Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive WhiteBoards (IWBs) are large digital devices, with similar functions to a computer but which have a large touch screen which can be wall mounted in a classroom. Loaded up with an abundance of teaching and learning software they are truely wonderful resources.

I have been lucky enough in my time as a student teach to seen these IWBs in use. From what i have seen the children absolutely loved it when they got to use the Interactive WhiteBoard during a lesson, and they were more likely to be engaged and interested in a task. The IWBs have a number of aplications for almost every lesson you could imagine, from handwriting to mathematics and interactive learning games.

However, I have also witnessed these devices being very rarely used or being used simply as if they were a large computer. I suppose what this necessitates is that for the IWB's to be an effective learning tool, the teachers and schools who possess them need to be very proactive about encouraging and educating their staff about how to use them and the benefits involved.