Eight Ways Interactivity Drives Better Learning In The Classroom

Interactivity Adds A New Dimension To Lesson Planning And Delivery

For educators, engaging students is an ongoing challenge. According to a national survey organized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), one in three teenage students is bored “all the time” at school. For some of those perpetually bored students, it may be a matter of outdated or less-engaging pedagogy, not a matter of motivation.In many instances, these students can be energized into learning with better technology and lessons built using that improved technology. Interactive displays are one such technology, as they can be used to craft visually compelling lessons and foster collaboration between students, among many other benefits.

Eight Reasons An Interactive Display Will Drive Learning In Your Classroom

Interactive displays, like many AV technologies, are gaining popularity in U.S. classrooms. That’s because interactive displays are a natural fit in classrooms. Here are eight reasons why:

1. It encourages students to willingly engage - Some students just don’t respond to traditional stand-and-deliver lecturing, and without compelling visual aids to pair with it, those students will not plug in. Interactive displays can encourage disengaged students to approach the lesson using different teaching tools. Modern displays like the Clevertouch are capable of outputting vivid imagery at 4K UHD resolution, which is interesting enough, but the display’s interactivity also drives student participation. With audible, visual, and tactile elements working together, it’s more likely that every student will find at least part of the lesson interesting.
2. 2. Students can control the technology instantly -Today’s students are more comfortable with tech, so they are quick to embrace new AV solutions. This is especially true of interactive displays, as they can be controlled much like a smartphone or tablet. As students are able to immediately get comfortable with an interactive display, they can focus on the lesson instead of wrestling with the tools.
3. 3. It allows students to express themselves in additional ways - Every student is, of course, different. They respond to different subjects and different types of projects. With an interactive display, educators have a dynamic canvas that students can use to share images, videos, animations, illustrations, outlines, and any other media. With so many media presentation tools available, teachers can encourage their students to get creative with presentations and stretch their abilities in a way that’s most comfortable to them.
4. 4. It facilitates a collaborative classroom - It’s tough getting students to collaborate effectively, but it’s easier with an interactive display. With multi-touch enabled surfaces, multiple students can use the display at once, so groups can work together to brainstorm with visual media, annotate where necessary, and research using the display’s built-in browser.
5. 5. Interactive displays come packaged with powerful educational software - Top interactive display brands like Clevertouch and Promethean don’t stop with leading hardware. Both companies also pair their displays with versatile educational software, and this software can be used to build engaging lessons, facilitate group brainstorming, simplify whiteboarding, and allow students to connect their own devices and share content. Further, established interactive display brands have their own ecosystems where new lesson content and apps are pushed over all the time.
6. 6. Students and educators can control the board remotely - Users don’t have to be at the display to control it, as controls are usually made available through the display’s app. Teachers can roam around the room and help maintain order while still pushing the lesson forward. Students can also operate the display from their desks, which is easier for introverts to handle and speeds the lesson up.
7. 7. It reduces the workload on educators - Interactive displays offer an array of teaching tools to educators, so it’s easier to build compelling lessons, faster. The Clevertouch and Promethean’s ActivPanel both come with content templates for quizzes and activities. Further, some interactive display software can simulate science experiments or provide an art canvas for creative work. With so many tools available, teachers can focus on making lessons more interesting without as much time pressure.
8. 8. Interactive displays are reliable, low maintenance solutions - No matter how effective a piece of technology is, if it’s difficult to operate or manage, it won’t be completely adopted. Interactive displays are built on proven technologies, including reliable operating systems and durable LED displays. Teachers can rely on their interactive display to be available and accessible without fail.

A Certified AV Integrator Can Help Your School Launch Its Own interactive Display Initiative

Interactive displays require little time to install and set up, but it’s still a good idea to go through a trusted AV integrator when bringing them into the classroom. Here are a few reasons why:

• Certified integrators will offer training along with installation - It may be easy to install an interactive display, but it may not be immediately obvious how to unlock the technology’s full capabilities. Educators must be comfortable with the display before students can use it with confidence, which is why certified integrators offer training as part of the integration process. Training is designed with the team’s technical ability and comfort in mind, and also targets the functions that the team will use the most.
• Certified integrators also provide ongoing maintenance and support - A certified integrator knows that installation is only the beginning. Before long, additional configuration, optimization, and the occasional hardware replacement will be needed. That’s why certified AV experts encourage their clients to cover their solution with a maintenance agreement. Under such an agreement, the integrator is responsible for remote and onsite support, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, handling warranties and more. This ensures your solution remains stable for years after it is installed.
• Certified integrators can customize a solution to best fit a client’s needs - Interactive displays may only be one part of your school’s ideal AV solution. Perhaps your school also needs video conferencing, or streaming, or digital signage. Perhaps your district is considering exciting, emerging technologies like virtual reality or augmented reality. A certified AV integrator is familiar with what’s on the market, how they perform in educational settings, and how to properly integrate them into a larger AV solution. Through a single integrator, schools can secure all of their educational technology needs.

Students respond well to interactive displays, and teachers can use them to get students interested in their lessons. It’s a win on both sides, and with a certified integrator stewarding your solution, it can be achieved quickly and cost effectively.