Drumcondra Education Centre - Interactive Whiteboards

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CBI Interactive Whiteboard Project - DEC, ICS, CESI

(In case you arrive at this page via an Internet Search, click here to get to the CBI Project Homepage)

General Board Information
Specific Brand Information
Disclaimer

Which is the best whiteboard system?

I do not have the answer that perhaps you want to this question. In my experience, motivated and supported teachers can do wonderful things with any of the board sytems. They all have their own strengths and limitations. Teachers have to take the time to get to know their particular system, and to use it to its advantage - just like teachers already do with textbooks. The most important question to ask is "how can the teacher most effectively teach with the particular whiteboard brand" ..the emphasis should be on the teacher, the students and the pedagogy, rather than on the board. As Paddy Bates always said "Pedagogy leads, technology follows"

Teachers who are looking to author their own content should look closely at the software element of the whiteboard systems. There are other teachers who are not interested in authoring, but are happy to use existing third-party interactive software and/or websites: for this latter, you will find solutions at the cheaper end of the market. Please note that in both cases, the teacher can build engaging lessons ('cheaper' is not being used in any pejorative sense). For some, a computer with remote mouse and/or keyboard - coupled with the essential Projector - can be sufficient financial investment. Again, such investment must be matched with teacher input. Having said all the above, I still come back to the Computer/Projector/Whiteboard suggestion for classrooms - the evidence exist that in the right hands these are are a formidable combination

The DICTAT (INTO) Mailing List Archive has carried comments from Teachers who have used different boards: see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dictat/messages (and then Search using 'whiteboard')
Our own CESI Discussiion Forum carries comments at http://cesi.ie/forum/
See the "Foundation Stage Discussion Forum" at http://www.foundation-stage.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=4706
Check if your local Education Centre or CESI Branch is holding a whiteboard demonstration

In the UK, whiteboards (hardware, software and Projectors) must comply with certain minimum standards: visit http://stagebecta.ngfl.gov.uk/leas/display.cfm?section=14_5_3_2 and download the Word document http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/whiteboards/functional_specification.doc. Boards which meet this standard can carry an official Becta-approved logo. There is no such minimum standard in Ireland, although we would be wise to observe these Becta standards!

What can I buy, based on my budget?

Purchase based on Budget (this is a guide only: please look at the quality of the Board, of the Software and of the Support, as well as thinking in terms of the potential use of the Board in the Classroom; the last thing a school needs is an expensive wall-hanging!)

All systems require you to use your own Computer (or Laptop)
Most Ceiling-mounted Projectors require installation of Electrics by an approved installer
Guide Prices include VAT, and are only an indication of price
€500 - Installation This is a guide price for the installation of the wall-mounted 'special' boards
€500 - Graphics Tablet - use a wireless tablet to control your PC from anywhere(?) in the room, and have the image projected via your projector. Note that some brands of whiteboards have their own brand-specific tablets
€1000 - eBeam or Mimio - Attach these to your existing (ordinary) Board, and use your own Data Projector; installation not required
€1200 - use a Tablet PC and your own projector. The Tablet PC's screen is your working, portable surface. Note that whiteboard software may not be compatible with this approach.
€1600 - 3M Board - Buy this 'special' board; use your existing Projector
€2,420 – Promethean ACTIVboard - Buy this 'special' board; use your existing Projector
€2800 - SMART Board - Buy this 'special' board; use your existing Projector
€ 3600 inc VAT - Full system: IMEX Interwrite Interactive Whiteboard (77.5") and Mistubishi DLP XGA Projector (model XL9U for the Education Sector), Ceiling Mounting Kit. Sound system and Installation included
€3800 - Inspire Board and Projector - Buy this 80-inch touchscreeen board, together with Epson EMP-X5 projector, with free bulb. Installation extra
€3800 - 3M Close Projector - Buy this 'super close' Projector and use your existing ordinary Board with eBeam or Mimio; or else use this Projector with the 3M 'special' board
€4600 - 3M Projector with eBeam - Buy this 'super close' Projector, including eBeam; use your ordinary whiteboard
€5000 - ACTIVboard (Promethean) - Buy this 'special' board, with new Projector and Speakers; includes installation
€5000 - SMART Board - Buy this 'special' board, with new Projector and Speakers; includes installation

I have discovered that "PC World Business" sell a large range of boards: see the list (with prices) at http://www.pcwb.ie/action/find-similar?similar-to=EBEAM004

Where can we buy a CBI?

Scroll down this page for details of these, other boards and other retailers. Note that there may be other boards and other approved resellers 'out there'. If such companies provide their details, I will try to incude such on this website. It may also be possible that the market will grow to such an extent that I will not be able to maintain all details. It is possible also the linked website addresses on this site may have changed: again, I bear no responsibiltiy for updating all of these and I rely on third parties to inform me of such changes. Drumcondra Education Centre nor its agents does not endorse one commercial product over another.

Be aware that in order to meet Public-Sector Purchasing Guidelines, you should get at least three written quotations for any purchase over Euro 635 (and, in addition, a Tax-Clearance Certificate for any purchase over Euro 6350)

The CBI Project is using the following board systems:

Recent additions to the CBI Project portfolio include the following systems:

The following are not in use in the CBI Project, but you may find the weblinks useful:

Inspire

Onfintiy

RM Classboard

N.B. Please note that any prices mentioned here are for guideline purposes only - you must approach a retailer and seek specific pricing for your school/college. Prices vary from time to time, individual resellers can quote very different prices, and this page is only a very 'rule of thumb' guide. I have seen price differences of Euro 600 on the same board, so please shop around, ask the Resellers, and get Quotations...E&OE. Reference to Companies on this site is as an information-servive, rather than a specific endorsement.

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The CBI Project is using Promethean boards from Prim-Ed (http://www.prim-ed.com/home.php?country=IRE),

Promethean: Prim-Ed in Wexford (http://www.prim-ed.com/home.php?country=IRE) are the sole accredited dealer in Ireland (Republic)

Prices for their Bundle guide at around Euro 4840 (including VAT) for an ACTIVboard (classroom size 78" diagonal, user software (ACTIVprimary and/or ACTIVstudio), a Sanyo XU70 data projector (1500 lumens, XGA), fully installed, ceiling-mounted and two-hours training (with follow-up support).

The new ACTIVboard+2 with Integrated Projector and Sound can be bought for Euro 5600 inc VAT

Details of the board at ...http://www.prometheanworld.com/uk/html/uksolutions/products/activboard.shtml (and scroll down the page to get the PDF document). Also, there is a new site being developed at http://www.prometheanireland.ie/