Ten Chisinau schools to get by an interactive whiteboard

Ten education institutions of Chisinau may receive by an interactive whiteboard within the global project “My First Eno Interactive Whiteboard”, which is coordinated in Moldova by the State University and the Excellence Center for Modern Education, Info-Prim Neo reports. The possible holders of interactive whiteboards are the high schools: “Gaudeamus”, “Iulia Hasdeu”, “Dimitrie Cantemir”, “Gheorghe Asachi”, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, “Matei Basarab”, “Stefan cel Mare”, “Nicolae Milescu Spataru”, “Vasile Lupu”, and “Dante Alighieri”. They were selected by members of the Excellence Center for Modern Education according to a number of criteria. The whiteboards will be distributed free of charge, as donation. However, the global organizers ask that 10% of the price of the boards be paid by the participating institutions. “It is a global project in which Moldova was accepted as a participant on the last 100 meters. The costs for bringing the broads to Moldova amount to over €1 000. It is an opportunity given to the education institutions and getting these whiteboards depends on them. These schools will remain in the program for ever, while the guarantee period of the equipment is unlimited,” the head of the Excellence Center for Modern Education Igor Eftodiev has told Info-Prim Neo. An interactive whiteboard is a large interactive display that connects to a computer and projector. A projector projects the computer’s desktop onto the board’s surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other device. The board is typically mounted to a wall or floor stand. It is equipped with Bluetooth stylus, receptor Bluetooth for Windows or Macintosh. “The children like using different electronic devices at lessons. This motivates them to study. It is important that the teachers are instructed so that these boards are indeed an element of study, not of play,” said psychologist Nadejda Juracovschi. According to her, passing from play to studies is a very interesting stage for first-fourth graders and these boards can ensure a slower and less stressful switchover. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, ophthalmologist Svetlana Ostrofet said the teachers should not allow the students to watch a multimedia lesson at a distance shorter than three meters as the digital screens affect vision, especially of children. She also said that breaks should be taken every 45 minutes if the planned work lasts longer. The child can stay before a table computer at most 50 minutes as the distance between the eye and the monitor is much shorter than in classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards. As many as 1 060 applications for participation were submitted to the global project. After they are analyzed, the global organizers will announce the results.