Interactive White Boards and Document Cameras

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to demonstrate the use of document cameras and interactive white boards to our school's community council. This group includes school administrators as well as teachers and parents. Most of these teachers were unfamiliar with both technologies. They were very excited at what they saw could be done! Parents enjoyed the presentation as well. Of course, I had active Interaction with the IWB. I had parents and teachers at the board moving objects and creating objects. Several comments related to how these two technologies might help students be more interested in class or their own learning. Then several parents began asking questions regarding how many of the staff would use either or both of the tools in their classrooms. The principal answered these questions. We also had a GREAT discussion about the need to have Professional Development for teachers who might get such technologies. In the end, no decision was made, the parents seem motivated to see how many classrooms could get mounted projectors in the next year or so. I realize it is a long process to get technology into classrooms and am pleased that I was allowed time to share my experiences with this group. I may be asked to do a similar presentation to the faculty in the coming weeks.