Is an interactive whiteboard not sometimes an overkill?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 | IWBs

The literal meaning of overkill is excessive killing. The image of a person who kills a fly with a swatter and then sprays it with insecticide comes to mind.  Overkilling is a waste of resources – you can’t kill something deader than dead!

Overkill also has a figurative meaning: an excess of what is necessary or appropriate for a particular end.  A similar idiom is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut (or kill a gnat) – inferring that disproportionate force or expense is used to overcome a minor problem.

Is the use of an interactive whiteboard an overkill?  Or is it the same as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

It could be when you insist on using the board while it is possible to attain your objectives in a more straightforward way.

Good teachers can do great things in class with their vocal chords, a piece of string, scissors and some sticky tape.  At times nothing more is required to achieve a particular educational outcome. But sometimes a bit of technology is appropriate.  It does not always have to be an interactive whiteboard – a laptop and data projector can contribute just what you need for good teaching.  Forcing the use of an interactive whiteboard in a particular situation, while a simpler solution is available, is an overkill.

There are, however, some things that you can’t do with your own voice and sticky tape and a laptop.  Interactive whiteboards allows you to engage learners in ways that no other equipment can help you to do – if you do not have access to one of these boards, such activities will be out of your reach.

Even though an interactive whiteboard may be an overkill for some tasks, it is not an overkill having one in your classroom – there are some nuts that can’t be cracked without one.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

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1 Comment to Is an interactive whiteboard not sometimes an overkill?

Albie
Wednesday, 23 December, 2009

Having 3 or 4 or even 5 EIAWB mounted in a classroom -well then the principle of “overkilling” can be applicable, but ONE EIAWB per classroom = 100% in line with educational principles (including ALL its “bells and whistles” !!).

Is the use of an interactive whiteboard an overkill? No not @ ALL. It is a combination of many different electronic “devices” + software + applications to make the classroom ALIVE !!! No to kill it, but to give it a living environmental component to the learners. Motion is ….. reality in action !!

Albie

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