Do I Have to Have a Whiteboard?

I am interested in purchasing clickers for my classroom, but the only time I have ever seen them used was with a whiteboard. We are on a limited budget, so I don't think we can get both. Do I have to have the whiteboard to use the CPS clickers?


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Together or Separate - It's All Good!

This is a great questions and one that we fielded quite a bit at NETA 2008 this year.

eInstruction provides a tremendous opportunity for districts to easily purchase the total solution for each and every classroom - CPS to engage every student with a handheld clicker, ExamView content to save teachers hours and hours of creating new content, full-size interactive white boards that provide interactive lessons, and wireless tablets that allow you to control your computer from anywhere in the room.

However, each and every one of these pieces stands alone as an incredible piece of classroom technology.

Clickers (CPS)- Use the clickers with only your computer and a projector. The addition of a wireless tablet allows you to run the clickers from anywhere in the room; however, the tablet is not required for the clickers to work.

Content (ExamView or EV Learning Series)- Many of our schools receive ExamView content with their textbook packages. However, eInstruction is the only student response company with the ability to import ExamView content directly into its student response software, making it a cinch to have access to thousands of clicker questions in a few seconds.

Wireless Tablet (CPS Chalkboard or Interwrite Pad) - Many NETA visitors were amazed that the handheld tablet could do what the full-size interactive whiteboard could do. Essentially, the tablet is comparable to a wireless mouse, allowing you to run any your computer -- any program -- from anywhere in the room. However, it is the software that comes with the tablet that is the important piece.

The CPS Chalkboard comes with software from RM Easiteach. The Interwrite Pad comes Interwrite Workspace, the exact same software as the full-size Interwrite whiteboard. It is the software that comes with the tablet that allows you to annotate on different programs, take screen captures, draw shapes, insert pictures, and provides interactive simulations.

You don't have to have the full-size interactive whiteboard to enjoy all the benefits of the wireless tablet. Even if you are not a "clicker user," you will find that running your computer from anywhere will be a great benefit to you in the classroom.

Wireless tablets are great tools to hand to a student to complete a math problem or circle the pronoun in a sentence. These tablets also allow you to stand near the perennial class disruptor or circle the room as kids work in groups.

Although it is truly a teacher preference, we recommend wireless tablets over full-size interactive whiteboards for 3rd grade classrooms and higher.

Interactive Whiteboards (Interwrite Board) -
Not one of the above-mentioned tools requires a full-size interactive whiteboard to work...or any size whiteboard for that matter! Because they are more tactile learners, we recommend full-size whiteboards for grades lower than 3rd grade.

Cathy at Engaging Technologies