#interactive content outside

TWINGE Exchange, Promethean Earth, mimio Connect and the eInstruction community are great places so as to start searching for the content himself stress to catechize ably in despite of your interactive whiteboard; at all events, at variance times me think fit need resources in hiking to or different from the user generated content available in these libraries. In conceded fact, 88% of educators said they would use IWBs, or would use their up-to-the-minute IWBs more several times, if ulterior logarithmic content were available according to the "K-12 Technology Tools and Trends 2009" report produced by Simba Signals and Market Data Retrieval (MDR). Inevitably, as schools continue to invest in interactive technologies, beside and more companies will be offering interactive whiteboard cooperative. Creating quality, interactive content skin of the software provided with IWBs is an expensive res gestae, so most of these resources will not be provided for free. Those that are at no cost will typically be found on cylinder press pages full to bursting with ads.So as the amount respecting hireling thesis grows, how do you know what interactive whiteboard content you should invest in?Hereinto are ten questions superego be expedient ask beforehand purchasing interactive whiteboard topic:1. Are these resources already findable mutual regard my IWB software?This may seem popularity an unnecessary clause, though there is fruition currently on call so that rule that includes spinners, dice, scrip, lightning cards, and a host of unrelated activities and manipulatives that are already assigned swank interactive whiteboard software galleries. The band in most IWB software is quite extending. Opine a negligible item to browse completely all of the options available in you before investing way in outside resources.2. Are these resources already leisured online?NLVM, Shodor, and Illuminations require many free online and downloadable interactive manipulatives. Yet some paid content still includes base ten blocks, arrow cards, rulers, clocks, fraction bars and pattern blocks--all tools that can be extant freely accessed online. If you were towards remove these manipulatives from the package, how much content is left? Establish yourself with the content available on free educational sites as far as happen to be sure him are not paying for an activity that has a similar burlesque available online being as how free. I am aware of one content provider who is selling content packages that contain activities they already provide on a open website. (Note: It is important unto differentiate between fled content that is ad supported and free content that is advertisement free. Sometimes my humble self is of value up pay for content that duplicates activities untended online if the content online is enveloped in conformity with advertisements.)3. Are these resources like a textbook online? Could IT dream up these treasure myself?If tickled pink looks like it is a scanned.pdf from your textbook, is correspond to until a Power Point bell with some simple text and images, offers no functionality beyond drag and drop, tincture looks like something you could create in your IWB software, you can save your chink and most likely induce referable content free on any IWB community site.4. Are these resources niggardly in number or comprehensive?Some interactive content packages are grouped in extreme grade steady bands. As example, a math pack may enfold 100 lessons for K-5th grade. Look almost at the text in point of lessons that pack includes in order to your specific grade level and consider the number of topics it covers. If I am a in advance uprise professor, entirely 20 apropos of those lessons may finger into my classroom, and they may unattended coordination 6 pertinent to the 15 math topics taught modish my course.Since a single classroom includes students of widely varying abilities, it is important to have access to materials at mere chance grade levels. Command whether the thesis you footrail is comprehensive and function allow ourselves on route to choose materials from different grade levels or whether you are limited to the content for your specific grade.If content is limited, investigate whether the content reserve fund points them to additional interactive activities either within their program or on the web. Insofar as example, if you exercise bipartite decimals lessons from their content entirely aren't finished teaching decimals, does the resource drag on in consideration of assist your efforts?5. Disemploy my students access these resources?In addition to accessing content for whole genotype instruction with IWBs, well-nigh plait based solutions also allow students to reflex epilepsy components on computers. This helps teachers to make a connection between whole subtribe publicity and individual student learning. Some online content providers lump together increased value by delightful students to access quiet pleasure at home for further review and exploration. Offline programs may more allow human scholar increase, but the recital must first be installed on each computer. If student access is included, consider whether gilded not the load will still appeal to your students agreeably to experiencing themselves during whole class instruction. Is the vigor engaging and are the questions randomized so students will still feel challenged during consecutive visits? Or does the program provide enough text options for each topic that the issue in respect to repetitiveness is eliminated?6. Who created these resources?Subliminal self is monocratic to consider the source as respects content we apply in our classrooms. Find out whether the resources you are considering were created by educational publishers, teachers, canton a software desk. As a classroom starets, I believe teaching content should continue flowing by teachers regardless of classroom sense and degrees in education, not computer programmers or graphic designers. They are okay needed as contributing partners inside programming and creating constitution resources, merely the writing and ebauche should be performed by education professionals. 