Interactive whiteboards are one of many tools at a teacher’s disposal. Most schools now have these hands-on learning tools in each classroom. They allow teachers to present slideshows and interactive forms to their class quickly. With these tools, students become more engaged in their lessons because they can visually understand the concepts with videos, interactive presentations, and other supplements that teachers can incorporate.

As powerful as these learning tools can be, not all educators are maximizing the impact of their interactive whiteboard. Studies have proven that these tools can represent a sixteen percent increase in student achievement in the classroom setting. If you aren’t using your whiteboard to its maximum capacity, you might want to try incorporating a few of these activities in your class.

The board gives students some motivation to participate.

In the past, most students would hesitate to raise their hand to give an answer. You may wait patiently for an entire minute before one brave soul will raise their hand. However, the incentive to participate is much higher with the interactive whiteboards. Teachers should be giving students the chance to come up to the board to write sentences, work out math problems, and other activities. They tend to look forward to these opportunities to play with the new technology, allowing them to be more engaged in the lesson.

Cater to all types of learners.

Educators love their interactive whiteboards because it allows them to engage every type of learner in the classroom. You can visually present the material along with audio clips and short videos. By allowing students to come up to the board, you can even engage kinesthetic learners. The possibilities are nearly endless on how you can make lessons feel engaging and interactive with everyone. Teachers get the opportunity to be more creative with their lesson planning than ever before.

Help children to develop their own presentations.

The presentations that teachers make in the classroom are important, but all children should learn the art of public speaking. Make sure that you are giving students an opportunity to come up with their own presentation. Show them a few fun tips on how to make them interactive with their classmates, giving them control of the classroom for just a little while. Not only will they teach their classmates something fun, they will also be learning a few real-world skills for how to give a professional presentation.

An interactive whiteboard could be an excellent tool for teachers to engage students. Unfortunately, not everyone is maximizing the impact that it could have in their classroom. With a few of these tips, you could improve your lessons and boost the engagement of your students all at the same time.