Interactive White Board

WHAT IS THE INTERACTIVE WHITE BOARD?

An interactive whiteboard is a touch-sensitive screen that works in conjuction with a 
computer and a projector.  The first interactive whiteboard was manufactured by SMART Technologies Inc. in 1991.  Educators were the first people to recognize the interactive whiteboard's potential as a tool for collaboration, improving students learning outcomes and 
streamlining lesson planning.  Educators continue to comprise the largest user base for this technology, particularly in the United State and the United Kingdom. 

HOW CAN AN INTERACTIVE WHITE BOARD BE USED IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?

Interactive white board are an effective way to interact with digital content and multimedia in a multi-person learning environment.  Learning activities with an interactive whiteboard may include, but are not limited to the following :

• Manipulating text and images
• Making notes in digital ink
• Saving notes for later review by using email, Web or Print
• Viewing websites as a group
• Demonstrating or using software at the front of a room without being tied to a computer
• Writing notes educational video clips
• Using presentation tools that are included with the whiteboarding software to enhance learning materials.
• Showcasing students presentations

GETTING FOCUSED: MOTIVATION

Motivation in the context of the classroom is measured by a student’s drive to participate in the learning process. Although students may be equally motivated to perform a task, the sources of their motivation may differ. Some students are intrinsically motivated to learn  because they are driven to understand through reflection and enjoy participating in learning activities. Others are extrinsically motivated by enticements, rewards or teacher-defined objectives.

MAKING THE GRADES : REVIEW AND UNDERSTANDING

There are many variables that factor into student retention of information, and studies of interactive whiteboard use in education are both statistical (quantitative) and observable (qualitative) in nature. The majority of interactive whiteboard research, however, is based in qualitative research methodologies, such as interviews and observation analyses.

Learning with interactive whiteboards in the classroom enables effective student retention and also:

• Lessons are more memorable because students are more engaged and  motivated.
• Several different learning styles are accommodated when learning is delivered with an interactive whiteboard, improving  chances of student understanding during class.
• Notes generated on an interactive whiteboard  can be printed or e-mailed for distribution after class, ensuring the student has good review material to support information retention.  

GETTING READY : TEACHER PREPARATION

Efficient use of technology by educators is an essential component of the successful enhancement of student learning in the 21st–century classroom. Once educators have received professional development and an education technology installation is operational, ICT integration should mesh seamlessly with the rest of the curriculum and help streamline lesson preparation, thereby increasing teacher productivity.

CONCLUSION

The interactive whiteboard has been incorporated into learning environments for over a decade, and an increasing flow of research into its impact is emerging from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Several themes and patterns have emerged, including the positive effect interactive whiteboards have on student engagement, motivation, the ability to accommodate a variety of learning styles (including special needs students) and the capacity to enhance student understanding and review processes.  Observations also indicate that designing lessons around interactive whiteboards can help educators streamline their preparations and be more efficient in ICT  integration, thereby enhancing their overall productivity.