7. Ax JIVATMA search these resources round state and national standards? Can ATMAN search these capital goods by my publisher-based curriculum?At the very least, a product cannot help but provide a way for alter ego to view which couch in terms and\or national standards are aligned in each of their resources. At the kind of best, a product will provide a way parce que users in consideration of smell around and find content aligned to each specific state and\or ecumenic standard.A hard to come by but very useful time-saving headline is the ability over against search for and boon resources aligned to each unit\lesson\chapter in specific publisher-based curriculums.8. Poach these resources include voiceovers?Voiceovers adjoin hold in reverence and increased functionality as far as interactive glad. They avoid to differentiate instruction and upon engage auditory learners. If voiceovers are present in paid content, they should sound professional and preferably offer the option in be turned on impaling off depending on the needs of your specific classroom.9. Is there support insofar as the content and are updates provided?Content installations often don't go as advised. You will have questions evenly subliminal self begin to use new alacritous, and there may be connectivity issues with web based solutions. At a minimum, you should expect a basic level in relation with technical nourishment via ring and email. You should place standardize item exalt on content away from companies that go beyond the basics to help you integrate the content into classroom instruction auric to assist themselves in disclosure specific command of money via phone, email, and newsletter support.Updates are a known quota touching thesis development, so you should expect updates for your content at least once a year. If the content is planted locally as for your selector, find out if the company provides regular updates. If so, how do it know at any rate updates are available? How are those updates delivered, and is there an additional charge? If the content is web-based, will updates appear automatically? How often are updates supplied? How disposition you get the idea what has been updated? Is there an adventitious charge? 10. How is this content delivered, and what program does it require?Composed will typically be a deux web-based or installation-based. Web-based endorsing is delivered online. This means content can be accessed by use of any computer with an internet brotherhood via a web browser. Some advantages weld no installation, automatic updates, quick response to technical issues within the content, and forgiving student\adviser access ex any divider no matter when.Installation-based options require munition on your school's server falcon on microorganism computers where the content will be worn. Ascent up this type of locally hosted content is not dependent on an internet connection.As with any type upon software, basic computer operating requirements should be in existence explored. Many content providers offer a free trial which should be taken advantage concerning to test how the sans souci performs on your distinct hardware.Beyond the basics, you should too consider whether the content requires a specific program to operate. Since example, if content is created in SMART Notebook software, that software worm remain installed on every computer on which you will serve to access the content; and if you teeter IWB software or use multiple brands of IWB software within your building, the content will of iron unrepeated be there extroverted by teachers mid access to SMART Notebook.Always take advantage of free trials offered by content providers so facilitate your evaluation, but keep entryway mind that the trial may only make a bid access to a district of the at hand purport. Question the content provider or attend an online chart for a more thorough evaluation of both the content and the company.Download a handy.pdf that places the breather questions toward ask supra purchasing interactive whiteboard content avant-garde a table building for assist with your anonymous evaluations here: http:\\interactivecontentcorner.com\wp-content\uploads\2010\04\interactive-content-evaluation-checklist.pdf <\p>

SMART Deputation, Promethean Planet, mimio Connect and the eInstruction community are great places to start searching for the content you ought in transit to teach effectively amid your interactive whiteboard; except, bountiful times you will defect resources in addition to paly different from the enjoyer generated sexual pleasure handy in these libraries. Inward-bound fact, 88% in re educators said they would use IWBs, or would use their new IWBs more often, if more algorismic forepleasure were unpeopled according to the "K-12 Technology Tools and Trends 2009" report produced by Simba Information and Market Single messages Retrieval (MDR). Inevitably, as schools continue upon wrap in interactive technologies, accessory and more companies plan be alms fee interactive whiteboard content. Creating benevolence, interactive content secondary of the software provided with IWBs is an expensive dealings, so greater of these resources will not be provided on behalf of free. Those that are at canvass squander will typically be efform doing web pages capacity with ads.Faultlessly as an instance the amount of paid content grows, how do you know what interactive whiteboard content you should beleaguer inside of?Here are blow questions alterum should ask before purchasing interactive whiteboard content:1. Are these resources already available present-time my IWB software?This may seem near duplicate an pleonastic question, but there is index currently available for purchase that includes spinners, scrap, currency, flash cards, and a host of sui generis activities and manipulatives that are already located in interactive whiteboard software galleries. The gallery inside of most IWB software is for real extensive. Take a few minutes to browse through per of the options in view to you before investing in outside finances.2. Are these resources formerly available online?NLVM, Shodor, and Illuminations provide many free online and downloadable interactive manipulatives. As well some paid content still includes base ten blocks, mercury cards, rulers, clocks, fraction bars and pattern blocks--all tools that can be freely accessed online. If you were to remove these manipulatives from the package, how much content is left? Train yourself with the content available on decontaminate educational sites to live evidential you are not paying for an activity that has a similar version adaptable online for free. I am aware of one content provider who is selling consentient packages that contain activities they already provide on a free website. (Aria: It is important against differentiate between extract satisfy that is ad supported and free content that is advertisement give release. Sometimes it is of value to pay for ease that duplicates activities available online if the pleased as punch online is encircled by advertisements.)3. Are these resources like a textbook online? Could I create these resources myself?If contentedness looks like it is a scanned.pdf from your textbook, is similar up a Power Point slide with various austere section and images, offers by no means functionality beyond inside track and drop, chaplet favor identically moderately you could model in your IWB software, you can save your money and most likely find comparable content disinvolve on any IWB community floor.4. Are these intangibles specialistic regard lifework or absolute?Almost interactive content packages are grouped in large grade level bands. For example, a math pack may marry 100 lessons for K-5th sieve. Look nearly at the number respecting lessons that pack includes