What can an interactive whiteboard do for me as a teacher?

Friday, November 27th, 2009 | IWBs

Many teachers are already using interactive whiteboards and have experienced their usefulness. Others might have been teaching for a while without owning one. “I got along just fine without this gadget,” they may say. “How will one help me now?”

Teachers who doubt the value of these boards may point to other technologies – such as radio, television, movies and personal computers – that were hailed as being agents for change in the classroom, but which didn’t bring about the expected learning revolution. What makes the interactive whiteboard different?

Radio, television, movies and personal computers were not designed as education tools – but the interactive whiteboard was! It was designed with the teacher in the classroom in mind. The conventional blackboard is used by teachers, not as a piece of add-on technology, but as a tool to be used throughout the day, in all the lessons. The interactive whiteboard was designed to serve a similar purpose.

An interactive whiteboard can do a lot for a teacher:

You can write on it – but before you erase the writing, you can store it for later use.

You can use it to display pictures, diagrams and video clips, adding spice to your lessons.

You can bring the power of technology into the classroom.

You can use it to hold the attention of learners when you allow them to interact with the activities on the board – both physically and mentally.

Of course, the mere presence of the board will not bring benefits. But then, a piano in a classroom – never played – likewise has no value.

When you explore the ways in which teachers are right now using interactive whiteboards around the world you’ll discover how useful they can be to you.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs, teachers

3 Comments to What can an interactive whiteboard do for me as a teacher?

ALBIE
Friday, 27 November, 2009

Green + Black Boards – Julius Caesar might had said the following wise words (perhaps): “Aut dosce, aut disce, aut discede,” translated as: “Either teach, or learn, or leave” …… no further comment or quote on boards, or maybe just this one about the OBE: “Mali principii malus finis”. Translated as: “The bad end of a bad beginning.”

EIAWB – As Julius Caesar would have said: “Veni, vidi, vici!” Translated as …”I came , I saw, I conquered”. Albie said: “Elec Inte Acti Whit Boa”, translated as the Electronic InterActive WhiteBoard.

2010 Educator – As Julius Caesar would have commented: “Adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit. Translated as: “Add little to little and there will be a big pile.” Albie Smith said: “Experto credite” Translated: “Believe me, for I have experienced the power of the EIAWB.”

To educators who argue with this notion of: “I got along just fine without this gadget,” I would advice them to: “Nunc aut numquam” translated as: “Now or never.” Get into EIAWB technology.

The EIAWB is not = to OBE !!

Albie Julius C. Smith

kvanwyk
Saturday, 28 November, 2009

Friends, Cape Townians, South Africans, lend Albie Ceasar thy ear …

Mark C
Sunday, 29 November, 2009

I was recently asked to do a 10-minute presentation and felt at a loss because the organization did not have an IAWB. I kept on wanting to touch the roll-up screen to move things around while explaining the concept of information systems.
The other experience I want to relate was at schools where we went to check IAWB installations. We displayed a short Takalani Sesame video clip via internet and the IAWB. The learners identified the song immediately and could sing along. This generated some excitement. Many hands shot up quickly when we asked learners to write on the board with different colours and to contribute to giving answers to some simple arithmetic questions.
If the board is only used for a short while to create a sense of excitement as well as getting so many eager participants, then we are already on our journey to create a different teaching and learning dynamic.

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