Can’t I do all the things an interactive whiteboard offers me in other ways?
Monday, February 8th, 2010 | IWBs | 2 Comments
Is an interactive whiteboard really all that revolutionary? It looks good from a technology perspective, but when you disaggregate the functions of the board, you’ll find alternatives existing for most of them:
A blackboard or a dry-wipe board can be used for writing.
An ordinary flipchart can be used when you need more than one writing surface – flipchart pages can be pinned on classroom walls for easy inspection.
An overhead projector can be used to show diagrams and lesson notes to the class – with a piece of paper you can hide and reveal material as you wish.
Paper cards and charts can be used to display pictures.
An encyclopedia can help you if you’re looking for information.
If you want to use technology, a laptop and data projector will allow you to do many things.
The addition of a digital camera and scanner give you even more.
Yes, separate pieces of equipment are available to perform these functions. But this is the problem – you need separate pieces of equipment.
In the past you had a cell phone, a camera, a voice recorder, a video recorder, a GPS, a photo album, and a laptop with all your electronic files stored on it – how happy we are that today a modern cell phone has the combined functionality of these items.
The interactive whiteboard is revolutionary in the sense that many teaching functions and electronic aids all converge on one piece of digital equipment.
If you want something “new” in an interactive whiteboard, you are missing the point. You need to be looking for a tool that will help you to perform your normal teaching functions in the best possible way. An interactive whiteboard provides you with a platform to do that. With the functionality it gives you, you are able to achieve what every teacher should strive for – an interactive classroom.
You may be able to do most of the things an interactive whiteboard offers you in other ways – but why would you continue to use a spade and wheelbarrow, when labour-saving earthmoving equipment is available to you?
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
What about the view that an interactive whiteboard is a waste of money?
Sunday, February 7th, 2010 | IWBs | 2 Comments
In order to test the validity of this view, you must keep two things in mind:
Only you can decide how to spend your money. It is all about priorities – and you (or your schools) may have more pressing needs at present.
If you want an interactive whiteboard for the wrong reasons and are not going to use it optimally, it may very well end up being a waste of money.
If money is tight and you have many needs, you must weigh the pros and cons of each purchase. For each one you have to balance the cost against anticipated advantages. When you consider an interactive whiteboard, calculate the total cost of ownership and then compare it to the ways in which the board will assist you. If you follow the same process with all the things you are thinking of buying, you will be able to come up with a priority list.
It’s always wise to distinguish between your needs and wants. This is true even if the school’s money is involved.
Needs are those things that you require to survive in the classroom. Do you see it as something that could make you a better teacher? When you find yourself saying, “I need an interactive whiteboard for …” you’ve already identified it as a need.
A want is something that is nice-to-have. Can you do without it? If you can, it is merely a want and not a need. When you find yourself saying: “It would be nice to have an interactive whiteboard …” it is an indication that, for you, the device does not yet fall into the needs category.
Once you have reviewed the things an interactive whiteboard can do for you, in comparison to other items on your needs and wants lists, you will be in a better position to decide whether it is a waste of money – whether you should let go of the idea, or rush out and buy one.
How determined are you to learn all its features, so that you will use it optimally? If you’re not, an interactive whiteboard may very well be a waste of money. Your principal may take this into consideration before assigning a board to you.
It is never a bad idea to invest in an environment that will promote improved teaching and learning. If your school can afford interactive whiteboards – and you’re determined to use yours – it won’t be a waste of money.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
Won’t an interactive whiteboard put the sage back on the stage?
Saturday, February 6th, 2010 | IWBs | 1 Comment
The worst teachers are those who teach by lecturing almost exclusively, holding the view that they are the main source of knowledge – information is dispensed to learners as and when they see fit. And when learning does not happen, they blame the learners for being lazy, inattentive or disinterested.
This style of teaching is often described by terms such as:
- chalk and talk
- stand and deliver instruction
- sage on the stage.
Good educators steer away from this way of teaching. They know that it is not conducive to learning.
For many years efforts have been made to remove the sages from their stages, and to transform them into guides on the sides of their classrooms. A good example of this is when a teacher takes a class to a computer room – the teacher acts as guide while learners explore and discover and learn. The teacher is no longer the guru on whom all attention is focused, but merely steers the learners in the right direction.
When an interactive whiteboard is brought into the classroom, concern is expressed about the possibility of bringing the sage back onto the stage. It is feared that, while the chalk is replaced by an electronic pen, the instruction is still of the stand-and-deliver type.
This is entirely possible – but it depends on how the teacher teaches.
Who puts the sage on the stage?
It is not technology! It is the teacher who assumes this position. An interactive whiteboard will not put the stage “back” on the stage – if the teacher uses the board in this mode, he or she was there all along. Teachers who moved to the side as guides will continue in this position when an improved board comes their way.
An interactive whiteboard will even help teachers who currently have a stand-and-deliver style of teaching. As they learn to use their boards they’ll discover the benefits of drawing learners into the lessons – before long they will be able to transform their classrooms into interactive ones.
Never blame the tool for poor workmanship.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
Is a one-to-one computing programme not better than an interactive whiteboard?
