Two weeks ago, some classrooms, mainly in the English department, received new Viewboards to replace their projectors. The new boards are undoubtedly an upgrade from the whiteboards and projectors. They were installed over the whiteboards, replacing them with a white screen.
Features
These brand-new boards allow the user to connect their computer to the board without a wired connection. Teachers can broadcast their screens to their class using a one-time code and a clear, digital screen instead of the unclear projected screen. The screens have pens you can use to write on the board. You can also draw and erase using your hands. They help in classes where teachers must highlight specific information for students to copy down and draw diagrams during a lesson. They are also helpful to students whose vision is not quite good, as they broadcast a clearer screen than the projectors do.
A Teacher’s Perspective of Viewboards
We interviewed Mr. Jago, an English teacher who received one of these new boards, to understand how he feels about the new addition to his classroom.
“I was excited! I’ve never worked with something like this and it’s very cool to have in the classroom!” Jago explained. We asked further questions, such as if he prefers the Viewboard over the whiteboard and projector.
“The more I use it, the Viewboard is better for me. I like that I can project anything I need to and can write over anything projected,” he stated. “It’s also much easier to write on for notes.”
When acquiring new technology, some issues may begin to pop up in the beginning. We asked Mr. Jago if he had any issues with the new board, and he had this to say.
“I haven’t had any issues. I have been able to show videos, write notes, project questions and assignments, and anything else I’ve needed. It’s a cool addition to the classroom and I’m happy with it!”
Our final question to Mr. Jago was whether or not the new board has made improvements in teaching for him.
“I think it makes teaching easier. Any technology that adds to the classroom makes our jobs a little bit easier, so I am all about it!” he answered.
The new boards have been a nice addition to classrooms, but also show how the world of education has vastly changed. The use of electronic devices has greatly increased in schools across the globe. Each student is given a Chromebook at Woodbridge High School, and in some classes, notes are typed in rather than jotted down. It is a small sign that someday, teaching may become completely digital.
