My blackboard was always good enough for me – why do I have to change the way I work?

Sunday, October 4th, 2009 | IWBs

An interactive whiteboard has the potential to change the way a teacher works. But you may wonder, “What is wrong with the way I am working? I managed fine till now – why should I change a winning recipe?”

Change is not easy – particularly if you have worked hard to reach a zone of comfort. You may balk at the idea of changing at a time when you are reaping the fruits of your labour, having reached a point where your job becomes easier through years of practice.

There are good reasons why you should consider changing the way you work. The world around us is changing rapidly in so many ways:

how we communicate – think about cell phones and email
how we find information
the preparation our learners need, to meet their future job requirements.

In a changing world you can’t afford to remain static. But there are other compelling reasons why you should accept the challenge of change. Why did you become a teacher in the first place? Perhaps you said, “I want to make a difference; I want to bring about a change in the circumstances of children.” Do you still feel that way? If you do, do you believe that you can bring about a change for others if you are not willing to make changes yourself?

If teaching is just a job to you – a means of earning a living – change may not be your priority. But if teaching is a mission, you will make whatever changes are necessary to meet the changing needs of your learners.

Do you view yourself as a life long learner? Do you want to be a better teacher? Are you determined not to be left behind? If the answer to these questions are “yes” you will want to make the effort to learn to use new tools, and changing methods, to benefit yourself and your learners.

If you find it difficult to make changes in the way you work, ask yourself, “Why did I start teaching in the first place – was it not to bring about a change?”

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Tags: IWBs

5 Comments to My blackboard was always good enough for me – why do I have to change the way I work?

Albie
Sunday, 4 October, 2009

Yes,correct Kobus on: 1. Mission and 2. to bring about Change.

You as individual (e.g. educator) must have a mission and a vision to accept changes. We don’t have to follow the world in every aspect of change, but the basic changes need to be implemeted to stay “part” of the world, especially the digital and technological world. If you want to see change, you must change yourself – get out of the comfort zone and the safety of the 4x walls area !!

If no change occurs – the specific field / area will stagnate with ramifications for that particular area, so teaching / education is that area that cannot afford this notion of – no change !

Albie on a chance to change

Mark C
Monday, 5 October, 2009

Does anybody remember P D N E? Well, you don’t have to do it any more.

When the IAWB software opens, it says Collaborative Learning Software. Does this not contain one of the goals of every educator – collaborative learning? Most jobs these days require teamwork. What better way to do it in the classroom with an IAWB?

The old methods still work, but if there is a better way of doing things, then that path should be followed. Technology just adds another dimension to learning. Use any tools available to enhance teaching and learning.

Google Earth Sylvain!

Charles
Monday, 12 October, 2009

Not many people rely on word of mouth for news! The media have progressed and so has our reliance on ever quicker and more effective means of communication. We still read newspapers, listen to the radio and watch television. However the internet is now a prime source of instantaneous news. Just as it makes no sense to rely solely on word of mouth these days, so it makes no sense to rely solely on antiquated tools in the classroom!

Dereck Marnewick
Thursday, 22 October, 2009

Is there any research indicating that the use of an IAWB in the classroom leads to better teaching and learning?

I believe Bergvliet High has one in every classroom, has this led to an improvement?

Surley there is someone out there that has done some research … please let us know!

Thanks in advance.

Eastern
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009

Interactive whiteboards – This is definitely the way to go – as I call it “the face of the future”. Once educators are use to working on an interactive whiteboard, there’s no way turning back. Some even find it difficult to do a simple presentation without being able to touch the screen after working on an interactive whiteboard. Some also, when working on a normal desktop PC, often tends to touch the monitor’s screen. Just think of the basics – yes, no more dirty chalk fingers, no more cleaning the duster, no more the sound of chalk on the blackboard, no more looking for a duster to clean the board, no more sneezing because of the chalk powder, no more looking for different colours of chalk, no more breaking of chalk when writing on the blackboard, no more chalk getting smaller when writing, no more rewriting of information after wiping it off, etc… And I did not even start talking about the interactive features of the interactive whiteboard. So why not change? I’m sure if every educator can get an interactive whiteboard tomorrow, it will be love at first touch. One thing is for sure, nobody called the blackboard a greenboard (even after the colour changed to green), but certainly nobody will call the interactive whiteboard ever an interactive blackboard.

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