Thursday, February 4th, 2010 | IWBs | No Comments
One-to-one computing in education refers to a situation where the teacher and every child have a computing tool for use in the classroom – this could be a laptop, netbook or a handheld computing device.
The value of continuous access by learners is clear. When technology is brought into the classroom – as opposed to taking learners to a computer room – and its use is closely intertwined with teaching activities, you move one step closer to an interactive classroom.
But can you afford it?
Only a few schools benefit from one-to-one computing. It is limited to affluent schools, or the few fortunate schools, who are the beneficiaries of generous donors. With limited options for other schools, how can you bring technology into your classroom?
If you have ten children in your family it would be desirable to give each child his or her own bedroom. But this is seldom possible. So you make the available room or rooms as comfortable as possible and let the children share.
The same principle can be used in the classroom. Let the learners share resources. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this is to bring one computer into the classroom – but to make it accessible to all, link the computer to an interactive whiteboard. With one computer you can infuse technology into the class; the interactive whiteboard allows all learners to interact with it.
The price of computing power is plummeting. We hope that in the not too distant future every child will be given a cell phone as powerful as a present-day netbook. Then one-to-one computing will be within the reach of all schools.
In the interim, your interactive whiteboard can help you and your learners to bring technology into the learning experience.
One-to-one computing and interactive whiteboards – the one is not better than the other. They are different manifestations of the same thing: interactive classrooms.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
What can I do if I’m worried something will harm my interactive whiteboard?
Thursday, February 4th, 2010 | IWBs | 3 Comments
There are many things that could go wrong with an interactive whiteboard:
It could be stolen.
The data projector or computer could be stolen.
Any one of the components could malfunction.
The computer could pick up a virus.
The bulb of the data projector could blow.
Somebody could damage the surface of the board.
Somebody could write with a normal board pen on the board.
The pens could be lost.
Since there are so many things that could go wrong in an interactive classroom, one may be tempted to lock it away rather than take the risk of losing or damaging it. If some teachers reason this way, could one blame them?
But would it be the reasonable thing to do?
Consider the fable of The Miser, handed down to us by Aesop:
A miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed the miser’s frequent visits to the spot and stole the treasure. The miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to utter loud lamentations.
A neighbour, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Do not grieve so – take a stone and place it in the hole, and imagine that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.”
The moral of the story: an unused item is no better than not having one.
The same principle applies to your interactive whiteboard. If fear of losing or breaking it prevents you from using it, it is not better than not having one. Take reasonable precautions and do not hesitate to use technology to make your classroom an interactive one.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
How can I make my interactive whiteboard a conversation board?
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 | IWBs | 2 Comments
The strength of interactive whiteboards lies in the fact that they promote interactivity. But true interactivity is more than learners coming to the board and physically touching it – it happens when you succeed in involving the minds and hearts of learners.
The minds of learners are involved when they’re stimulated to think beyond the mere facts in front of them – this happens when they ponder how and why questions.
The hearts of learners are involved when they’re motivated to do something about what they are learning – this happens when they do additional research, probe beneath the surface, and get to the bottom of the learning material under consideration.
At times a teacher may present a lesson, which leaves a class cold. You don’t want that to happen to you! You reach children’s minds and hearts when you move them to talk among themselves about the subject matter. Such discussions can be generated when you make your interactive whiteboard a conversation board.
How can you do this?
Forget for a while about the sophisticated technology behind the interactive whiteboard and the fancy things you can do with it, and focus on simple ways of usingyour board to open topics of conversation. Here are a few of the many easy ways in which you can do it:
Display a picture on the interactive whiteboard – let the learners guess what it is and talk about its relevance. Even better, let them find the picture, scan it, display it and use it as a conversation piece. Of course, you can show a picture from a book, but it is much easier to press a button to show it on your board in a size that makes it easy for all to see.
Show a video clip and let learners react to it. “How does this make you feel,” is a popular question.
During a history class, place pictures of different events on the board and let the learners debate the correct chronological order.
Display a quotation from a famous person – or a headline in a current newspaper – on the board to stimulate a for-or-against discussion in the class.
Your imagination will help you to find other ways in which you can use your interactive whiteboard as a conversation board.
You need not be a star interactive whiteboard performer to do this – in simple ways allow the board to work its magic.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
Should I insure my interactive whiteboard?
Monday, February 1st, 2010 | IWBs | No Comments
It has been said that taking out an insurance policy is planning for an emergency you hope never happens. Insuring your interactive whiteboard is the same – you hope that it will never be stolen or lost, but you insure it just in case it happens. Based on the hope that a disaster is unlikely to come about, some people decide not to insure their equipment. But then the unthinkable happens to them!
What should you do? Should you insure your interactive whiteboard? It is a personal decision, which must be based on various factors.
More is involved than the board. Keep in mind that the interactive whiteboard is only one part of the technology that transforms your room into an interactive classroom. The board is the most unlikely item that will be lost, whereas the computer and data projector are more vulnerable.
Will you be able to afford a replacement if you lose the equipment? Once you start working with your interactive whiteboard you may become dependent on it and would find it difficult to operate without it. If you can’t afford to replace it with available funds, an insurance policy makes sense.
