The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
May
25
Written by:
5/25/2010 1:37 AM
Cross posted at
The Innovative EducatorI spend a lot of time visiting innovative classrooms in New York City. As I do, there is something that I've noticed in many classes I've visited - there are still some educators that don't seem to know the no nos for teaching with a projector or interactive whiteboard (IWB). Perhaps it's easier to notice when you're sitting as an audience member or an observer which is not often the case for teachers. If you're an innovative educator teaching with a projector or IWB, you too might be engaging in a no no or two.
Here are ten no nos to avoid as you teach with technology.
No no: Don't have your back to your participants
Description: This is one of my biggest pet peeves and something I see all the time. The teacher sets her laptop up so that to use it she is facing the screen or whiteboard. The teacher then instructs the class with her back to them. Awkward! Educators should not be talking to a board. They should speak to a class.
Solution: By simply flipping the direction of the laptop the teacher can see the entire class. Additionally, the laptop becomes her teleprompter as she addresses her students.
Advantage: The teacher can maintain eye contact with her participants providing for a more authentic discussion. She can also see their reactions and level of interest.
No no: Do not make a shadow on the whiteboard or screen with your hand or body.
Description: In many classrooms the teacher is standing in front of the board pointing to things or speaking about things that are being projected. The problem is he's in the path of the objects projected and students can't see what it is he's speaking about.
Solution: Be aware of the projection light. If you feel you must be at the board, perhaps you can use a pointing stick. You can also verbally tell students what part of the board you are discussing i.e. if you look in the top left quadrant. Finally, you don't need to go up to the board. You can engage the class directly from your laptop.
Advantage: The students can see what it is you are sharing.
No no: Don't project a small and/or crooked image
Description: I often go to classrooms and am perplexed as I see a tiny and/or crooked image displayed on the screen. It's as though the instructor has turned on the projector and doesn't realize it may need adjustment.
Solution: Make sure the image fills the entire space onto which you are projecting and adjust your projector manually or using the keystone feature to make sure it is not crooked. You can make the image larger by placing the projector the proper distance from the screen and/or using the adjustments on the projector. You can make the image straight by manually moving the projector left or right or by using the keystone feature on the projector.
Advantage: A small or distorted image is a distraction that most teachers want to avoid. By ensuring your image fills the screen and is straight you're participants will more easily be able to see and focus on your presentation.
No no: Don't leave your audience in the dark.
Description: Teaching and learning should not occur in the dark. Don't turn off the lights during instruction. This does not encourage interactivity and engagement, but instead it makes some people rather sleepy. Additionally, it's difficult to have eye contact and see student reactions in the dark.
Solution: Leave the lights on. In most rooms you can still generally see projected items with the light on. If your room has multiple light switches, just shut off the front lights. If you have windows, close the blinds in the part of the room where you are projecting. If it's really difficult to see with the lights on, get a few lamps for your classroom. Not only will this accomplish the goal, it will add a nice atmosphere to the room.
Advantage: Your students will be more alert, engaged, and likely to participate in the lesson. Teachers can see their students and their students can see one another.
No no: Don't point with your finger.
Description: This is a big mistake I see all the time. Teachers think they need to point directly on the screen so they end up doing a dance between their laptop and the screen.
Solution: Every computer comes equipped with a free electronic pointer. It's called your cursor. You don't need to run to the board to point at the screen. Students know what a cursor is and can follow it if you instruct them to do so.
Advantage: If you point with your cursor rather than your finger you can maintain eye contact with your audience allowing you to better gage their interest and understanding of the lesson. You can also avoid doing the unnecessary dance between your laptop and the screen or board onto which you are projecting.
No no: Don't waste instructional time fumbling with projector set up
Description: Classroom time should not be wasted with equipment set up. Instructional time is valuable and it's important that technology using teachers are not robbing students of instruction with equipment set up. We never want students ready to learn with a teacher who isn't ready to teach them.
Solution: It's important to become very familiar with equipment set up. Teachers often use tape on the floor so they know exactly where the projector, computer desk, and or screen should go. Many savvy teachers have a student responsible for setting up the projector at the start of the lesson while the teacher is beginning instruction. This is an elegant solution that involves your tech-savvy students.
Advantage: Student learning is increased. Students with an interest in technology become more confident in their abilities and recognized for their talent.
No no: Don't assume your audience can see what you can see
Description: The person presenting is usually close to the laptop or interactive whiteboard and can see everything clearly, but those in the back of the room may not be able to see things as well. It's important that you remember to zoom in and out so that your audience can best view what you are projecting.
Solution: While specifics may vary from computer to computer, they all have zooming features. On some computers you can use "ctrl" or "command" and "+" or "-" on other computers you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse. If these options don't work visit the help menu.
