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Professional Studies Certificate in Learning Technologies

Interactive White boards:

Perspectives on their implementation andclassroom useAbstract

This study aims to give perspectives about the introduction of InteractiveWhite Boards (IWB) to the secondary classroom. The study aims to outlinesome of the current educational background within which IWB’s presentthemselves, the changing nature of schools and schooling and the concept of ‘anytime anywhere learning’.The study looks at the Interactive Board from various view points, bothstudent and teacher based, it opens up debate in class room pedagogy inusing IWB’s as a rich media portal and an effective method of ICT delivery of visual engagement and plenary /review tools.Teacher reflection is an important part of Continuous ProfessionalDevelopment (CPD), this study submits that the very nature of using this typeof technology actually encourages this important self reflection and developsa lesson disassembly that otherwise may not exist. Recommendations aremade for whole school implementation of Interactive White Board use throughpractical discovery and video observation.

Context

I

currently work as the Director of Information and CommunicationTechnology for Ringmer Community College, a small specialist school in EastSussex. I have been teaching for the past seventeen years mostly in the fieldsof Design & Technology and ICT. I also work as a co-ordinator across a localconsortium of schools within a Leaning Skills Council funded increasedflexibility programme for the 14-19 Curriculum and as a seconded lecturer ineducation at Brighton University. I have a strong interest in the collaborativenature of online learning and am currently studying at MA level in Educationwith research projects completed so far on collaborative workspaceenvironments and their use with students. I gained a best Practice ResearchScholarship (BPRS) in 2001 which helped instigate a journey which I amhappy to say is still continuing through fellowship of Mirandanet and supportfrom Sussex University, Ultralab at the APU and IOE, London University.Ringmer Community College is a successful specialist technology collegecosseted by the Sussex Downs. It has 900 NOR and around 60 staff. Theschool is highly successful with over 65% A* - C GCSE passes in 2002. Theschool has an excellent reputation for staff development and Initial Teacher Training (ITT). There is currently a core program of professional developmentopportunities for all staff that occurs on a weekly basis. This session iscoordinated by a professional tutor and is mainly a series of hour-longseminars on various professional development issues such as teaching andlearning to ICT. The PGCE cohort that is attached to the college attends thesesessions. The college has recently applied for ‘teaching school’ status. Thisemphasis on training and development is an important part of the collegeethos. GTP and newly qualified staff are also invited to attend and thesessions are open to any staff member. The sessions are usually well

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Professional Studies Certificate in Learning Technologies

delivered and attended by some of the above groups. Most teachers have alaptop.

Then

My first exposure to interactive white boards (IWB) was at the British Trainingand Technology show (BETT). I witnessed a demonstration of diagrams andclipart being used as part of a lesson and my jaw dropped. I felt like Iimmediately needed one but I could not persuade my department to fund theextremely expensive equipment.Seeing the board in use set my imagination racing. How could this be used toenhance the teaching and learning in my classroom? Could the computer eventually be used in every classroom as a flexible tool? It was the heady late90’s and technology, as ever seemed to be developing at a pace of changethat was hard to keep abreast of.

Now

I walk in to my classroom and turn on my laptop. I connect the IWB and turnon the video projector. I log in to the network by radio connection and call upmy prepared lesson on ‘ICT in Society’.Short video clips and report writing tasks engage the students. It looks like thedays of wishing I had an IWB are over. Now I can start my journey.

Aims of This Study

The main aims of the project were to help a first year applied GCSE ICTgroup understand holistically the subject area and make them aware of interconnection in their learning.Better progression and continuity from lesson to lesson was a major featureas there were timetable constraints placed upon this course.The project also aimed to introduce strong visual elements into these lessons,to experiment with the visual starter as part of the national strategy multi partlesson. I have been interested in some time in working with preferred learningstyles and multiple intelligences. I have also carried out previous research intocritical thinking and the use of concept maps. The Interactive White board(IWB) could bring all these factors together.I had used intranets with custom designed course sites for a number of yearsand I was interested to see how the IWB could act as the catalyst for their usewithin whole class teaching. Could materials be stored as part of the intranetthat could be used within the class situation and then further is available for student review and sharing with other staff members?Thoughts seemed to jump around the train as I left the station after initialproject meetings. My voyage had started in to the visual richness available tome now as a teacher.

Methodology

The basic methodology I will use within my project is based on actionresearch principles.

Concern

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Professional Studies Certificate in Learning Technologies

Within my teaching of a year 9 GCSE Applied ICT group I have noticed byobservation that the students find it hard to keep a holistic view of the course.The timetable restrictions imposed by a tight timetable structure contributetoward this. Students have difficulty in linking the various units of the coursetogether and continuity and progression are an issue.As you can see from this concern I hope to develop actions that enable better continuity and progression. I am also trying to develop ‘big picture’ learningwithin my students, this is based on a whole part whole approach used withinsome accelerated learning approaches.

Actions

I will try to develop a range of tasks and approaches that use InteractiveWhite board (IWB) technology and try to develop a blended learning approachusing existing Internet based infrastructures. The tasks that I develop will usethe theories of preferred learning style and try to promote critical thinkingskills. I have completed research work on both of these areas and feelconfident that they have a dramatic impact on teaching and learning.

Review of current theories

After my actions have been instigated I plan to review them by analysis of data collected. I will attempt some simple triangulated research by usingmyself as an observer, Student focus groups and video analysis of lessons. Iintend this study to be qualitative in nature and do not plan to producequantitative results.I see this study as just the start of my voyage into the rich visual learningenabled by the computer and IWB. I will therefore make suggestions withinmy summary of further developments and areas of study that may occur.This will complete the reflective cycle and therefore enable further concerns tobe met by a continuing cycle of actions.

The Changing View Of Education

Within any literature review within the learning technology field one must seta context of changes within the education system and a changing pedagogy.

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