Brandon Twp.-Early next year some district classrooms will begin to take on a new look.
The school board OK’d $299,000 for 206 Walk- and-Talk Interactive Whiteboards by Polyvision, a Steelcase Company, at the Dec. 13 meeting. The purchase is part of the $73 million district bond extension approved by voters in August. School officials say it’s necessary to buy the boards in 2006 before a 4 percent price hike during the next year.
The interactive whiteboards, which utilize a projector and computer, are 4-feet-by-6-feet and can display an array of educational subjects by just touching the surface of the board.
‘The capabilities with the whiteboards are endless,? said Paul Spoor, district technology director.
The interactive whiteboard technology allows teachers to instruct in innovative ways. For example, in math class, the whiteboard displays story problems and equations to solve; in history class, the board utilizes streaming-videos of moments in time; in current events class, the whiteboard becomes a news source via national newspapers or an encyclopedia.
‘Even kindergarten classes can use the board to display letter recognition and practice penmanship.?
With interactive whiteboards in their classrooms, Brandon’s teachers now have the ability to write, save, print, access the Internet, and project from a DVD or VCR, said Spoor. Along with the boards, the district will begin to implement Easiteach teaching software for kindergarten though seventh grades. The interactive programs will incorporate teaching materials onto the whiteboards.
The interactive whiteboard technology is not new to education. Bryan Girbach, assistant superintendent of Milan Area Schools, located about 20 miles south of Ann Arbor, said his district of about 2,400 students purchased about 200 interactive whiteboards in 2001.
‘We have no empirical data to prove students learn better with the boards but, consider youth lifestyle? they use instant and text messaging everyday and through technology you’ll keep their attention,? said Girbach, who has been fielding inquiries each month from other districts regarding the boards since their installation.
‘It’s been an evolution since we first purchased the boards,? said Girbach. ‘It put teachers back in front of the classroom and utilizing computers and software in the learning process. Our biggest issue four years later is we need larger screens. Currently, we have 3-by-4 feet screens and find the 4-by-6 feet screens a lot more visible.?
Girbach said the biggest cost with the interactive whiteboards has been the projector bulbs. Each bulb, which last about 1,000 to 4,000 hours, cost from $225 to $400 to replace.