I have been teaching for a short while now, and it occured to me that I could make my own Interactive Whiteboard as a practice tool at home. I feel my end product is much more than that. If you used a laptop with a digital projector, you pretty much have a good sized standard Interactive Whiteboard to use anywhere. The only difference is that the commercial models cost several thousands, and our ghetto whiteboard costs umm... about £20/$40.
So this is what we need:
-1 Nintendo Wii remote/Wiimote . Which I bought on ebay for around £15/$30.
-1 Bluetooth Dongle. Again, from ebay for £3/$6
For the pen you need:
-1 empty plastic biro pen tube
-1 AAA battery
-1 AAA battery holder - around 40 pence
-1 push-to-make microswitch - around 80 pence
-1 100ma Infra Red (IR) LED - around 70 pence
-Some thin plastic coated wire
-Some tape
You can get all the electrical components you need from Maplin.
If you have a soldering iron too, then whoop-dee-doo.
For the software:
-SMART Notepad software
-Bluetooth application (Like Bluesoleil)
-This Wii whiteboard Calibration Application
-Microsoft .Net Framework
-Direct X SDK
Position your Wiimote facing your screen like this:
Then connect the Wiimote by pressing a button on the Wiimote, and clicking 'attach device' on your Bluesoleil software:
Once connected, install Directx SDK & .net Framework. Then, run the Wiimote Whiteboard calibration app. And, using your IR pen, click once on each of the four crosshairs on the screen. This enables the Wiimote to recognise the boundary of your computer screen.
Then, Launch the SMART notebook application:
And scribble away.
The pen is engaged with the click of the microswitch. Click once on the pen tools, and hold down to write on the page. You can select the various writing tools, and board rubbers. Even play interactive educational activities like those found on the BBC Bitesize website!! If you have any questions then just ask me. :)
