In schools, the whiteboard, or dry erase board, has become an important tool for teaching and training processes. With the addition of computers to the classroom and office, chalk dust from the old chalkboards became troublesome to the keyboards, hard drives, and monitors of computers, as well as to those people who suffered from allergies. Due to necessity and convenience, whiteboards are now a more popular alternative to chalk.

Now that you know the biggest advantage of having a whiteboard in your classroom, you probably have a few questions about whiteboards. Here are a few helpful tips for making your whiteboard purchase successful.

What is the difference between melamine and porcelain steel?
Whiteboards are primarily made out of two materials: melamine or porcelain steel. Each board has its advantages, and you will find that one type may be a better fit for you than the other.

Melamine whiteboards are the most economical choice for those who plan only light to moderate use. These dry erase boards are best suited to cafeterias, meeting rooms, and locker rooms. They are made of hard plastic with a clear coat writing surface, which makes them easy to write on and easy to erase. However, over time, the clear coat writing surface will wear away, creating the ghosting effect (an effect that looks as though residual markings exist after cleaning). If you are looking for an affordable dry erase board to use from time to time, the melamine boards are your best choice.

Porcelain steel boards are a bit more expensive than melamine, though their cost has gone down dramatically since their inception. Porcelain steel boards are intended for moderate to high or long-term usage. The porcelain construction is much less susceptible to ghosting effects. These whiteboards are manufactured with a steel background, which allows for magnets to be applied to them. If you are looking for a dry erase board to use often, the porcelain steel style will be the best fit for the long run.

What is an electronic whiteboard?
An electronic whiteboard is a tool that can be used to capture notes written on your whiteboard and saved to your computer. Notes can easily be printed out at the end of lectures so students can focus on materials presented and participate in lectures rather than just copy down notes.

Plug your computer into a projector and your desktop applications can become interactive. You can control your PowerPoint presentations right from your board. Interactive whiteboards allow you to change slides, edit documents, and even visit websites without ever touching your computer.

Simply place your receiver in the corner of your board and plug it into your computer's USB port and a power source. Most units come with three different types of power sources. You can choose from USB, AC, or batteries. Your board receiver can be mounted on your current board permanently with mounting hardware, or temporarily with temporary mounting tools, such as suction cups or adhesive strips.

You will have to install software that comes included with all of our products to your computer. Once the program is running on your computer, simply use the electronic pens to write on your board and the receiver will capture your writing and transfer it to your computer. With just a simple click, all of your notes can be saved or printed out to give to students.

Interactive whiteboards are becoming a great lecture tool in all types of settings. You will never have to worry about re-writing or typing up a lecture again. Interactive boards have tons of great features that work for a variety of people, including educators. You can print notes for colleagues, capture lectures for students, or save drawings as JPEGs for use on websites.

When choosing your electronic whiteboard, make sure to read the description to find out if the board will be compatible with your computer. While most boards are compatible with both PCs and Macs, there are some that are only compatible with PCs.

And, you can turn your old whiteboard into an electronic whiteboard. Buying an electronic whiteboard is a great way to turn your classroom into a digital classroom. Many electronic boards don't come with the board itself; it is just a receiver that can be attached to your current whiteboard. There are also a few electronic whiteboard systems that come as a board with the receiver built right into the frame.

This information is courtesy of Whiteboards and More, www.whiteboardsandmore.com.