Week 2: Exploring the Interactive Whiteboard Smart Notebook

When i entered a primary school last year for the first time in over ten years, the first thing i saw in the classroom was the interactive whiteboard (IWB). It was something that i looked at but it was also something that i didn't touch during my time there (as it was always in use!) but i had the chance to explore it all today.

"An electronic virtual whiteboard is an excellent presentational
device. It can be used as an alternative to virtually every other
classroom resource, traditional and modern...... . However, the
virtual electronic whiteboard has the potential to do much more – to go beyond display, providing a tool for interactive teaching and learning."
BECTA 2006, Teaching Interactively with Electronic Whiteboards in the Primary Phase.

There were so many features i got to try out including, dragging objects around the screen freely and even though it doesn't sound exciting, it forms much of the interactive experience. I also got to use various virtual pens, highlighting, tools for magnifying on pictures and easy to access large collections of images, backgrounds and interactive tools.

The following video shows the exciting possibilities that IWBs can contribute to teaching and learning in the classroom:

There are many benefits of using the IWB for both the children and the teacher:

• Develop Communication and collaboration between children
• Presentation of children's thoughts clearly and attractively
• Whole class access to a variety of resources, moving graphics, large scale image
• Tactile learners can benefit from touching the board, audio learners can have class discussion, visual learners can see what happens as it develops on the board. Useful for SEN and EAL children
• Previous work can be retrieved to revisit, revise, adapt and consolidate
• Teaching ICT skills
• Being able to respond to individual needs through immediate manipulation



However, there are also considerations that need to be taken into account:

• Back up plan? 
• Height of IWB? Can the children reach?
• Can everyone see it?
• Light affecting visibility?
• Text visibility?
• Positioning?
• Is it interactive?

The link below looks at it's effectiveness in the classroom
http://connectingbhseg.wikispaces.com/file/view/Interactive+or+just+whiteboards.pdf

We then went on to look at the different ways in which the answers to questions can be hidden and revealed. They were all very interactive and included "tapping" to pop the balloon, "dragging" the answer out of the magic tunnel and "dragging" the suggested answer to the answer box to find out if it was correct. They were all very simple to design and but also very exciting to try out once it was completed!

When i start teaching, i will need to ensure that i am familiar with the IWB features and provide resources that stimulate each child. Such resources are endless. The IWB should be used to in all areas of the curriculum interactively but the IWB however is not about entertaining children. It should be an exciting way of learning. It is very powerful learning!


A great website to for resources below
http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0