When I learn to use an interactive whiteboard, can I expect some form of accreditation?

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | IWBs

Many teachers are keen to embark on study programmes that lead to accreditation or recognized qualifications. This is natural since better job opportunities are often linked to qualifications. Will learning to use an interactive whiteboard lead to such outcomes?

Some interactive whiteboard manufacturers offer extensive training opportunities, with different levels of certification. If accreditation is important to you, enquire up front what is available before you settle on a particular brand of board.

In most cases learning to use an interactive whiteboard will not lead to formal accreditation. In schools these boards are not yet ubiquitous and this form of technology has entered the market too recently for training organizations to have developed generic interactive whiteboard courses leading to certification.

While a formal qualification may be important to you while you’re building a career, your main motive in learning to use an interactive whiteboard must be to become a more effective teacher. Let’s use an analogy to put qualifications in the proper perspective.

What is your objective when you buy a cell phone? Is it to learn to use it so that you can obtain a qualification? This can hardly be the case! Do you receive a certificate for managing to use your cell phone? Of course not. So why do you learn to use it? The answer is obvious: to facilitate communication.

The same line of reasoning should be followed when you learn to use an interactive whiteboard – the objective should not be the qualification, but the way in which it will improve your efficiency as a teacher.

For the moment don’t focus too much on the destination. View the process of learning to use the interactive whiteboard as an exciting journey – you will be pleasantly surprised to discover where it may lead you.

Click here for more information about interactive whiteboards.

Tags: IWBs

1 Comment to When I learn to use an interactive whiteboard, can I expect some form of accreditation?

Albie
Wednesday, 30 December, 2009

On this issue I would like to express the following:
1. Educator students @ Universities should be accredited for EAIWB “knowledge” and a recognized “qualification / symbol” on their formal University certificate should be incorporated and thus reflecting their ability to use an EIAWB and its software – the make, model and brand is irrelevant, just the capability to operate, use, apply, be creative and innovative with it, would be advatageous.
2. Recently an educator applied for a post at a neighbouring school. During her interview, she was asked to demonstrate her EIAWB skills and a lesson in a practical way !!

A few years ago when an educator applied for a teaching post, his / her skills in coaching a sport were considerate for the post and thus appointed depending on the quality of your skills, later more “requirements” were demanded by school like being computer literate was another skill added to your CV and now the EAIWB could NOW be the decisive factor to get the post that you have applied for !!!

Albie EAIWB @ US (2010)

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