Let’s Play! Incorporating Interactive
Whiteboard Games in the Classroom
PBS-Booth 948
Questions & Comments
Twitter: #pbsiwb
Email: whiteboard@pbs.org
Session Overview:
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Incorporating Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Games into Lessons
Best Practices for Game Use
Tools and Tips for Game Evaluation
2nd grade teacher: how does she use IWBs in her classroom? –Renee Fruge from Louisiana
Case studies of IWB game evaluation from a K-5 Tech Coordinator
PBSKids.org is made up of two different sites (ages 2-5 and go.org for 6-10 yrs.)
Their philosophy is to be where kids are, making them accessible online, through live events and other
offline activities, as well as apps for iPods and iPads. You can stop by their booth to learn more about
their applications with iPods.
PBSKids Play: Literacy, Math, Science, etc. where teachers can set up accounts for kids and it will track
student progress with data.
PBS has paid attention to studies that have shown IWBs to increase student engagement and
motivation. Therefore, they looked at their http://www.PBSkids.org/whiteboard site to evaluate and
modify their games to meet learning needs.
Set the stage: quiet cheering, no ‘booing’ Games are used as a positive reinforcement for using
the IWB, and rule 3 is they have a Vanna White so Renee (teacher) can fulfill her job to facilitate the
lesson while the kids are interacting with each other through the IWB game
Room is set up in groups of students that will come to the board to play the PBS games
Other implementations of Games:
Small Group Learning Station with the IWB being its own center
Bell Ringer-5 minutes before or after the bell rings students review so they get settled down and
ready to learn or ready to leave to go to recess/lunch
Rainy Day-captain and Vanna are in charge of games, groups come up to play the games
Neil Martell, New Brunswick, CA K-5 Tech Mentor:
His role: Use of IWB, Offer lunch-n-learn sessions, find and create lessons, share tips and tricks
His tips and tricks:
 Create a step for kids to stand on to reach the board
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use a Smart Pen as a mouse
Use soft-tipped pointers
Use fingers from gloves (keeps board clean)
How and Where to Find IWB Games? Go to Google.com and find some from SMART Exchange,
education.smartech.com and Witchita’s web site for a wealth of resources
What makes a good IWB game?
Engaging
Educational
Interactive
Easy to Use
Student-Friendly
Different Learning Styles
What are some of the common pitfalls?
o Lack of educational content
o Distracting Visuals
o Lack of Engaging Educational Content
o Lack of Continuity
How does Neil evaluate an Interactive Game?
o Appearance-First impressions
o Curriculum Content-Best Fit
o Navigation and Educational Aspects
o Continuity and Options
o Is there enough interactivity?
o Is it engaging enough to pull kids in?
o Recommendations as to grade level, content area
o Finally, Educator Feedback-is it suitable or not so much?
Discussion/Feedback: you can send comments either via e-mail whiteboard@pbs.org or on Twitter
#pbwiwb
What qualities do you look for in a game for IWBs?
What are some other tips you have for using IWB games in class?
Where do you find IWB games?
All games are developed by those script writers who do the shows on PBS. They are testing their games
for educational impact. What does this means? It means that for all games, they have a related video
that corresponds.
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