Our first over ED4134 Computer lab had barely started when we were first introduced to a new acroynm- IWB. I began to try to work out what these letters could possibly stand for. I thought i was quite 'tech savy' and up to date on all the lattest technologys so how could i possibly not know?. I felt so out of the loop! However it turns out IWB stands for ‘Interactive White Board,’ what i already knew as a ‘Smart Board’ – Not so bad after all!
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to use one of these fabulous IWB’s during my Classroom Immersion last year and during high school some of my teachers also had begun to use them in some lessons, so i had a rough idea of how they worked. I still wasnt overly convinced by them though and how beneficial they were. Personally i learnt fine on the classic chalk boards and white boards so why couldn't today's generation of children?
However after seeing the IWB's in action my opinion changed instantly in the moment i viewed my first flip chart. It was such an interactive activity the whole class could participate and engage in together, while learning at the same time. Amazing! Whiteboards and Blackboards most certaintly couldn’t do this! IWB are more exciting for students to learn from, whilst they do take some time to construct(As i discovered in our flipchart assignment) it does some what make the job of the teacher so much easier as studnets are constantly engaged and interested in the learning activity.
The Benefits of using IWB's in classrooms include:
- Learning is more engaging for students, especially those who are 'visual' learners.
- Students can recieve feedback instantly from the teahcer when answering questions.
- Items can be easily manipulated with just the click of a button.
- Whole lessons can be recorded and re-watched for students who are having difficulties understading and comprehending concpets.
The table above is seen in The use of Interactive Whiteboards in schools by R J Tolley and shows how the five different levels of interactivity on a IWB are defined. The table is useful for teachers because it helps give them an idea of how interactively the IWB is being used in the classroom. It will help to prevent teachers using the IWB as simply a presentation, rather than an interactive beneficial lesson.
After whitnessing and discovering the interactive way ideas can be taught and learnt in the classroom using the IWB it has made me realise that it’s time to say goodbye to the blackboard and the whiteboard, and time that all teachers start using and incorporating this new technology in to all lessons!. The many benefits of an IWB in the classroom and these are far to great to ignore. I Hope that when i eventually become a teacher i will be able to put what i have learnt about IWB's in to practice!!
References:
Tolley, R.j. (ND). Notes on the use of IWBs in schools.
http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/IWBs.pdf
