Interactive White Board's (IWB) in the Classroom

Classroom Organisation

The IWB is only really effective when used appropriately so that it adds to the teaching. This requires good organisational skills, here are some factors effecting the use of IWB in the classroom :

Is the  IWB accessible + can it be seen by all? :

·         Organise tables and seating areas in appropriate ways. It is of course not possible to give every child a perfect view, so for those children at the back or at the margins, make sure they are involved by particularly involving these children in questioning and answering sessions.

·         Make sure images and text are appropriate. Text and images need to be visible from the very back of the room.

Helpful Tips :

1.    Adopt the position of the child – pause during the run-through of your presentation and sit in a range of places in the classroom to check that images + text are visible

2.    Have the children seated in a U shape rather than an O shape – this way children can discuss objectives without having their backs to the board.

Using the IWB in the classroom

Mental warm-up

Can use the IWB to present questions and ideas

Less likely to let children use the IWB at this time as it may slow the pace of the lesson down

Examples:-

Blinds or eraser function to gradually reveal numbers in a number set or present a number square

Random-number generator to provide integers for mathematical equations

May sue ready-made activities – animated.

Whole-class sessions

Often used for presentations but overlooked on actual interaction. Imagine teaching with a well equipped whiteboard, what would you use? Visual Aids – Illustrations – Text variations

IWB is not just for presentations à can incorporate more graphics, animations + multimedia items. The IWB allows the class to interact with the presentation + develop a record of the children’s learning journey.

Much of this information has stemmed from the following reading:

Barber, D, Cooper, L and Meeson, G (2007) Learning and Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards, Exeter, Learning Matters

Reaching out to all learners

Many different learning styles can be addressed using the IWB :

Visual learners benefit from notes taken on the interactive whiteboard in addition to diagramming and manipulating objects or symbols. As the interactive whiteboard is easy to use, it enables students of all ages to see their own writing and objects of their own creation.

Kinesthetic or tactile learners are typically difficult to engage in traditional classroom activities that are usually more visual or auditory in nature. They are able to reinforce learning through exercises involving touch, movement and space on an interactive whiteboard.

Deaf and hearing-impaired learners rely primarily on visual learning, and the interactive whiteboard facilitates the presentation of visual material with the use of sign language simultaneously in front of students.

Visually impaired students with some vision ability can manipulate objects and use large text on an interactive whiteboard’s big surface and participate in computer-based learning in ways that would not be possible on a smaller computer screen.

Other special needs students with learning challenges, such as physical ability needs and behavioral issues, e.g., Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), also find the large interactive surface helpful. Its large size and touch sensitivity facilitates ICT learning beyond the standard keyboard-and-mouse type of computer interaction, and its appeal can be used to promote good behaviour.

http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/research/whitepapers/int_whiteboard_research_whitepaper_update.pdf

KEY POINTS

1.    In order for the IWB to be effective you need to be organised so that the IWB is accessible.

2.    The IWB is not just PowerPoint presentation so don’t use it as one!! Make sure you use it for interaction.

3.    The IWB can be used at different points in the lesson.

4.    The IWB can be very inclusive to all types of learners.

RESOURCES

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/interactive.aspx

This website is a really good resource for getting ready made white board activites which are subject specific

http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/research/whitepapers/int_whiteboard_research_whitepaper_update.pdf