Unleash the potential.

Y o u r G u i d e T o

A 21st Century
interactive
Learning
Environment
 contents
a 21st century interactive 3
learning environment.

What is it ? 4

your 21st century interactive 5

learning environment.

The interactive whiteboard. 6

How it works. 7

Interactive software. 8/9

A PC or Mac. 10

A Digital Projector. 10

A wireless slate. 11

Videoconferencing. 11

A formative assessment tool. 12 / 13

Tap in to the potential in 14 / 15

your classroom.

Don’t take our word for it. 16

RESEARCH In Schools. 16 / 17

RESEARCH IN Other Learning 17

Environments.

Technology as an Investment. 18

Total Cost of Ownership. 19

Questions to ask when 20 / 21 / 22

purchasing your equipment.

Promethean Planet. 23

2
a 21st century interactive
learning environment.
Today’s students have grown up in a world in living colour, fast moving, fast talking,

fading in and out, and remote controlled. Technology is moving rapidly and it is

crucial for schools and companies to keep up in order to offer the highest standard

of learning and training to their pupils or employees.

Integrated classroom systems are helping teachers to engage, motivate and assess

their students and learners. Research reinforces that assessment for learning is a

key factor in the success of educational initiatives and can develop teachers’

professional understanding about the processes of learning and how to motivate

all students.

Today’s classroom needs interactive whiteboard technology, appropriate software

and the facility to conduct formative and summative assessments easily - via a

personal response or ‘voting’ system.

This handbook is designed to help you find out more about the technology teachers

are now using to raise standards in the 21st century interactive learning

environment.

“Having had an interactive whiteboard in the school, we were aware of how it could
enhance pupils' learning. What we didn't realise before working with Promethean
was that technology existed which could bring a whole classroom alive.”

Dave Shield, Deputy Head, Parkside Secondary School, Willington, County Durham.

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 What is it ?
A 21st century interactive learning environment allows many different types of
interactions between students and teachers. It encourages students to be active
rather than passive learners. To get started you will need:

An interactive whiteboard or touch-sensitive screen - enabling anything that can

be seen or done on a computer screen to be projected on to the whiteboard.

An input device - educational specialists advise that children should be

encouraged to use a pen from an early age. A pen can be used on a
board - and this type of input device can replicate the functions of a computer
mouse.

A computer - PC or Mac

A digital projector - this may be LCD or DLP. It is generally accepted that the
colour resolution of DLP is not as good as LCD.

Sound system - most projectors include speakers although in most classrooms

a separate amplifier and speakers will provide the best results.

Interactive software - options are available for different age groups.

Formative assessment ‘voting’ device - designed to work with an interactive

whiteboard to give instant feedback, record opinions’ or gather data from the
entire class.

And you can add:

A fully integrated ‘wireless slate’ - to allow students and teachers to use the
interactive whiteboard from anywhere in the room. This offers even greater
interactivity in the classroom.

A range of other peripherals such as cameras and videoconferencing.

To get the most from your interactive environment, you also need reliable, robust
equipment that is supported by good service.

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 promethean activclassroom.

content

activprimary activstudio

activote activboard

activslate

activtablet

activpanel

projector

computer

activwand

activpen

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 The interactive whiteboard.
“I would not work in a school that did not have interactive whiteboards. It would be
like going back to the Stone Age ”.

Richard Clarke, Head of ICT, British International Primary School, Stockholm, Sweden

There are three types of Interactive whiteboards:

Infrared/ultrasound units that fix to any standard whiteboard with clips or suckers.
The main drawback is the glare from the glossy surface which can be
uncomfortable to view. They are a cheaper option but not as robust or flexible.

Passive whiteboards (analogue technology) that have a dual membrane surface

which is touch sensitive and can react to pressure from an object or finger.
They do not have mouse tracking movement and lack full interactivity. For
example, ‘pop ups’ and "rollovers" used in flash animations and web pages
cannot be triggered. Analogue technology has slower tracking and coarser
resolution than digital technology.

Active whiteboards are solid-state, impact-resistant whiteboards with the latest

advances in digital electromagnetic sensing technology. They are operated with
a cordless stylus which detects anything drawn on the whiteboard quickly and
accurately through a small magnetic field over the surface of the board.
The nature of this type of board also makes it particularly suited to a
classroom environment. Some types of digital board require a battery fitted to
the stylus for it to operate.

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How it works.
The image from a computer is projected on to the interactive whiteboard,
turning it into a very large computer screen.

The screen can be used to display computer software, web pages, CD ROMs
and videos from a variety of sources. It can replace the chalk, white or roller
board, OHP, video recorder and TV.

