IWB-Sharda


 * Technology Inquiry : Interactive White Boards (IWB) **

The Interactive White Board is a new and widely spread technological and instructional tool. The most popular brands of the Interactive White Board are the Promethean Board and the SMART Board. Different school districts may use one, the other, or both. Their prices can range from $1,000 to $3,000. These prices depend on the features that come with the board. Normally, the more Interactive White Boards that are bought, the cheaper each board becomes. The Interactive White Board is a tool that appears to look like a typical white board but it has access to the internet and helpful tools like charts, word processors, blank screens for traditional writing, programs for media viewing, and more.

It is important that teachers are aware of the Interactive White Board because it will probably become an everyday tool that teachers use in the classroom in our near future because this board is designed specifically for the classroom. It is important that our teachers prepare for whatever tools that may be thrown at them. Why? Teachers can write letters to financial sponsors to help get funding for these helpful learning tools for their classroom. There are grants that support the integration of technology of the classroom. However, the teacher has to be aware of the tools she lacks and the benefits they provide to students to truly make an argument for having such an expensive product in the classroom.

I have no personal connection to Interactive White Boards. I was interested in learning about the basics of this “Interactive White Board” that is being mentioned more and more in educational jargon. Therefore, my inquiry question was centered on what the Interactive White Board can do to enhance the classroom.

Zevenburgan and Lerman argued that, in regards to the classroom, when using the Interactive White Board, “ students were more likely to engage in learning due to the surprise element that was offered through the IWB, the large visual cues offered through the IWB presentation format, and the quicker pace of lessons. (2008, p. 3)”. Although Interactive White Boards are not extremely new in some classrooms, it remains to be a fairly new piece of technology across the board in our classrooms. Thusly, it is up to our teachers to learn how to use this new technology to enhance education. Schut suggests that technology (Interactive White Boards): (1) is a tool to address challenges in teaching and learning; (2) promotes change; and a (3) central force to economic competitiveness. (2007, p. 22) Technology in general does a lot of the classroom. Throughout history, new technology has been looked at as beneficial for the classroom if used properly. Especially in the case of Interactive White Boards, technology can truly be beneficial if created specifically for the classroom. (Schut) suggests that: (1) technology impacts learning by encouraging different forms of interactions; (2) technology engages students to higher-order cognitive tasks; and (3) technology causes teachers to question assumptions of traditional instruction and learning (p. 30).  Interactive White Boards provides a connection between different learning styles. For example, it can provide 3-D images. Students, who may have had difficulty mentally visualizing geometric solids, are able to view the solid in its entirety. The teacher doesn’t have to purchase the manipulative for the students to hold. She can pull it up on the IWB. However, the Interactive White Board cannot replace the many kinesthetic benefits of manipulatives. Gerard, Gree, and Widener claims the Interactive White Boards can help “support the presentation of new linguistic and cultural elements, interactions with students, teacher organization, student oral skills, cognitive process, motivation and emulation” (p. 3).  Things that the Interactive White Board can do to help enhance learning:  1)  Teachers can present lessons on a word processor. If the teacher writes the lesson plan, keeping in mind those students will be viewing it; the plan can enhance students’ awareness of English grammar and formal writing.  2)   Teachers are able to save notes that the class compiles (maybe through discussion) onto a word processor. These notes can be pulled back up at a later date.  3)  The whole class can view authentic documents through internet websites, etc.  4)   The teacher can use the internet, watch videos, write notes, and much more in one place.  5)  The Board can help manage the classroom. The Interactive White Board provides a calendar, clock, and calculator for the entire class to view.
 * The Interactive White Board: **

The benefits of the Interactive White Board are unlimited. Pratt and Davison claims that in many subjects the “IWB (could) act as a public forum for opinions to be shared, conflicts raised and hopefully awareness that different definitions are possible and that utilities are attached to each possible definition. (p. 30)”. However, there are also cons to the Interactive White Board. The teacher must become familiar and comfortable with the white board before using it in the classroom. Teachers must also make sure that their whole group instruction when using the white board is active for the students. Allowing students to use the Interactive White Board will make the lesson more exciting. The Interactive White Board does not have to be used for the entirety of the lesson. Group collaboration and problem solving should be the focus of the classroom. The teacher should be the facilitator of the classroom. The attention should not be primarily on the teacher. Rather, the classroom should be student-centered. Thusly, the Interactive White Board should be used only to make connections when used during whole group instruction. Students can also become familiar with the Interactive White Board as well. The new technology is sure to keep the attention of the students for a longer time than a chalkboard would.

 -  Promethean Board: [] <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">SMART Board: <span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[] <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">General Website: <span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[] <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">General Website (Subjects): <span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[] <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Wiki: <span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">http://whiteboardchallenge.wikispaces.com/ <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">General Website (includes online resources, podcasts, blogs, social networking, and funding): <span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[|www.interactivewhiteboards.wetpaint.com] <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Appropriate Resources: **

<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -   The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution: Teaching With IWBs (Paperback) <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o  ISBN-10: 0864318170 <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -   Writing Lessons for the Interactive Whiteboard: 20 Whiteboard-Ready Writing Samples and Mini-Lessons That Show You How to Teach the Elements of Strong Writing (Paperback) <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o  ISBN-10: 054514471X <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -   Learning and Teaching With Interactive Whiteboards: Primary and Early Years (Achieving Qts: Practical Handbooks) (Paperback) <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o  ISBN-10: 1844450813 <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">You Tube: //The Interactive White Board: A Beginner’s Guide//. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptUNzMFJb3E <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">You Tube:// Interactive White Board Teacher Training// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75-7UqTy040 <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">You Tube: Top 5 Tips: Creating Resources for the Interactive White Board http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBD-tltZ6jY&feature=related <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -   Podcast:   <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">http://blog.teachnet.ie/?p=934
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Books for Teachers: **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Media Resources: **

<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  Pratt, David and Davison, Ian. (2003). Interactive Whiteboards and the Construction of the Definitions of the Kite. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  Gerard, Fabienne; Green, Martina; Widener, Jimey. (1999). Using SMART Board in Foreign Language Classes. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -   Schut, Christina R. M.Ed., Education Department, Cedarville University. (2007). Student Perceptions of Interactive Whiteboards in a Biology Classroom. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontstyle: italic; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;"> -  <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontstyle: italic;">Zevenbergen, Robyn and Lerman, Steve. (2008). Learning Environments using Interactive Whiteboards: New Learning Spaces or Reproduction of Old Technologies. Mathematics Education Research Journal. 20(1). <span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">References (Articles): **