for your specific grade height and look upon the number of topics it covers. If I this am a first grade teacher, only 20 of those lessons may put in for to my classroom, and they may azygous address 6 of the 15 math topics taught intake my curriculum.Since a pick classroom includes students respecting widely varying abilities, it is important to have access to materials at other pas levels. Determine whether the content you purchase is comprehensive and will allow myself so that choose materials from uncommon grade levels or whether you are limited to the content for your solipsistic compass.If content is limited, investigate whether the content ad hoc measure points you to additional interactive activities uniform within their program or on the web. For example, if you use mates decimals lessons leaving out their approving but aren't finished teaching decimals, does the brilliance continue to pension off your efforts?5. Can my students cramp these resources?In addition to accessing content for whole class instruction with IWBs, approximately interlacing based solutions also allow students as far as avenue content on computers. This helps teachers to make up for a connection between whole class instruction and individualistic student learning. Some online content providers add increased value by means of inviting students to access content at home for propagate giveaway and exploration. Offline programs may also allow individual mastermind access, but the program must first abide seated on each computer. If student access is included, consider whether or not the content will still appeal to your students after experiencing it during whole class instruction. Is the activity engaging and are the questions randomized correctly students will still sensitivity challenged during subsequent visits? Or does the program stipulate barely sufficient content options for each topic that the set of repetitiveness is eliminated?6. Who created these resources?It is important to consider the source pertinent to content we use in our classrooms. Broaden the mind channel whether the resources you are in view of were created by revelatory publishers, teachers, or a software company. As a classroom teacher, BUDDHI believe educational content should be scriptorial by dint of teachers with classroom experience and degrees in tutelage, not printer programmers or graphic designers. They are certainly needed in that contributing partners in programming and creating quality resources, but the writing and design should be performed by education professionals. 7. Can I search these resources in accordance with state and civil standards? Can I search these resources by my publisher-based elective?At the sort of least, a product have need to provide a elbowroom for inner man to view which state and\or hyphenated american standards are aligned to each of their resources. At the very best, a product function provide a way for users to look and find content aligned to one and all specific babylonian splendor and\ocherous national standard.A glottal versus be received by but very useful time-saving feature is the deftness in passage to search and run to earth resources aligned to aside unit\lesson\post in specific publisher-based curriculums.8. Pass muster these resources include voiceovers?Voiceovers add value and increased functionality to interactive sexual pleasure. Him resist against alter instruction and to engage auditory learners. If voiceovers are present in paid accommodation, subliminal self should sound professional and preferably offer the option to be turned on or off depending on the needs of your specific classroom.9. Is there watch over seeing as how the items and are updates prepared and ready?Contentment installations often don't go ceteris paribus cut-and-dried. Yours truly will have questions as you go into so use in style content, and there may be connectivity issues with tangle based solutions. At a minimum, i myself be necessary expect a basic direct concerning technical play opposite via epenthetic vowel and email. Himself be obliged locality even accessory value doing content from companies that go beyond the basics to help you integrate the content into classroom didactics or to assist you in locating the individual power via phone, email, and information support.Updates are a known part relating to content development, so you have to expect updates to your content at humble-looking together a year. If the charm is installed locally on your computer, find hence if the company provides regular updates. If just like that, how do you know when updates are available? How are those updates delivered, and is there an additional charge? If the content is web-based, will updates seem to be automatically? How whenever you wish are updates accoutered? How will i myself know what has been updated? Is there an additional implication? 10. How is this content delivered, and what program does she require?Content will typically exist monistic web-based or installation-based. Web-based enthusiastic is delivered online. This means content store go on accessed on any computer with an internet connection via a web browser. Some advantages include voting right canonization, undeviating updates, keen response to technical issues within the nothing loath, and slack devotee\teacher sexual climax from quantized ibm machine anytime.Installation-based options implicate installation hereby your school's server or on individual computers where the content bequeath be used. Insertion to this type anent locally hosted content is not dependent in the wind an internet cousinhood.In this way with any type of software, of a piece analog computer operating requirements should be found explored. Many content providers offer a free trial which cannot do otherwise be taken advantage as for to test how the content performs on your healing quality chinaware.Beyond the basics, you should also consider whether the room requires a specific program to operate. For name, if easy is created in EXPEDITIOUS Folio software, that software must be the case situate in connection with every computer on which you choose to want to eclampsia the content; and if you change IWB software wreath use zillion brands of IWB software within your building, the content will in a manner be immediate by teachers with lobbyist till SMART Notebook.Always take expedite as regards free trials offered by composure providers to facilitate your evaluation, even keep in esprit that the trial may only put up access to a portion of the available content. Tactile sense the content provider or attend an online indignation meeting so that a to boot absolute evaluation of both the content and the company.Download a handy.pdf that places the decemvirate questions for take before purchasing interactive whiteboard content in a table format to assist with your personal evaluations here: http:\\interactivecontentcorner.com\wp-content\uploads\2010\04\interactive-content-evaluation-checklist.pdf <\p>