Unlike a projection screen, the interactive whiteboard is ‘active’. As you point or

click on icons on the board, using your finger or an appropriate ‘stylus pen’, the
action transmits to the computer. So instead of opening a computer program by
double clicking on a mouse, you simply tap twice on the icon displayed on the
whiteboard. With an interactive ‘pen’ or stylus there is also the option of a right
mouse click which also prevents fingerprints from dirtying the board.

Interactive whiteboards are supplied in a variety of sizes and can be fixed or

portable. A fixed board provides greater security. You need to make sure that
your board is large enough for all your students to read the screen easily.

Additional user controlled devices that communicate with the board can be added,
such as voting or wireless slates, so every learner can be an active participant.
You can add user-controlled devices that communicate with the board, so that
every learner can participate actively. ‘Voting’ handsets let every learner give
their opinions; wireless slates enable learners to control the board from any part
of the classroom.

PROJECTOR

INTERACTIVE
WHITEBOARD

MAC / PC INPUT DEVICE

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 Interactive software.
You wouldn’t expect a 6 year old to respond to the same software content as a
16 year old. The software you choose for your interactive whiteboard should have
different types of content, that can inspire students.

Because young children

get board more easily

Primary software

Born into a multimedia world of fast-paced video games, lively TV programmes and
the Internet, young children are accustomed to using technology. Capture their
imagination and bring lessons to life with bright images and exciting sound effects…
they’ll be having fun while they’re learning.

You can:

Easily prepare your lesson on an interactive flipchart based on a big storybook.

As you start to tell a story, activate sounds and images to make it more exciting.

Display brightly coloured images on an interactive screen.

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 Let pupils interact with the board, adding text, moving images and revealing
hidden words.

Incorporate simple counting activities, or an on-screen game, like snakes and

ladders, with a rolling-dice tool.

Encourage participation; the chunky bright coloured buttons and large icons suit
little hands.

Ensure that everyone understands the lesson with a personal response system.

Secondary software

Engage and motivate more advanced learners. You can:

Prepare interactive graphs in advance using a wide range of backgrounds and

axes from a resource library.

Hide, reveal or spotlight text and images to stimulate discussion.

Display science animations or experiments.

Play audio or video recordings at the same time as displaying or annotating text
on the screen.

Annotate text and pictures as discussion arises in the classroom. Or invite students
up to the board so they can do it themselves.

Encourage active participation through measuring tools, such as rulers or

protractors.

Further education software

Colleges and universities have long understood the benefits of ICT in their classrooms
and lecture theatres. Using dedicated software, you can engage your whole
audience, whether it’s a sixth form college, vocational college, independent
language school or university. Imagine being able to:

Increase students’ enjoyment and interest with sound or video clips.

Bring vocational teaching, such as catering and engineering, to life.

Add a personal response system to capture everyone’s opinion easily.

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 A PC or a Mac.
An interactive whiteboard is operated via a computer, which can be a standard PC
or Mac. You are unlikely to need to purchase a new computer. Check that your
computer is compatible with your chosen whiteboard and software system.

Examples of the minimum requirements:

PC
Windows operating system with a minimum of 233 Mhz, operating Win 98/2000,
ME, XP or NT and 32Mb RAM.

Mac
Macintosh operating system with a minimum of OS 9.2 or above and Mac Intel.

USB 1.1 or serial RS232.

A Digital Projector.
A digital projector will enable you to display any document, image or 3D object onto
the interactive whiteboard. Although any standard projector will work, look out for
projectors that have built in security measures to protect your investment.

You have the choice of LCD or DLP projectors. It is generally accepted that the
colour resolution of DLP is not as good as LCD.

Projectors are usually mounted on the ceiling. ‘Short Throw’ projectors are attached
to the board, about a metre from it. They give excellent results but are usually
much more expensive.

DLP is more suited to home theatre enthusiasts who watch video in a darkened
room. But in a classroom setting, there are a number of factors which make LCD
technology superior, such as more vibrant colour, brighter image and sharper text.

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A sound system.
Most interactive whiteboard systems include speakers - but you need to check that
they are suitable for your environment. You may need separate speakers.
An amplifier and speakers connected to your white board will enable you to
incorporate the audio and video into your lessons.

wireless slate.
Feedback has shown that teachers want interaction with the children at their desks
as well as at the interactive whiteboard. They also want to be able to control the
board from anywhere in the room.

A wireless slate is a fully integrated whiteboard input device, small enough and
portable to sit on a desk.

You can either move it around the class or have one for each pupil.

A wireless slate operates with the same precision as the whiteboard.

Each slate can be activated and de-activated by the teacher from the main
whiteboard.

Videoconferencing.
By adding videoconferencing you will be able to:

Communicate with other organisations, locally or worldwide and learn about their
language and culture.

Bring subject specialists into the classroom, remotely.

