Interactive white table

The interactive white table (TBI) is a device combining the advantages of a touchscreen and vidéoprojection.

A tactile white screen is connected to a computer via a cable (generally USB). It is able to transmit various information to him, of which the new position of the cursor of the mouse, by touching. A videoprojector undertakes to post the screen of the computer, on the white table.

It is thus possible to carry out with the hand or using a stylet (according to the model), all that is possible to realize using a mouse, on a format of rather important screen (until more 2m of diagonal). In general, the table is provided with a dedicated software, which makes it possible to benefit from the new possibilities of this technology.

The computer connected to the TBI does not need to be very powerful.

The applications of the TBI are found in the field of the companies (conferences and meetings), or in the school field. The price of the complete device is approximately 3.000 euros (table and videoprojector included/understood), with the result that it is not intended to the private individual. It should be noted that there exist now solutions of mobile TBI starting from approximately 700 euros (without the videoprojector).

Fields of the company

to supplement

Used in the companies, the TBI makes it possible a lecturer to present data to many people and to interact on the presentation while remaining upright beside the table. The provided software also makes it possible to write or draw directly on the screen, using a virtual felt, finger or of a stylet.

Fields of the school

Several countries try out the use of the TBI in the classes, as the England (very advances some in the field) or the France.

A white black board…!

The TBI replaces the black board, in theory. Indeed, one can write there, draw there, as on a true table, without fearing a possible allergy to the chalk dust. Moreover, it makes it possible to move the drawn objects (a word, a circle, etc), of the redimensionner and to make them undergo a rotation. One is able also to post there an image, a photograph or even an animation. The contents of the table can be safeguarded, printed and prepared in advance by the teacher. The obliteration of the table and its replacement by another contents is very easy.

Of course, even if its dimension is important, it does not have same surface that a traditional table, and does not make it possible several people simultaneously to work. This limitation makes that two tables (black and the white) are often used in parallel or in a complementary way.

Installation

In a class, the obstruction is important, even if solutions without wire are proposed. The electric cables run a little everywhere, and the videoprojector must be at a minimal distance from the table, without obstacle: the ideal being to fix it at the ceiling, in order to avoid a too great shadow by the manipulator.

Fields of training

In all the fields of training, one can have recourse to the table: sciences, mathematics (handling of geometrical figures, for example), French, arts, music etc

Sometimes, only the videoprojector will be used as support of course, at other times one will use more the interest of the interactivity, than that is the pupil or the teacher who handle the TBI.

Original applications

As it is possible to post complex objects on the table, like images, original applications can be conceived. Analyzes of works, for example, can be imagined on this table, which is not easily realizable with chalk.

The TBI also makes it possible to conceive more ludic and more attractive lessons.

Work of the teacher

The possibilities of the tool are so vast that they often exceed the imagination of the pedagog. A lesson which uses the TBI must be completely reconsidered, if one wants to really exploit the resources at his disposal. That logically involves an extra work of work for the teacher, but the benefit are certain: to call into question its practice can only make progress the methods of teaching.

The other possibility of the tool is the preparation in advance of whole tables. For example, several texts with holes can be posted with the TBI, one following the other without wasting time.

Limits

The table remains a mainly collective tool, which can even be used in a frontal use, i.e. little differentiated, which is rather contradictory with modern pedagogy, a roof!

One can however make use of the TBI like tool of remediation (while reconsidering a lesson or a exercise which was posted). It also facilitates the presentation of work of groups. It also makes it possible a child to complete an individual work, while being advised and being helped by a group.

Passed the phase of discovered innovation, the TBI becomes a tool like another. It is the work of the teacher and his capacity to create gravitational activities which count. Technology does not replace a teaching of quality and forever made the children more intelligent.

Within a more technical framework, one will note the poverty of the software offers in the field of alternative data processing (doing without the Operating system Windows), although progress was made. SmartTech offers a support Linux and Mac. Prometehean is compatible Mac OS X, HITACHI and GTCO CalComp are also compatible Mac OS X like Linux around Mandriva, Debian and Red Hat. EBeam supports also Mac with the last version of its software. In a similar register, the software (seldom see) is not always translated.

Other solutions

The TBI belongs to the Technologies information and communication for education.

  • the computer site: room which is intended to accommodate a whole of computers (generally in network). The teachers of the various classes follow one another it, generally while following a planning fixed in advance (what does not offer really flexibility). The schools (and municipalities) seldom have the means of offering a work station by pupil, which poses a problem of organization.

  • the computer at the bottom of the class. Each class has one or two work stations, often in access self-service. This solution is often more expensive than a computer site (wiring of the school) and it allows only one number limited pupils to work. On the other hand, it corresponds much better to the reality of a class where is practiced individualized work.

  • the class desk. Of an extremely high cost, it is still at the experimental stage and risk to remain it a long time. Each pupil has a station on his work table, and data processing is thus present in almost all the trainings of the day. In addition to the price, the principal disadvantage consists in solidifying the provision of the class. Impossible to move the tables or the chairs, to form groups for a project.

  • With progress of wireless technologies, the “mobile rooms of data processing”, equipped with Management software of class, could become a real alternative: a Salle of mobile computing is a system mobile and handy, which accommodates equipment IT of classroom supplements and who allows to set up in any part an infrastructure without cable for a course using the computer support.

Future

Impossible to say if, in the future, this table is likely to replace the black board. For the moment, it remains at the stage of the experimentation. However, it has significant assets:

  • For the municipalities: the installation of TBI is less expensive than a computer site.

  • For the teachers: its use, rather near to the traditional table, does not require a great investment, if one does not seek to exploit all his possibilities. It offers a control of the work of the pupils much larger than the computer to the bottom of the class.
  • media Visibility: the idea to remove the mythical black board, the “magic” side of the tool much more visual than a monitor of computer, can only attract the media fond of delicacies of images. And that is important for the communication of the policies.
  • For the parents, it is also an at the same time innovative device (new technology) and reassuring (it resembles a true table).

Remain to wonder whether this tool will be a real revolution for the pupils, while taking account of possible physical concern (like tires/wear of the eye like epilepsy, being related to posting by sweeping or the need for working in a permanent way in a darkened room if the use of this type of table extends.) seldom noticed because rather indirect. Currently in 2006, one can only say that will depend on the applications created by the teachers.

See too

External bonds

  • General information on the TBI, comparative study…
  • Expertise relative for the use of the interactive white table in elementary school
  • a teaching sequence in physics (in class of 5th, with the college) resting on a TBI
  • a teaching sequence in economic scenes and social resting on a TBI

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