Advantage: Participants will be able to see and hear what you are sharing. You may want to assign a student responsible for reminding you if you need to zoom.
No no: Don't be a sage on the stage
Description: While I often hear educators proudly discussing how engaged students are with interactive whiteboards, and I often hear sales folks boasting of the interactivity of whiteboards, I almost never see them used interactively with students. The same is true for a teacher with a projector. It's time for teachers to get off the pulpit and let their students shine.
Solution: There are many ways to encourage interactivity of students with an IWB or projector. This should be worked into the teaching and sharing. Recently I saw a teacher projecting and presenting to students video clips of various classmates sharing. It was time for the teacher to step down and let the students share their own videos. They could have played their video and discussed it rather than the teacher doing that. Another class I visited had students working in groups. After wards they shared their learning from their desks while some irrelevant information was projected on the screen. This teacher also had access to five laptops that were in the corner of the room. The teacher could have given each group of students a laptop and let them put something together to project in a fun an interesting format rather than have each student go around and share in a bored tone what they had worked on. They could have placed their work on a shared space, a thumbdrive, or brought their laptop up to project. When students know their work will be shared and displayed, they are more excited and accountable. In another class a teacher was showing students how music and sound could affect the mood of a dialogue. He played the audio of various student's pre-recorded dialogue and then put different sounds and music as a background and discussed how it affected the mood of the piece. Again. Teacher, get off the stage. Let each student group present their work and select the sound they want to use. They love using these tools. Not watching you use them.
Advantage: Students find an interactive classroom more engaging. When students know that their work is going to be shared and displayed, they are excited and more invested in the work. Share the limelight and let your students shine. Your students will love it.
No no: Don't use your projector as a blackboard or replacement
Description: If a blackboard/whiteboard would do, don't waste your bulb. They are costly. I've often gone into rooms where there's just an aim projected on the screen. Not necessary. Teachers need to know the tool for the cause. If you just have a sentence to project, turn off the projector and put it on the whiteboard. I've also seen a projector left on with assignment directions that were also handed out to the class or, each student has a laptop where the assignment is displayed. Again, turn off the projector and save the bulb.
Solution: When developing lessons determine if you really need to leave the projector on the whole time. If you are just projecting a sentence, use the blackboard. If your students already have the work in hand on their laptop or paper, you don't need the projector.
Advantage: You'll save hundreds of dollars on projector bulbs.
No no: Don't waste money on an interactive whiteboard without some smart reasons
Description: More often than not I go into a classroom and see a teacher not using their interactive whiteboard or I see them struggling to use it, but not quite knowing how and relying on another adult or student to assist. Many educators believe that you need a costly interactive whiteboard to teach engaging lessons with a projector, but you don't. None is required.
Solution: Before wasting thousands upon thousands of dollars on costly interactive whiteboards take a moment and think. Will my teachers really utilize these boards to enrich instruction in a way that justifies the cost or might my students be better served by having access to technology in their own hands. A school can start with just a projector and save thousands of dollars. You can always purchase IWBs at a later time. In fact while IWB companies fund research that shows they are effective, more and more people are finding that student achievement is no higher in classrooms with IWBs than those with projectors only. To date in five years of searching and upon visiting many classrooms, I still have not seen instruction enhanced with an IWB. It may be happening somewhere, but I haven't seen it. Smart principals should ask those teachers who want interactive whiteboards to write a proposal to justify the expense and that proposal should clearly explain and state compelling reasons explaining how IWBs will result in more effective instruction than if they used a projector alone. If they can make a case, consider the purchase. If you find, as I have, that they can accomplish most of what they are talking about with a laptop (ideally a tablet) and a projector, you may want to reconsider.
Advantage: You'll save thousands of dollars that you can allocate to technology that instead can go directly into your student's hands.
Lisa Nielsen is an educational administrator and permanently certified teacher with more than a decade's worth of experience working in educational innovation at the city, state, and national level. She currently serves as Technology Innovation Manager for the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Nielsen is a Google Certified Teacher, International Edublogger, International EduTwitter, and creator of The Innovative Educator blog, website, learning network, and wiki.
Disclaimer: The information shared here is strictly that of the author and does not reflect the opinions or endorsement of the NYC DOE.
29 comment(s) so far...
The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Excellent thoughts that are just really common sense that we don't even think about sometimes. Thank you!
By Rhonda Powell on
6/9/2010 3:38 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
This is a great articles and i agree with you. I will share this to my colleagues at The King's Academy.
By Lea@Palm Beach Private Schools on
6/9/2010 3:53 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Thanks for sharing such a great and informative articles. I will share this to my colleagues.
