Case+Study-Promethean+Board

** “for the layz teacher hahahaha ;}" ** media type="custom" key="5782205" align="center"
 * PROMETHEAN BOARDS **

History and everybody in the class had the benefit of looking at the board. By the early **1850’s**, most schoolhouses had blackboards and used an old rag as an eraser. In more remote areas where there was no money to purchase a blackboard, teachers resorted to painting a plaster wall or even a wooden panel with dark paint to imitate the slate. Through the use of a blackboard, now schools were able to accommodate more students and teach more efficiently. Through time this tool was modernized. The chalkboard was made of a steel sheet enameled with porcelain. The slate was also replaced by chalk, which is white limestone mined from the earth. The old rag that was used as an eraser was also replaced by blocks of felt that could erase chalk marks without creating as much dust. During the **1990s**, concern over allergies and other potential health risks posed by chalk dust which prompted the replacement of many blackboards with [|Chalkboard]. Therefore, modern whiteboards evolved from chalkboards. What is a whiteboard? A whiteboard is a plastic board, known as a dry erase board, which uses colored markers. However, the first whiteboard or markerboard began to appear on the market in the mid 1960’s. They didn’t really start to appear in classrooms until the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The whiteboards were a great innovation tool in the classroom, however; they were very expensive and the surface was made out of melamine. Although the whiteboard was a great solution to the chalkboard, the melamine surface was not easy to keep clean. The UK came up with the first enamel-on-steel write-on/wipe-off board, but in the United States, Michael Boone invented the dry-erase board. So, over the last 10 years, there have been many changes taking place with the enamel-on-steel magnetic whiteboards such as the cost reduction as well as the reduction in glare caused by the shinny surface. Whiteboards ActivBoard, eBeam, Mimio, and Webster are some of the most widely used at this time. However, the Interactive board I want to discuss is the Promethean board.

** What is a Promethean Board? ** media type="custom" key="5782045" align="center"

A Promethean Board looks similar to a dry erase board, but has electronic components, is interactive, and is connected to a computer interface. ActivInspire is the latest software that is utilized with the Promethean Activboard. The software is filled with a lot of tools and features that a teacher can use to present content from the front of the class. There are some good drawing tools as well as some good interactive lessons. Promethean offers a lot of good support for it and there are lots of premade materials being generated by other teachers all the time. Promethean Boards are currently being installed in more and more schools, and will probably soon replace all black and white boards. What is the cost of one of these boards? The cost is around $4,000.00, but the price may vary on the make and model.

Tony Cann is the founder and Chairman of the Promethean group. He believed that by giving teachers the right tools, they would enhance the learning of their students. Therefore, Mr. Cann directed the Promethean focus towards the classroom to enrich the teaching and the learning environment.

Promethean boards are being used in many schools as replacements not only for the traditional whiteboards, but also for flipcharts, video/media systems such as a DVD players and TV combination. The Promethean board also provides ways to show students anything that can be shown on a computer desktop. There are an infinite ways of using a Promethean Board in a classroom such as: · Save lessons to present to students who were absent · Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to the server or web · Use the built in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals. · Present presentations created by student or teacher · Digital storytelling · Brainstorming · Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations · Reinforce skills by using on-line interactive web sites · Creating a project calendar · Teach editing skills using editing marks · Use highlighter tool to highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. · Use it with Kidspiration or Inspiration · Illustrate and write a book as a class. Use the record feature to narrate the text. · Use the Interwrite software to create lessons in advance at home or at school. Then save them for future use or to be shared with other teachers · Diagramming activities · Teaching steps to a math problem. · Have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences · Graphics and charts with ESL learners and Special Education students. · Teaching vocabulary · Electronic Word Wall · End each day by having students write one thing that they learned
 * Promethean Boards in the Classroom **

[|Special Education Teachers]

> ** ActiVote--- A Learner Response System ** Another tool that comes with the Promethean board is the Activpen. The Activpen includes all off the functions of the mouse. Through the use of an Activpen, the visual learner is able to watch as the teacher manipulates images, shapes, colors, and words, either on the specially designed electromagnetic board itself. The Promethean Board is also accompanied by an ActivSlate, a person can manipulate images, write new text, and make changes no matter where they are located in the classroom. Wireless technology makes this mini-board highly convenient when interacting with students at their desks.
 * [[image:mrsaguilera/Activote600.jpg width="311" height="320" align="left" caption="ActiVote - Promethean’s market leading student learner response device"]] Classroom participation is an important part of the learning experience. ** It takes courage to speak up, and as a teacher it’s very important to know if students understand the lesson. ActiVote is the answer—a friendly Learner Response System that makes sure every student’s voice count. ActiVote empowers students to take an active role in their own learning and allows teacheras to connect with an entire class. Through the use of this system teachers can be sure their students will be participating 100% because ActiVote makes it easier and a lot more fun. The most fascinating thing is that the teacher can make immediate assessments to find out if their students understand the lesson. This feature allows the teacher an opportunity to find which students did not understand the lesson and the opportunity to re-teach. ActiVote can also download student results into spreadsheets for clear achievement records over time. Students love this program because no one worries whether they’ll be called on and called out in front of the class.
 * Activpen **
 * ActivSlate **

The teacher is the only person accessing information from the computer, therefore; she does not have to worry about any inappropriate content showing up. However, there is the risk of teachers, students, substitute teachers and yes even administrators that may not know what a Promethean board is and can cause serious damage. Damage can occur in different ways such as using the board like a whiteboard and using markers on it. Nowadays students are very much into graffiti and may take a sharp object to tag the Promethean board and that kind of damage is irreversible. As far as the ActiVotes make sure students don’t walk out of class with them.
 * Ethical Issues **

**Solutions** There are some ethics teachers and students should follow when using the Promethean Board such as using it primarily for education purposes. T o avoid people writing with dry-erase markers or permanent ink markers on the Promethean board, the classroom teacher can post signs in bright color paper around the board that say, “This is made for layz teahcers

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