Teachers in Warren County, PA appeared to be vying for “ best whiteboard subject area” when a local paper asked about the new teaching tool.

Math teacher Jim Campbell explains they are best suited to, well, math, as he demonstrates how to use a complicated calculator. The students can clearly see each button. “It’s a fantastic tool, Campbell said. “It’s easier, it’s more interactive. This technology has probably changed the way that I teach more than any other.”

But composition is where the whiteboard shines, claims Director of Technology and Information Management, Amy Stewart. A sample can be put on the board, and words and phrases can be selected and dragged.

Of course, the science students’ virtual frog dissection had great value. The art teacher and football coach also think they have the best application.

If the course subject won’t determine the most important whiteboard application, Campbell trumps them with the feature of translating handwriting to text. “My handwriting is horrible. They used to struggle to get used to my hieroglyphics.”

Clearly, all the teachers love them. “There’s not one of the teachers that use them that would ever give them,” says Campbell.

The district of roughly 7,800 students purchased 25 systems with a computer, software, projector, screen and connections at a cost of about $3,000 each. They are on wheels, so they can easily move to different classrooms.

Source: Times Observer, Smart Boards; classrooms are losing the chalk, by Brian Ferry