The+Interactive+Whiteboard+Debate

=The Interactive Whiteboard Debate=

Nigel Crawford
I have found myself repeating advice to schools concerning interactive whiteboards and so felt that it was about time I committed my thoughts to paper - or a least to this wiki. To state my position from the outset I need to say that I am not anti iwb's. In a perfect educational world, where schools had all the money they wanted, I would put one in every classroom. However, until we reach that particular utopia, I suggest a different approach...

**Stage One: Get a data projector**
All of the interactive [|whiteboards] on the market require a data projector. Everyone that I have seen using an iwb recommends having the data projector ceiling mounted to minimise shadows from the board user, to reduce cable clutter and to prevent loss of alignment from projector knocks. In addition, many of the perceived advantages of having an iwb are actually provided by the projector and computer, not by the iwb. These include whole class access to web resources, access to large, high quality visual and multimedia resources including the students own photographs and video and the ability to use any software available on a computer as a whole class or group activity. So my first stage would be to install ceiling mounted projectors into as many classrooms as possible. Lets see teachers taking advantage of this technology before complicating things with additional hardware, software and, more importantly perhaps, a different pedagogical approach. Your comments... What do you think about starting with just a projector? Do you use an iwb now? If so did you start off with just a projector? If you use a projector, what are you able to do without an iwb? [|View and add comments] Assuming you have experienced the benefits of having a projector permanently available in your classroom and want to make use of the features of an iwb now, I suggest you read some of the research that is available on the use of iwb's along with classroom teachers findings.

**Stage Two: Read the research and other teachers comments**
Iwb's have been used extensively in the UK for some time now (thanks to significant government funding) so it makes sense to look at their research. Becta is the UK Government's lead agency for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education. The following guides were published by them in 2004

The guides are specifically aimed at senior managers and teachers, and include practical classroom examples and case studies. They aim to provide:
 * Getting the most from your interactive whiteboard:**
 * practical information about interactive whiteboards
 * advice on strategic management of the boards
 * descriptions of how the use of the boards can benefit teaching and learning
 * examples of effective use of the boards in classrooms
 * evidence from research about the benefits of their use
 * sources of further information, advice and guidance.

A guide for primary schools http://foi.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35753 A guide for secondary schools http://foi.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35754 Download the guides from the Becta site above or get them here...

[|Futurelab] is a not-for-profit UK organisation largely funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Its mission objective is to transform the UK's capacity for innovative education through working with teachers, schools, key stake holders, organisations and companies to develop and showcase new innovative practices and prototypes with the aim of informing key policy makers in UK education.The key aims of this report are to extract some of the key findings relating to the use of interactive [|whiteboards] in UK classrooms from the research literature. From these findings we then extrapolate some of the key issues and debates in order to put forward some initial recommendations relating to more effective use, and also some ideas and suggestions for potential future developments in terms of teaching, training, use and design of IWBs.

[|Education Gazette: It's a white out] Two teachers from primary and secondary schools in Invercargill were selected to trial [|interactive whiteboard] technology in their classrooms. This article interviews them for their feedback on the trial and shows concrete evidence that interactive whiteboards can really enhance the teaching and learning process.

Check out what Peter Kent has to say about iwb's in the article, [|See it to believe it], in Issue 8 of Interface. [|INTERFACE] magazine has been launched to help support the use of information and communication technology by teachers. It’s the ‘technology magazine for NZ teachers’ and provides coverage of the issues relating to their use of ICT, including news and opinion, ‘how to’ guides and lesson plans. Follow the link above to subscribe on-line and register your school for a printed copy.

Download this 88 page research report from www.ed-dev.uts.edu.au/teachered/ research/iwbproject/pdfs/iwbreportweb.pdf or from here (8.2MB)... I found this conclusion particularly interesting. http://www.inquiringmind.co.nz/inquiry_&_ict.htm#Interactive_Whiteboards Jan-Marie Kellow won an elearning fellowship from the Ministry of Education. This site is a collection of information, research results and resources about inquiry learning that she compiled during this time. This particular section refers to the use of interactive whiteboards in the inquiry learning process. http://www.inquiringmind.co.nz/interactive_whiteboards.htm More thoughts on interactive whiteboards from Jan-Marie Kellow
 * Exploring Pedagogy with Interactive Whiteboards**, Associate Professor Sandy Schuck and Dr Matthew Kearney, University of Technology, Sydney, April 2007

http://www.assortedstuff.com/?p=1668 Not everybody is a fan of iwb's. This blog was entitled "Maybe the board's not that smart" and gives one teachers view that the technology is not that useful after all. http://www.assortedstuff.com/?p=1712 More from the same person.

This is a rubric for the use of Interactive Whiteboards as a Teaching and Learning Tool created by Juliette Major, Education Services, Catholic Education Office of Canberra and Goulburn. It provides a good starting point for an evaluation of your use of an iwb.
 * How well do you use your iwb?**

**Stage Three: Decide which (if any) iwb is best for you**
Assuming that you are still convinced that you need an iwb and not just a projector then you can choose from three major players in the New Zealand market. Alternatively you may opt for a wireless mouse or tablet, even if just as an interim solution.

Smart Board IWB's are marketed by Manzana. Click on the logo below for contact details. Also follow the links to resources for all kinds of additional resources to use with Smart Boards along with training videos and help

The major distinguishing feature of the Smart Board is that it has a touch sensitive surface and does not require special pens to work.

The Active Board is marketed by Promethean. They require a special pen but claim a much more hard wearing surface. Click on the logo below for contact details.

The mimio is a portable solution and can be used on any ordinary white board or flat surface. Like the Active Board it requires a special pointer - in this case ordinary whiteboard pens can be used in a special holder. It is marketed by Waterman. [|Mimio Connect] is a good place to start if you are looking for resources. More information about Mimio.