An interactive whiteboard is this generation’s take on traditional whiteboards. Also known as digital whiteboards or smart whiteboards, these interactive displays are used in online whiteboard for teaching and educational settings to increase productivity, interaction, and collaboration.

With advancements in educational technology (edtech), there have been significant changes in what interactive whiteboards can do, so we’re going to help you understand everything you need to know about interactive whiteboards in the classroom.

So what actually is an interactive board? Interactive whiteboards, or smart boards to many,  come in a couple of different guises. Historically, they were a whiteboard that still used a projector that allowed you to interact with things on the screen, using pens and touch to highlight or change what was being projected.

In more recent years, interactive whiteboards have changed again, continuing to update with the times. Now, an interactive whiteboard is more akin to a display with even more intuitive interactive elements. This means that rather than use a projector, you’ll find many interactive whiteboards are simply smart screens that can connect to the internet, play video, show presentations and even connect to other devices in your classroom.