Teachers who attend our Summer Institute in Palo Alto become NGPF Fellows the following school year -- this Fellowship includes presenting with us at PD sessions, offering NGPF feedback on products, writing guest blog posts, ... the list goes on. Today features a Tech Tool Review from Ruth Sisman of Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, VA. Here's what Ruth has to say...

Tech Tool: MimioTeach Portable Interactive Whiteboard 

Cost:

• $859 (at time of review) 

Use Case: 

• You can turn a regular whiteboard into an interactive smartboard
• The software is the same as with the fixed smartboards, but this is less expensive
• You can use their software and/or your own presentations, etc.
• Unlike the permanent smartboard, you don’t have to worry about messing up the board if you write on it. You’re just writing on your whiteboard
• It frees up valuable whiteboard space
• It’s shareable between teachers if budgets are limited. Each teacher just has to have the software on their computer.

Implementation Guidance: 

It’s easy to set up. Just download the software, sync the system to your computer, find a place on the board to attach (it’s magnetic), calibrate it and you’re ready to go. If you’re a floating teacher, it’s easy to move the interactive system from one classroom to another.

Pitfalls to Avoid:

Your computer shouldn’t be too far from the interactive system. My computer sits about 10 feet from the system. The “pen” has buttons to open the software tools. Students have to get used to using them.

Other Notes:

I love this tool because of the usefulness of the product and board space isn’t hampered by a large permanently attached smart board. Students think it’s pretty cool too that a whiteboard can be turned into a smart board. I share it with another teacher so if the school’s budget is limited, this is a great way to share resources in various classrooms

*Note: We at NGPF haven't used this tool, but Ruth's recommending it!

About the Author

Jessica Endlich

When I started working at Next Gen Personal Finance, it's as though my undergraduate degree in finance, followed by ten years as an educator in an NYC public high school, suddenly all made sense.