Whiteboards and markers received a grand welcome into the classroom some years ago. Dusty chalk and messy blackboards were a thing of the past and not missed at all. These days we have the wonder of wonders in the form of innovative touch screen learning.

This new whiteboard can be described as at the cutting edge of educational tools. Markers that used to go missing in the blink of an eye have become redundant. Fingers do the job with superb efficiency. The power of the finger on these cutting edge innovations is simply awesome.

These whiteboards allow the educator to integrate internet images into his lesson. At the touch or slide of a finger he can alter the perspective to suit his demonstration. Say for example you wish to explore a specific landmark. An internet map system will locate this and while it is on the screen you can zoom in for a closer look.

You can also look at it from any other angle by tilting and turning it. Perhaps your lesson needs to focus on a building in another country far from home. With the image on the whiteboard, you can change the perspective at the touch of a finger. You can also take your class through the building and highlight different objects present in a room. A design can be examined in fine 3D detail without the tedium of doing any drawings.

An educator at a recent educational expo stated that this wonder screen is like a dream come true in the classroom. It can be described as a movie and whiteboard blend. Students can explore cities and find landmarks and buildings. They can delve into shipwrecks or walk through caves without leaving the room. The vivid imagery makes them feel that they have stepped into another world. The images can be moved and manipulated by touch.

More than one student can perform independent tasks and research on the same board at the same time. This is a very recent development in whiteboard technology. It is also possible for two individuals to focus on different aspects of the same project and bring it together at the end.

Technological advances have crept into classrooms and it is not easy to ascertain exactly when the use of drawings and images became prevalent in education. Cavemen no doubt taught their youth through drawings on cave walls. Sidney Pressey introduced a mechanical teaching device in the 1920s. This allowed students to answer multiple choice questions by pressing keys and not having to use pen and paper. Movies and slide shows also became useful teaching aids when learning through aural and visual means proved to be successful. Educationists and the technology industry have captured this theory to produce the invaluable whiteboards of the modern classroom.

The versatility of touch screen learning is valued by educationists in all walks of life across the globe. The introduction of a tablet which will operate in a similar way is expected very soon. Technology is playing a valuable role in the development of the state-of-the-art classroom.

Author Bio: The Vinci touch screen for toddlers is not just an iPad for babies, but a new approach to early learning through the use of specially designed apps and advanced technology.

Category: Education
Keywords: society,technology,education,babies,toddlers,children,computers,home,communications,economy,internet