Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards are beginning to replace traditional whiteboards throughout Australian schools. They allow users to connect to a computer or projector, while interacting directly with a large screen, via the use of a pen or even the touch of your finger.
Interactive whiteboards are a transformative object that allow users to interact with learning objects. However, it must be recognised that this technology is not the only governing tool to a successful lesson, it remains to be the teaching pedagogy that is vastly important. Once the skills of navigating the 'perimeters of the whiteboard' are in tact, learning managers are able to concentrate on specific pedagogy skills that will showcase the outcomes of what students should know and what they are able to do.
Doug Brown (2007), the head of the UK's Department of Education and Skills, has suggested that teachers are not using this technology to its fullest potential. Being of a 'digital immigrant' age myself i can understand the hesitations that many current teachers may be feeling. Exploring new technologies can be time consuming, however i believe that the benefits are great. Last year, during my practical experience, i was fortunate enough to be in a classroom where the interactive whiteboard was used on a daily occurrence. During this time, both my confidence and my expectations of the application were increasingly expanding and fulfilled.
Until next time,
Kerri.
Reference:
Brown, D. (n.d.). e School News: Tech Watch. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from
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Hey Kerri,
ReplyDeleteI also agree that interactive whiteboards have great benefits. Although they may take a while to get used to and become familiar and confident with, the long term benefits appear great. I feel this is a great way to 'engage' learners and stop enragiing them. (Prensky, 2001)Keep up the great work with your blogs!
Carissa :)