By Lea@Private Schools Palm Beach on
6/9/2010 3:56 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
These are some good tips and well worth the reminders. However, I disagree with your solution to wasting money on IWBs. With you, I do believe that many IWBs are not used to their full potential, and if they're not it could be a waste of money. However, I feel that if a teacher is asking for an IWB in his classroom, it should go in. It's a great place to start for that teacher. It may appear to be "wasted" for a while, but with the proper administrative guidance, that teacher may become the expert in the school. How many times have we heard an educational technology leader start with words like "When I first started using technology in the classroom, I didn't know what I was doing"? Instead of screening too closely, and possibly squelching an innovative technology leader and thus the motivated learning of many, many students, an administrator should allow the IWB in the classroom and follow up by encouragement and ensuring the teacher gets the proper training to use the IWB to its full potential.
By Tammy Morris on
6/11/2010 11:08 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
These are some good tips and well worth the reminders. However, I disagree with your solution to wasting money on IWBs. With you, I do believe that many IWBs are not used to their full potential, and if they're not it could be a waste of money. However, I feel that if a teacher is asking for an IWB in his classroom, it should go in. It's a great place to start for that teacher. It may appear to be "wasted" for a while, but with the proper administrative guidance, that teacher may become the expert in the school. How many times have we heard an educational technology leader start with words like "When I first started using technology in the classroom, I didn't know what I was doing"? Instead of screening too closely, and possibly squelching an innovative technology leader and thus the motivated learning of many, many students, an administrator should allow the IWB in the classroom and follow up by encouragement and ensuring the teacher gets the proper training to use the IWB to its full potential.
By Tammy Morris on
6/11/2010 11:15 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Great advice. Most teachers do not get it yet about visual learning.
By James Usitalo on
6/11/2010 1:23 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
My thoughts exactly! Your last point about rethinking jumping on the IWB bandwagon is so well put. Give teachers a projector FIRST! Once they are regular users of digital resources, an IWB may be the second step.
By Neva on
6/11/2010 1:40 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
You hit the nail right on the head with your article. Thank you many times over!!!
By Lisa on
6/18/2010 2:23 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Excellent feedback!
By Gloria Govan on
5/28/2010 1:23 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Your article is very important and helpful as I use the IWB and projectors for teaching and also I train the teachers to use the IWB. So this would be very helpful to teach them with ideas that I gathered by reading your article.Further, I identified the mistakes usually I do when I use the projector and Interactive white Board. Thank you very much for your valuable ideas.
By Upul on
5/30/2010 7:27 PM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I found your article to be informative and very helpful! I will send this to all those teachers in our school who are using ActivBoards/SmartBoards, as well as those who don't have them yet! Thanks for the words of wisdom.
By Betsi Vesser on
5/28/2010 6:55 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Thanks - these are great and I will post them for all our tachers to read when they return in the fall.
By Sr. Mary Alberta on
6/4/2010 2:22 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I appreciated this article and think these tips are not only appropriate, but necessary for every teacher to read. All of this new and wonderful equipment takes some juggling and getting used to--but in the end it does become a fery effective teaching tool--I learn new things every day and hope I continue to do that! Thank you for these tips. I will share them.
By Sandra Long on
6/2/2010 4:48 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
How many times have you heard, "For those of you in the back of the class, you probably can't see this." Keep fonts large enough to read from everywhere in the class.
By Tim Rhodus on
6/11/2010 12:08 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Of all the 'no-no's', the one for me was don't be a sage on stage. I teach in the cyber setting so all I use is an interactive whiteboard with my students in my virtural classroom. The students can talk(if they choose), but mostly they choose to send text messages in the room. The no-no listed is pedagogy 101 of student centered learning. Now in my setting, I can't physically see the student coming up to manipulate the whiteboard, but I can allow permission one student at a time. How do you allow the students deliver the base content without some teacher on the stage? That is always my conundrum that I know I need to deliver the base content to be able jump start the student centered learning.
By Sarah Minnick on
6/18/2010 12:37 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I agree with your no-no's. Great solutions! However, I have had the great opportunity to witness instruction and participation being enhanced in MANY classrooms using an IWB. It's not the tool, it's what it allows the teachers to do..engage their students.
Thanks.
By Gina on
6/25/2010 2:40 PM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
That's an excellent list of point. However, I am dismayed to hear you say that you have never seen an IWB making a significant impact in any classrooms you have visited. I have to agree with Tammy Morris, that at least it's a start, and with guidance they can be better used.
There are so many interactive websites, and online activities available. It's more likely that there hasn't been sufficient PD and on-site help for teachers to better understand and learn how to leverage the IWB's in their classroom, as is also true of many Web 2.0 tools. A couple of hourly workshops barely gets one acclimated to their full potential. It would be nice if NYC DOE & schools had room in their budget for Educational Technology Specialists [such as myself] for helping to achieve that.