How old is the equipment? The older the components, the lower the value and the closer you are to the time when you would want to replace them.
What is the school’s view on insurance? Some schools follow a strategy of self-insurance, which means that they’re willing to take the risk and are saving money for a contingency.
If you do decide to insure your interactive whiteboard, there are more questions to consider:
Have you read the small print? Insurance policies contain specific conditions. Make sure that the policy covers you for the most likely risks that you are facing.
What needs to be insured? It is not just the interactive whiteboard, computer and data projector that have value – peripheral devices increase the total replacement value.
Can you include your interactive whiteboard in your school’s insurance, or must you negotiate a separate policy? Find out which option will be the best deal for you.
After considering your personal circumstances, you will be able to reach a decision whether to insure your interactive whiteboard or not. Remember: the best form of insurance is to take sensible steps to safeguard it.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
Interactive whiteboards - love them or hate them?
Monday, February 1st, 2010 | IWBs | 5 Comments
Over the past few months I have posted a number of articles on interactive whiteboards, presenting an optimistic view of these devices. Most of the comments coming from readers were positive too, adding some aspects I’ve neglected to mention, or providing support from personal experience.
Only a few comments were negative, but they are most welcome, since it is important to have a balanced view of technology.
A few days ago an interesting article appeared on the web: Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards. The title gives you an indication of the tone of the article - it tells the story of a teacher who threw an interactive whiteboard out of his classroom.
What I found interesting was the flood of comments - both supporting and opposing. The article and comments make for interesting reading if the topic of interactive whiteboards is relevant to you.
Will interactive whiteboards make teachers redundant?
Sunday, January 31st, 2010 | Employment, IWBs | 3 Comments
The prospect of losing your job can cause much anxiety. When you see people around you being retrenched it is natural to be concerned about your own job security.
Teachers are not immune to layoffs. When the government cuts budgets and there is talk about teachers being “in excess” and terms such as reorganization, downsizing and rationalization appear in the papers, panic sets in.
It is only natural that teachers wonder how the introduction of technology in schools could impact on their prospects of continued employment. They may think back to the time of the industrial revolution – many mine workers and factory workers lost their jobs when machines were used for functions that they had performed before.
“Won’t computers take over my job?” some teachers may ask.
The answer to this question is an emphatic “no”. Machines can take over manual repetitive tasks. But it can not replace those tasks requiring higher order thinking – and teaching is possibly one of the most complex activities on earth. Teachers are working with the minds of learners, shaping them, while trying to find the best teaching technique to match the learning style of each one of their learners.
You can use computers and related tools without any fear of redundancy. When a carpenter replaces a manual saw with an electric one, does that make the human redundant? Of course not – but it does make the carpenter more productive. The same principle applies when technology becomes available in a school.
Don’t fear! An interactive whiteboard in your classroom will never make you redundant. The board needs you to operate it.
An interactive whiteboard may bring unexpected advantages to you when you face job insecurity. If you become proficient in its use, you will be more marketable. The high cost of training a teacher to become a skilled interactive classroom practitioner benefits you in two ways: when the school is firing, you are unlikely to be the one to go owing to the investment made in you, and when a school is hiring, it will be a bargain to employ you since you won’t need expensive training.
Your interactive whiteboard can be your best friend during economic uncertain times – treat it as such be getting to know it intimately.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.
Can an interactive whiteboard make me more productive?
Sunday, January 31st, 2010 | IWBs | 1 Comment
Some teachers may object to the mere suggestion that they should become more productive. “How can we be expected to produce more?” they may ask. “We are already overworked. You can’t squeeze blood from a stone.”
This reaction is understandable. We know that teachers carry heavy loads. But the concept of productivity is often misunderstood – it does not necessarily mean working longer hours.
What is productivity?
Productivity is defined as the amount of output per unit of input – where input may be time, equipment or money. This means that you can raise productivity if you increase output with the same amount of input.
There are different ways of measuring productivity. For example, in a manufacturing company productivity is measured based on the number of items manufactured per hour – the hour remains the same (input) while the number of items manufactured (output) determines if productivity is increased or decreased. Sometimes an investment in equipment will speed up the manufacturing process, thereby raising productivity.
How do we measure productivity in the classroom? What are the outputs? While there are different views on how to assess and what metrics should apply in the classroom, the desired output is simple to define: the amount of learning taking place.
This means that productivity in the classroom can be increased if the amount of learning experienced by individual learners is increased within the same time period. Teachers know that a lesson hour can pass with hardly any learning happening while a lesson of the same duration can be highly productive when a lot of learning takes place.
How much learners learn within a lesson period depends a lot on the teacher – but a small investment in equipment can help you to make the best use of teaching time.
An interactive whiteboard is such a productivity tool – it helps you to hold the attention of learners, makes learning more interesting, and promotes learner involvement through the interactive nature of the device. Productivity increases since the amount of input (time) remains the same, while output (amount of learning) increases. The cost of the tool is a small price to pay if you can achieve this!
An interactive whiteboard can make you a productivity powerhouse. But the board is just a tool – enhanced productivity depends on how you use it.
Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.