Take a virtual tour of a museum from the classroom.

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 A formative assessment tool.
Would you like to find out why the child in the back row never volunteers an answer ?
Too clever ? Too anxious ? Too lazy ?

By using an integrated personal response system you will be able to find out the
answer. Voting means that all the class participate.

“From my first demonstration it was evident that Promethean’s focus was enhancing
learning in the classroom and was genuinely driven by responding to the needs and
suggestions of teachers.”

Maureen Haldane, Senior Learning & Teaching Fellow

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

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Traditionally, you’d only find out some time later how well a class is following a
lesson - when written or follow-up work was analysed. By which time students may
well be unable to remember exactly what their thought processes were - and when
they started getting left behind.

A personal response or ‘voting’ system is designed to encourage class participation

and enhance learning. If you want to know instantly how well a class is following the
lesson, ask a question, let the class select their individual answers, and you know
exactly who’s clicked.

Personal response systems can be standalone or integrated into your whiteboard

system. If they are standalone, you may experience the disadvantage of having to
log in and out of its interface in order to use it. If it’s built-in, it’s available for use
anytime and so you are much more likely to use it as part of your lessons.

Votes can be recorded by individual students or by the whole class - and can all be
saved to a flipchart. Votes can be cast in ‘named’ or ‘unnamed’ mode, with only the
teacher knowing how an individual has voted.

‘Unnamed’ mode can increase students’ confidence while ‘named’ mode can
provide you with an excellent assessment tool, proving that your students are
learning.

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 Tap in to the potential in your
classroom.
“Children who have such a hard time staying on task... when you turn it on...
you get ‘em.”

Katrina English
Early Intervention Program Teacher, Upson-Lee South Elementary School, Georgia USA

Research shows that traditional methods of learning don’t suit all students. There are
many ways in which an interactive learning environment can help to raise standards.

Teachers can:

Improve the engagement with students: lessons are more interesting and the
whole class can be involved.

Address the needs of different learners, who may have different learning styles.
You can use visuals, sound and and let them touch the board...

Formative assessment: use personal response systems for formative assessment

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Engagement/different learning styles

A 21st century interactive learning environment engages all your students,

whatever type of learner they are:

Visual learners engage best with images and other visual media, and will react
well to the bright, colourful world of the interactive whiteboard.

Auditory learners will react best to auditory stimuli, such as verbal reinforcement,
group activities, and class discussions. Link interactive whiteboards to sound
effects, speeches and music and use a voting system to encourage group
interaction.

Kinaesthetic learners prefer the tactile sense, learning best with hands-on activities.
Use an interactive whiteboard environment to physically move objects around,
highlight and underline ideas and draw pictures of what is being learned.

Formative assessment

A review of research into classroom assessment has shown that ‘assessment for
learning’ is one of the most powerful ways of improving education and so raising
standards. This process of seeking and interpreting evidence, assists learners and
their teachers to determine where that are in their learning, where are the next
steps and how best to get there.

Introducing an integrated personal response system (or ‘voting’ tool) into your
learning environment, can deliver a number of benefits:

Transform ’interactive learning’ by sharing discussions and opinions.

Boost students’ motivation and self esteem by giving them all ‘a say’, which is
integral to raising standards through assessment.

Increased, improved response to students, which is more likely to give them

a clearer understanding.

Empower students to self evaluate.

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 Don’t take our word for it.
“We believe there are substantial results… which will prove how interactive
technology can act as a catalyst and thus make a real difference to the future
education of our children.”

Christina Preston, Founder & Chair of the MirandaNet Fellowship

MirandaNet is a non profit making international fellowship of teachers, teacher educators,
advisers, government agencies, university and educational researchers

RESEARCH In Schools:
An interactive environment has been the focus of many educational studies worldwide
and the results are clear.
www.partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh

Interactive classrooms…

Increase attendance levels, motivation and participation by making classes more

exciting and dynamic.
www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/ictis/infrastructure/iwb

Improve students retention of material and let them review lessons at a later
date, so reducing note-taking and allowing them to revise more accurately.
www.schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&rid=4884&wn-1

Can be adapted to the needs of students of all levels. They are equally effective
in both primary and secondary classrooms, university lecture halls, special
needs units, adult night classes and staff training schemes.
www.learningtechnologies.ac.uk

Are a catalyst for encouraging the use of digital resources. Teachers using
interactive whiteboards make proportionately greater use of digital sources in les-
son planning.

www.besanet.org.uk/besa/documents/unauthorised.jsp?item=621&file=1

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 Use software designed to cover all learning styles - visual, auditory and
kinaesthetic - by using coloured images, music, sounds, videos and the ability to
physically move things around on the board and highlight ideas or draw pictures.
www.prometheanworld.com/uk/html/training/research.shtml

