Whiteboards engage students in the learning process
Thousands of teaching tools, web sites and videos on
the Internet are readily available for classroom use
"Interactive Electronic Whiteboards may be the most exciting teaching tool to come to the classroom in many years," said Arnoldsburg Elementary School principal Byran Sterns.
Whiteboards combine with a computer and projector to become a large, touch-sensitive display that allows teachers and students to write and erase notes, control computer applications, and save information.
Touch-sensitive projection screens allow the user to control a computer directly by touching the board or using an electronic "pen" as a mouse.
The Arnoldsburg school is installing the new technology this week in all their classrooms, with the equipment soon to be installed in the county's two other schools.
"Our PTO has come up with extra funds to mount the projectors on the ceilings," said Sterns, making their operation better for elementary students.
Principal Sterns (L) says Arnoldsburg's projectors will be
ceiling mounted, a project financed by the PTO, teacher
Bill Queen (R) says students really like the interactive mode
Teacher Bill Queen said the most exciting aspect of the whiteboards is the students ability to be interactive with the use of a small hand-held mouse.
"There are dozens and dozens of ways to use the whiteboards to help kids learn," said Sterns.
Queen said most students are excited about the boards, which are replacing a number of former technologies and audio-visual tools.
"Considering we are a very rural school, getting the latest 21st Century technology is really exciting," Sterns said. | 
