http://teacher.scholastic.com/resources/whiteboards/
In doing a quick google search on interactive white boards, it becomes apparent that there is already a significant amount of research done that support the use of an interactive whiteboard within a classroom environment. Whether these studies are funded by the manufacturers or retailers can put into question the legitimacy of the research, yet common sense based on research in other fields of teaching and learning would suggest that this increased learning experience is quite possible.
The potential of using an interactive whiteboard in our classes have the advantage over a normal whiteboard that you can use computer generated images, which enhances the learning support materials within the classroom. By engaging more senses with a more realistic look and feel, we therefore link various interactions of the brain with the single exercise which studies have proven to be more effective within a teaching and learning environment.
Because the content is displayed through a computer, the resolution can be enhanced, enlarged or minimized in order to focus the display on a certain section or the whole.
In my opinion, one of the biggest advantages is that you can use different colors very effectively without the need to ensure that you have chalk in the classroom. A lot of times within the classroom, there might be a lack of chalk in the classroom which can hamper effective teaching. Certain colors on normal chalkboards also does not display very well, while there are certain interactive whiteboards that can only display a set number of different colors.
Another drawback on the interactive boards is that as with most projectors, it requires the surrounding area to not be too bright, which under certain circumstances might be problematic, especially if the area needs to be so dark that learners cannot see and therefore write to take notes AND if they do, it might be detrimental to their eyesight.
In a South African context, our biggest possible problem would be a combination of access and Eskom. Not all schools will have the required funding to enable the use of interactive white boards and unlike a normal chalkboard, they do require electricity to operate. It would therefore not be viable to use an interactive whiteboard in the event of a power outage.
Although the argument can be made that a normal projector can provide the same functionality, anyone who grew up watching SABC educational programs should remember Mr William Smith. The reason I mention him specifically is because if you are aware of whom I'm talking about, you should also be aware of the fact that his hands were always filthy due to the constant erasing of the magic markers with his hands. Although a cloth can be used to do this, in practise, it rarely happens that it is always the case and in my school education I remember numerous occasions when teachers had "colorful hands" because they had to re-explain something on the projector.
Normal projectors, although less expensive, also require power and a significant amount of preparation since special transparent sleeves are required to showcase the lesson.
In order to keep certain information on the transparent documents, our teachers had to "photocopy" these images onto the documents. It was then permanent, but if they had made a mistake or wanted to make a change, it was not possible as it was a fixed permanent document to which could only be added.
The biggest advantage that interactive whiteboards however have, in my opinion, is that it allows the use of a display using a computer. In the digital age of today and with our previous exploration of digital pedagogy, most teachers most likely will be making use of computer assisted teaching methods. These interactive boards therefore directly integrates with our preferred method of preparation and should therefore lessen the burden of preparation for class.
Considering that almost no presentations within the business world is made without a projector making use of a computer, it is only logical to take the technology into the classroom. Being a technophile myself, I tend to agree with the findings that interactive whiteboards will assist teaching and learning, especially since my own rationale comes to the same conclusion.
Yes, it has its drawbacks but as Allan F. Mogensen said:
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