Encourage creativity in teachers and pupils. Interactive classrooms help to plan

lessons, design projects, contribute in class, present pupils’ work, collate
results and much more.
www.curriculumonline.gov.uk

RESEARCH IN Other Learning

Environments:
Adult learning and staff training is another area where an interactive environment
comes into its own. You can use the interactive whiteboard to show presentations
and can record, replay and review those presentations. That makes updating
courses and reviewing them mush easier, which saves you and your students’ time.
You can add audio; you can also add videconferencing very cost effectively by using
your interactive whiteboard screen as part of the system.

www.ioe.mmu.ac.uk/promethean/

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 Technology as an Investment.
“Because the learning and educational revolution in our schools is no longer
blackboard and chalk, it is computers and electronic whiteboards, I can also announce
that over our three year programme on spending on IT, capital will now be raised to
£1.67 billion.”

Gordon Brown, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Budget speech, 16 March 2005

Technology is no longer an isolated topic, the province of experts, studied by the few;
it is integrated into every subject in the curriculum. 21st century learners expect and
need to make the most of technology.

The main benefits of interactive learning environments is their ability to deliver

measurable improvements in all subjects.

Savings in time and administrative costs will offset the cost of the initial purchase.
Grants may be available and many parent groups conduct fundraising for
technology projects. You need to consider cost as well as price: maintenance,
training and software will be needed over the long term.

Particular attention should be paid to the cost of technical support, replacement

and warranty.

You will need to invest in training to ensure educators are using the technology to
its full potential.

Interactive whiteboards can often be linked to existing equipment such as

computers and projectors.

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Total Cost of Ownership.
A 21st century learning environment is a long term investment. When purchasing
technology you should consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) - by calculating all
the initial costs as well as operating costs of the equipment, such as ongoing
support or replacement bulbs/batteries.
Use the check-list below:

Direct costs Ongoing costs

Hardware:
Interactive whiteboard
Computer
Projector
Speakers
Formative assessment tool
Wireless slate
Videoconferencing

Software

Technical support

Training

Warranty

Replacement costs:

Bulbs
Batteries
Pens

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 Questions to ask when
purchasing your equipment.

Checks to make Notes

Durability
How easily is the board damaged ?

Can the board use dry erase markers ?

What if permanent marker is used ?

How long do batteries (if required)

usually last ?

Features/functions
Is the board infrared, analogue or
electromagnetic ?

Is reflection or glare an issue ?

Is the calibration process simple ?

How often do you need to do this ?

How easy is it to begin use ?

Are the user manuals easy to

understand?

Is there full mouse functionality?

Warranty
What warranty and repair service is
offered ?

How much will replacement batteries

or pens cost ?

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 Checks to make Notes

Security
Does the company offer any help
or advice with security ?

What can you do to help keep

equipment secure ?

Installation
Is installation provided ?

Are the installers fully trained ?

Is there a quick start guide ?

Training
Is training provided ?

Is online training available ?

Is there a plan for training new staff ?

Can skills be updated ?

What courses are offered for

the future ?

Software
What features does the software offer ?

Are there integrated tools and

resources ?

Can they be updated and added to ?

Does it have a step by step

undo/redo and page reset feature ?

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 Checks to make Notes

Software continued

Is there a page notes option ?

What can be printed ?

Is there a search facility ?

Is software differentiated for

different age groups ?

Add-ons
What other features are available ?

Does it have an audio or video

capture feature ?

Can images and text be dragged

and dropped from websites, word,
excel etc ?

Can the personal response system

be integrated ?

Is there an wireless slate available

for any pupil to use at their desks ?

Support
Is there any on-going support for
problems and advice ?

How can they be reached ?

Do they have any on-line support ?

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 Promethean Planet
a collaborative community
sponsored by promethean
for the interactive classroom
users of the 21st century.

Would you like to make the most

of your interactive technology ?

Are you looking for the latest teacher-submitted lessons,

resources and activities ?

Do you simply want to share your experiences with peers

online, get expert advice, or free online training ?

If so, Promethean Planet is the perfect place to start your search.

www.prometheanworld.com/prometheanplanet

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 Started in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1995. Still based there today.

The dream of a small group of people. Still at the heart of the company today.

Privately funded and self financing. Still the case today.

Made real with hard work and the insights of teachers. Still our philosophy today.

Born of the best products and support that won’t let students down. Still so today.

Now joined by hundreds of employees with the same dream and vision.

Now helping millions of children in over 70 countries.

Now with a range of market leading products, in a package to suit you.

www.prometheanworld.com email: info@prometheanworld.com

Promethean House, Lower Philips Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 5TH England, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 870 241 3194 Fax: +44 (0) 870 241 2176