How does an interactive whiteboard promote learner interactions in the classroom?

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | IWBs

Great classrooms are interactive. When learners are passive, learning is limited. But when children are involved in relevant activities – and are enjoying them – they learn best.

Physical activity is important. Going up to an interactive whiteboard to write or click promotes the flow of blood, taking oxygen to the brain. Of course, the same effect can be achieved when learners are asked to get up to write on the blackboard. But the interactive whiteboard presents opportunities that are not possible on old-style boards. Being able to move objects around – such as dragging and dropping them – has benefits beyond physical interaction. It helps the learners to develop organizing and classification skills. In addition, physical manipulation of objects enables them to come to grips with abstract concepts.

More valuable than physical activity is mental activity. It is not what happens on the board that is important – it is what happens as an outcome of what happens on the board that is important.

When you have progressed to the point of developing activities that stimulate the thinking of learners, you have succeeded in making your whiteboard an interactive device. Without such activities your board is just a board.

Strive to use the board in such a way that discussion between learners is encouraged. In this way the board becomes a tool to develop higher order learning.

Remember: interactivity is not guaranteed by the mere presence of an interactive whiteboard – the critical factor is the way you use it.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs

2 Comments to How does an interactive whiteboard promote learner interactions in the classroom?

ALBIE
Tuesday, 8 December, 2009

2x earlier Post on this blogsite: “How does an interactive whiteboard bring the power of technology into my classroom?” resulted into some comments that the “physical structure – the board” is of (almost) no value ! Correction here…. As Kobus stated: “It is not what happens on the board that is important – it is what happens as an outcome of what happens on the board that is important” and “When you have progressed to the point of developing activities that stimulate the thinking of learners, you have succeeded in making your whiteboard an interactive device. Without such activities your board is just a board”. FULL STOP ….but just imagine if, YES if if if if … yes if the board is just a piece of metal with some technology and here and there some “gimmicks” – remove it NOW !! but but ….

Although the software is NB, the major educational point is to GET LEARNERS TO INTERACT and the EIAWB is just accomplishing THAT !! Touch or no touch, the activities developed with / without the “EIAWB specially designed software” is thus of utmost importance. KEYWORD = ITERACTIVE ACTIVITIES !!

Again = the key is the INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES designed with the EIAWB software to be used by the educator but even more important – to GET THE LEARNERS TO PARTICIPATE, not to move the mouse around – but to stand up, move to the front of the class, interact, explain, move objects, complete and mind-boggling fun-filled educational motion / graphic / etc function … and what have you achieved ? – SUMMARY: some SKILLS get sharpened, physical mobility, standing up, “performing and acting”, doing something for the class (his / her peers) … thus what HAPPENS ON THE BOARD IN FRONT OF THE CLASROOM FOR ALL TO SEE, TO CONTRIBUTE, TO PARTICIPATE TO …… aggghh ….. I have said enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Albie for the plastic covered motherboard !!

Mark C
Monday, 14 December, 2009

Last week we had Mindset training using the IAWB as a screen(It could have been done without the IAWB). The trainer did not make full use of the IAWB since he was not trained in this technology. Although videos were unidirectional in nature the trainer provided interactivity. With training the board could have been used to serve as a conduit for the interesting discussion we had on Global cycles. The details thrown around could have been saved to illicit a similar discussion with another group.
One important fact stood out for me (not related to the IAWB): 97% of available water is the sea. 2% of water is found at the polar caps. Of the 1% thats left 0,1% of water is potable.

Subscribe RSS Feed now