Proving what one can do with a few dollars and a lot of ingenuity, a history teacher at Plymouth South High School in Plymouth, Massachusetts, recently created an interactive whiteboard using primarily equipment found in most classrooms.
According to Wicked Local Plymouth, Greg Kulowiec was able to save his school thousands of dollars by building an interactive whiteboard out of free software, a Nintendo Wii controller, a computer and a classroom projector.
The total cost of the do-it-yourself system came in a little north of $50, Wicked Local reports, with the $40 Wii controller being the most expensive component.
Kulowiec was reportedly inspired by a TED Talks presentation he saw, in which computer expert Johnny Lee demonstrated how Wii controllers can be used to perform different functions. Kulowiec discovered he could use the controller to interact with the other components, functioning similarly to the infrared pen found in interactive whiteboard systems.
According to Wicked Local, Kulowiec's system has a few minor glitches that require occasional tweaking.
Interactive whiteboards have been among the most sought-after technologies by educators in recent years. A single board, which uses an infrared pen, a computer and an overhead projector, can cost between $2,000 and $3,000, according to Wicked Local.
