because it is interactive (i.e. Activote, elements of the software), however, I think my kids would be as engaged watching a juggler or TV for that matter.

How do you have your students truly use the ActivBoard as a tool that will increase not just their interest in watching people, but actively constructing their learning?

Andrew

I think another point to add here (probably for those who teach younger children) is that children are more engaged in the lesson when they know they have the opportunity to come up to the board in the lesson.

In my last class I had a child who had challenging behaviour, however, he also had a love of the IWB, so if he listened carefully and behaved appropriately he had the chance to share his ideas/reveal the answer etc on the board.

I have also found that we will use a flipchart in a lesson and then for days if not weeks afterwards the children will access these flipcharts over and over again during their choosing time. Child initiated learning!!!!

[canduff]

Don't forget about being able to print screens. Many of the lessons allow for multiple students to come to the board and for those at their seats...why not make a print screen so everyone is still doing the work?

Candy
TRS 3rd Grade
Venice, FL
:)

[simongreen]

Here’s one technique:

The focus on the attached flipchart is discussion and group work.

It is a simple, almost blank, flipchart, where students are to research a leaflet about Brazil. This flipchart could take many lessons to complete….

Page 1. Student are asked to brainstorm where they would go to do research. They are split into groups then they drag a topic onto the page. They must plan their page about that topic.

Page 2. Students can come up to the Activboard and use the links to help with the research.

Other pages: The groups take it in turn to add information to their flipchart page.

They then do a presentation using their page.
Other students can add any further point to any page.
Then, when the flipchart is finished, it can be distributed to all students so they all have a copy.
They can produce their leaflet using the whole class’s research.

Whereas previously all students would be huddled in groups doing their research, in this way everyone shares everything and everyone has the same notes.

As LouB mentions, you could revisit that page months later and the students will actively remember how the pages were constructed, helping to remember the knowledge that the page contain.

[leiafee]

Teaching adult numeracy the other day, my students were working on finding the area of the training room to cost carpet.

We used the IWB to record the findings and draw the room, The whole group was gathered aroudnt he board pointing out changes and corrections to each other's work and using the board to make notes, taking turn with the pen etc.

It was much better than the scraps of paper hey'd normally use for recording results of group work.

Not really a large whole class activity but good for small groups.

[markrobinson]

and with a simple upgrade you will be able to look to a future where you can do stuff like this!....

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/common/html/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=4282

[Peter Lambert]

and with a simple upgrade you will be able to do stuff like this!....

http://www.Prometheanplanet.com/common/html/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=4282

;) When its released! I should stress this is not available now, but the upgrade should be available within the next few months. I should also say that not all features seen on the youtube videos will be available on that release.

[kpbooth]

Check out the wonderful flipchart posted on Promethean Planet, that Heather Hamker from Ohio created for a Guided Reading Language Arts weekly lesson. This is a good example of a way that the board can be used to engage students while the teacher is working with small groups.

As I looked at this the wheels started churning in my head. This is the way I ran my third grade classroom and would have given my eye teeth to have this techological help at the time.

When I show this one to teachers now, I get a lot of Ahas!

Heather was with me in the small group breakout session at the Promethean User Conference in Houston in January. We shared ideas and brainstormed possibilities. Putting heads together really works!

Thank you, Heather![clap]

[rexboggs5]

Peter

Those videos on YouTube were cool beans. Can you let us know which features will be available on the first release?

And budget time for next year is approaching (at least in Queensland). What will we have to buy to upgrade? Cost?

Cheers

Rex

[hlh422]

Kathy-
You're welcome! I'm glad it has become of use to you. I enjoyed our discussion group in Houston as well and will look forward to upcoming Promethean User Conferences.

I think when the dual pen feature is available people will find it much easier to incorporate small group activities, such as my Guided Reading flipchart. I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on them. :)

[markrobinson]

Features in the multi-input release are similar to what was shown at the big trade shows recently:

Expect to see in the core of the release - the ability to take any existing flipchart and have more than one user annotate or move the objects and generally interact with it.

In itself, that provides endless opportunity to reuse and extend the massive library of existing content available now

There will also be an extensive library or specially developed templates and flipchart activity pages to give you a kick start with new ideas.

It is whole new world with massive pedagogical implications that will only become really apparent when used - and I strongly suspect the best stuff will be when the forum users start commenting on their first experiences.

[areinhardt]

I have been dealing with this issue myself. For example, moving around plates to form a map of the Earth is fun, but only for one student at a time.

A simple solution:

Have students manipulate paper objects individually first (at their desks), and then have a student (or two) come up to the board to show the solution by using the activboard.

[markrobinson]

It can be tempting to use the Activboard for everything - esp. when initially exploring all the tools and options it offers.

Knowing 'when not to use it' - and simply employ it as the tool that it is - is the skill that develops as confidence grows.

Users of Activprimary will find a special 'teacher lock' mode in the menu - specifically included to allow use of the computer by groups - while the teacher works eleswhere. While teacher locked - students cannot easily leave the Activprimary application and can be confidently left by the teacher to complete their task.

On the IT side...

Certainly - adding a learner response system - changes the dynamic considerably - enabling even greater amounts of personal feedback from student coming into the 'group space' of the activboard. Activslate is similar - allowing students to take control from anyplace in class.

Also remember the Activboard allows access to all the school's existing IT infrastructure... so students can prepare work on computers or at home on the internet - and the teacher can bring their work up onto the board for peer review and discussion.

If you have laptops or PCs in class - consider something like OneClass from Promethean - that instantly allows any connected computer screen to be shown to all or for the teacher to take control of a student's computer to help guide the class with a technique using a student exemplar.

[cappie]

What is OneClass? I did a search on the Forum and the US and UK sites but can't find it.

[markrobinson]

Oneclass info. should appear shortly.

[cappie]

And budget time for next year is approaching (at least in Queensland). What will we have to buy to upgrade? Cost?

Cheers

Rex

I have the same question - I am putting together my budget today - will there be a cost for this upgrade so I can budget for it? If so, and it's not in the budget, I will be looking at the 2009-10 school year for purchase!

[shahrizal.emran]

I was like you before, but with proper training and positive attitude i have managed to come to terms with how the interactive whiteboard can increase the students performance in the classroom. I could suggest you to read the teacher features section http://www.prometheanplanet.com/uk/server/show/nav.918 of the promethean website and have a look at how the teachers have used the interactive whiteboard interactively in their lesson. I have learned a lot from the experts of interactive whiteboard users. If you happen to have a Mac, you can download a podcast of the teacher features and view the videos.