Maximizing Classroom Engagement with IFPs

One of the biggest benefits of IFPs is their versatility. They can be used for a wide range of educational activities, from lectures and presentations to group discussions and collaborative projects. With the right software, teachers can also use IFPs to assess student progress in real-time, providing immediate feedback and support. Here are a few tips and tricks when thinking about IFP usage in the classroom.

Student Engagement and Accessibility

IFPs can be used to facilitate interactivity and collaboration in the classroom in whole-group, small group, and one-on-one settings. Students can access the features of the panel easily and engage with activities that provide practice and assessment. By using images and graphics, teachers can foster equity across reading levels and languages. Students and teachers can work together to build graphic representations, models, and graphic organizers, which can then be stored and shared.

Using the on-board whiteboard features, teachers can facilitate a sticky-note discussion with their students, giving students who might be more reserved the ability to participate equally with their more talkative peers. For older students, screen-sharing can create increased engagement and ownership of individual and group work. IFPs make building relationships in the classroom a simple and streamlined process by hosting student work in real time.

Teacher Organization

IFPs feature internet connectivity, including access to cloud drives. Google and Microsoft files alike can be accessed and pulled up for interactive engagement at the panel. Files created on the IFP can be saved into Google and Microsoft drives and easily shared with students, other teachers, and parents. IFPs can also be connected directly to computers or other devices to display digital content, including documents, images, videos, and websites. For modeling purposes it’s great to have a big screen to display your material and textbook resources rather than having students behind their own screens in their own desks.

Get Creative!

There are SO many ways that an IFP can enhance a classroom and increase student engagement, but the key is to keep an open mind about what is possible!

• Consider using the IFP as a way to display a video call with a subject-matter expert being interviewed by your students, or as a way to bring students together no matter where they are located.
• Use the panel to display student work.
• Have students select their attendance, lunch orders, or other classroom business
• Timers for class pacing and teaching time management
• Get students involved in editing by bringing up articles and samples on the board and using annotation tools to mark it up
• Take a brain break with a fun video
• Let kids be the teachers
• Use randomizer tools to call on students and create groups
• Create a station for activities using the IFP to help students take charge of their own learning

IFPs aren't just for teachers - students can also get a lot out of using these interactive displays. With touch-screen capabilities and the ability to connect to a variety of devices, IFPs allow students to fully participate in lessons, ask questions, and share their own ideas and work. This can help foster a more collaborative and inclusive learning environment, which can be especially beneficial for students who may be shy or hesitant to speak up in a traditional classroom setting. IFPs can also help to facilitate learning at a distance. Students can access lessons on their home devices that are being used in the classroom in real time, increasing their engagement with their classroom community.

Further reading

• Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) and Its Importance in the Education System
• 20 Ways I Use My Interactive Flat Panel to Save Time and My Sanity