Brief encounters with an interactive whiteboard.

My first encounter with an Interactive whiteboard (IWB) was during my first year at university in 2006. One of my tutors was a primary school teacher and she had recorded herself teaching with an IWB (brave woman). She showed the DVD of her lesson during a tutorial and I was gobsmacked. I had never seen anything like it before. My mind raced and I couldn’t stop thinking of the potential ways that it could be used in the classroom. Unfortunately the university didn’t have any IWB’s installed at the time so after that tutorial my excitement was pushed aside while I continued with my studies.

Disappointingly, not one of the classrooms where I completed the practical experience components of my degree had an IWB installed, so I had no opportunities to use them in the classroom. There were however, a few occasions where I was in a school library or another teacher’s classroom and I had a chance to play with one but I never had the opportunity to become familiar with the software. The university finally installed an IWB during my third year of study. I was able to engage with it a few times and my enthusiasm was renewed. As a result, the total amount of hands-on experience that I have had with an IWB, prior to being let loose in the classroom as a ‘real’ teacher, amounts to…oh…about 15 minutes.

As a new teacher I have found myself alone in strange classrooms staring at IWB’s that are connected to computers that I don’t have passwords for. When I do have access, the teacher I am relieving has usually left instructions detailing how he or she wants me use it. The day passes fairly quickly and my mind is focussed on getting through the work that the teacher has left for the class, so opportunities for experimenting with IWB’s have been very limited.

I have found that children are usually more engaged when the lesson includes the use of an IWB. When I say ‘engaged’ I feel that they are more focussed on the discussion that is occurring. They seem to stop fidgeting & most of them appear eager to interact with it. I have also found that children are an excellent resource for clues and tips about using the IWB. One time, after I had used the IWB as a glorified whiteboard, I was erasing some lesson notes with the erase tool. I had just dismissed the class for lunch and one little boy, on his way out of the classroom, came up behind me and offered his assistance.

He asked, “Mrs D, can I show you an easier way to erase all of that stuff?”

“Absolutely,” came the reply from the frazzled Mrs D.

Then he encircled the lesson notes with his finger and tapped on the board. Magically the notes disappeared. I thanked him profusely and sent him out to lunch.

The desire to become familiar with the IWB has found me staying in the classroom at lunch time. When I have been lucky enough to escape playground duty I have raced up to the staffroom to grab a cup of tea and then rushed back to the classroom to explore and play with the software. I have spent a few lunch breaks clicking on the toolbar icons to see what they do. Of course, lunch breaks are short and I have to prepare for afternoon sessions, so my time spent exploring the IWB has been limited.

So what can an inexperienced relief teacher do to improve her IWB technical competencies?

So far:

• I bought a book about teaching with the IWB ~ ‘The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution’ by Chris Betcher & Mal Lee.  (Great book, I highly recommend it.)
• I have joined IWB nings such as the SMART Board Revolution and the Interactive Whiteboard Revolution where I follow the IWB usage conversations of experienced educators.
• I follow blogs such as The Whiteboard Blog by Danny Nicholson which has great resources, links, ideas and advice for using IWB’s in the classroom. iLearn Technology is another great blog as is Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom.
• I learn a great deal about e-teaching from my Twitter PLN.
• I have checked out the resources at the SMART tech training centre.
• I’m on the lookout for online courses that include a beginner’s perspective (if you know of any please let me know.)

I realise that the IWB is just a tool and no amount of clever technology will replace quality teaching. Although I don’t know a lot about technology I approach teaching with an open mind and I am eager to learn. I believe that the IWB, in the hands of a competent teacher, can enhance the teaching and learning environment. The possibilities for providing children with stimulating lessons are endless and I look forward to the day when I have my own class. Bring it on.

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