I have witnessed the interactivity of these tools on occasion, and seen students more engaged because of them. An IWB interface pad (Class Pad is one brand), a roaming input device, is a another great tool that allows teachers to roam around the room while using the IWB and students can both input directly in front of the room and on the Pad. Another thought is making clickers, or MS Mouse Mischief available to teachers, on a rotating basis if need be, so that there's more interactivity options.
By Lynne Bailey on
6/25/2010 7:48 PM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
What a great list of what not to do! I did see myself in the list. Thanks.
By dee on
6/11/2010 1:44 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
The delima has always been a sort of chicken or egg question. Do we put technology into the classroom before teachers know how to use it and expect them to learn how on their own? OR Do we give them the technology (and lots of training and support) and then time to learn?
By connie on
6/30/2010 4:20 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Thanks for the reminders and insights of good practices. I'll check them frequently through the year and also as I begin to prepare for next year's teaching. I have two whiteboards, one by the computers and one in front of the classroom, so they get daily use, but not as effectively as your counsel would achieve.
By Jerry Becker on
6/4/2010 12:50 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Valuable information all interactive whiteboard users should read. I am going to link to this from my wiki for SMART users. Thanks for writing this article. I will incorporate it in my future training sessions with teachers.
By Liz Thomas on
6/11/2010 12:41 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
really a informative article i want to see such post daily really a fruit full article
By vuhelp on
6/13/2010 9:15 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I would add one more no-no.
Please don't read a slide word for word. A slide is to give information, but if you are going to do a lesson, there has to be "value added" That means that you have to use the slide as backup to what you are saying, not use it as the MAIN teaching tool. Otherwise, why not just automate the slides and leave the room? What need is there for a teacher if all they are going to do is read slides to an audience?
By Doug Moody on
6/25/2010 3:16 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
Great information and good tips.
By John Carter on
11/6/2010 2:13 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I agree with many things shared - especially the fact that many teachers feel they need a board and then are at the front with their backs to the students. One teacher shared about a interface pad. There is a system out there that allows up to 9 of these pads in a classroom so you have all kinds of collaboration and input going on with 9 students/groups all at one time. IWBs do not allow for a lot of collaboration and by the time you are up to the middle or high school age of students - they really don't go to the board anymore so the only person interacting with the board is the teacher. That is why a interface pad is so great with the uppper grades along with multiple pads in the classroom for students to use. You can't have 9 students/groups at the board at the same time like you can with a system of pads. Plus you don't even need the cost of a IWB to use these b/c it is all software based. IWBs don't allow for some to see the board in the back. Use a huge screen in the room and roam with the interface pads! Be in and around the students - it really is a great way to engage the students.
By Donna on
12/17/2010 1:35 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
You have some good advice, but it's too bad you had to present in such a nagging way. If you don't ever put IWBs in classrooms, how can you really judge how it will be used? An interactive whiteboard/ projector/ document camera setup is pretty much a standard requirement for a 21st century classroom. Yes, it is true that sometimes the stars have to align just right to get the best training to happen, but what if a new teacher moves into the room next door, is an ace at the IWB, and the surrounding teachers are inspired? In the classrooms where we've been able to install IWBs with mounted projectors, the teachers say that in a week, most of their procedures are streamlined, and students experience a completely different kind of engagement.
By Shelley Jenkins on
12/17/2010 7:19 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I agree with the part about how IWB's don't improve achievement. I've never seen any lesson done on an IWB that moves beyond "gimmicky." They may improve engagement to some degree but is that our goal? . . .to teach kids that they should be like moths drawn to a flame. "Here kids, look at the flashy lights! Aren't they fun?!" Perhaps we should be weening children off of this type of technology as it does nothing but send off thousands of tax dollars to the private company that can come up with the latest fad. Let's get back to meaningful instruction that inspires kids through real-world application instead of imparting to them the idea that education is fun when it involves "pretty lights and sounds."
By Brandon on
12/17/2010 2:32 AM
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
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The Ten No Nos of Teaching with a Projector or Interactive Whiteboard by Lisa Nielsen
I agree with many things shared and said here. I use the IWB everyday in my classroom and it is really a great tool to use in the class. It keeps the students more engaged and actively learning. There are so many wonderful interactive websites and tools that have been created to input in lessons. I feel it definitely enhances learning because the students are more actively engaged. Many teachers are really unsure of how to use them. Some teachers I have even spoken to are just down right now willing to learn. They will do very basic things. I think that teachers should go for much training. The trainings should be small groups so that each person can get a turn to actually experience. They should not just do a general session with hundreds of teachers in the room. Teachers are just like students. If they are not actively learning it will be harder for them to understand something new. But, personally I feel that IWB should be in all classrooms today because they do help students learn and WANT to learn.
By lbehr219 on
2/14/2011 10:19 AM
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