New Board in the House

An interactive whiteboard (IWB) is a large touch-sensitive display surface,

resembling an ordinary whiteboard, onto which a computer screen can be shown by

connecting a digital projector to the computer (Brown, 2002). The IWB is easy and fun

to use as it can be operated by touching or writing on it using a pen or a finger

functioning as the mouse that controls a computer (Brown, 2002). This paper will

explain the use of IWB in terms of its advantages and disadvantages for educational

purposes.

IWBs can be used in a classroom to improve the teaching and learning process.

They allow the teacher and students to make changes to the information shown on the

whiteboard. They can make annotations or highlight key points just by writing or drawing

on the surface. Then, the changes are transferred to the computer and it can be saved

and retrieved for future lessons or review, and they can also be printed (Teachernet,

2007).

Secondly, IWBs promote collaborative learning and allow students to be active

and interactive with other students and the board itself as interaction is an important key

part of learning (Vygotsky, 1978 as cited by Hay, Hodgkinson, Peltier, & Drago, 2004).

Students need to get involved and participate in the classroom in order to learn

effectively. With IWBs, students can contribute their ideas by writing on the board and

let other students view them and discuss the ideas written. They can also work together

to solve interactive problems like Mathematics or English problems by manipulating

words, numbers or images (Interactivewhiteboard.net.au, 2005).

 However, there are also disadvantages. IWBs can come in two forms, either free-

standing or fixed (Brown, 2002). Free-standing boards are portable and mobile, but they

can be easily stolen and they have to be set up properly each time it is moved. Fixed

boards, though being more secure and not needing constant setting ups, are less

flexible. Another disadvantage is that, even though IWBs are able to increase pupil

motivation in learning because they are enjoyable and fun

(Interactivewhiteboard.net.au, 2005), there is a possibility that the students might lose

interest and get bored once they are used to the IWB.

In conclusion, the IWB is a great tool for use in a classroom. It can help in

enhancing and improving learning. Even though there are downsides of it, but that is

when the teacher’s problem solving skill come is. The teacher can improvise and reduce

the problem to be as little as possible.

Reference List
Brown, S. (2002). Interactive whiteboards in education. Retrieved March 25, 2008, from
Joint Information Systems Committee:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/Interactivewhiteboards.pdf

Hay, A., Hodgkinson, M., Peltier, J. W., & Drago, W. A. (2004). Interaction and virtual
learning. Strategic Change , 193-204.

InteractiveWhiteboard.net.au. (2005). InteractiveWhiteboard.net.au. Retrieved March

28, 2008, from Essentials: http://www.interactivewhiteboard.net.au/essentials.asp

Teachernet. (2007). Teachernet, interactive whiteboards. Retrieved March 28, 2008,

from TeacherNet: the education site for teachers and school managers:
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/ictis/infrastructure/iwb/