Week 5: Interactive whiteboards

During this session we learnt about the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom. It is a key resources used in many classrooms in a variety of different ways. An Interactive Whiteboard or ‘IWb’ is a combination of three elements:

- Computer- Projector- Interactive whiteboard

Used for:

• Mental Warm ups

• Whole-class sessions

• Individual activities

• Group activities

• Reflection/plenary sessions

3 main types:

Promethean Board

SMARTBoard

RM Easiteach

There are five main levels of interactive whiteboard use:

Foundation (Level 1)

Working at this level means using the interactive whiteboard primarily as a presentation/projection tool for PowerPoint’s, videos etc. Teachers at this level are usually positioned next to the computer itself in order to manipulate what is being shown on the board. The electronic pen may be used on the whiteboard or they may use an old whiteboard or a flip chart, they are likely to utilise these for handwriting.

Formative (Level 2)

At this level, teachers utilise the board more effectively operating the computer functions via the board and beginning to make more use of the simpler functionalities such as the electronic pen and erasing tool. With growing confidence, interactions with students based around board-specific functions are able to take place. If useful and appropriate, teachers may invite students to utilise the board directly. Teachers are likely to progress to and beyond this level more quickly if no old board or flipchart is available.

Facility (Level 3)

At this level teachers have mastered all the additional functionalities available via the interactive whiteboard and are beginning to use them with greater frequency and facility. They have begun the process of adapting/creating resources and content that utilises and takes specific advantage of the unique characteristics of the whiteboard. This would include using software tools specifically created for this purpose such as ACTIVstudio for Promethean boards. They are confident with the technology and tools. Many teachers feel they have reached the highest level of IWB capability.

Fluency (Level 4)

At this level teachers find that there are still some new horizons to explore. Continuing to broaden their repertoire of tools and techniques and experiment with the unique pedagogic potential of the IWB using high levels of creativity. They are making significant use of functionality e.g. Hyperlinks and are actively seeking out and harvesting new ideas, new content, new useful Internet sites etc.

Flying (Level 5)

At this level teachers have a wide repertoire of tools techniques and student interactions. Their lessons have a variety of techniques deployed, and have high levels of interaction with students. Within well-planned and well structured sessions teachers demonstrate the confidence and ability to adapt and improvise in response to students' signs of interest or difficulty.

Interactive whiteboards can be highly effective in school, it can encourage:

- When used well, they can increase the pace and provide a structure for lessons- Engagement and motivation – because of its visual nature, all children can become involved.- Can generate competition and increase competition, especially during maths activities.- Can be used to support different learning styles. - Voting devices are pieces of equipment that bring interactivity to a lesson. - Questions can be asked using the devices to assess the children’s skills and thoughts within a

subject.

It is important for student teachers to have a good understanding of interactive whiteboards because there is a growing awareness that teachers need to be regularly up-skilled and updated with new knowledge to ensure changes and technological developments are kept up to date.

https://sites.google.com/site/whiteboardmaterials/home

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/

These two websites give different resources which can be used in the classroom through interactive whiteboards.

This is an example of a game that can be used in the classroom. It is available on TES Iboard. This game was played in today’s session

Another game from TES Iboard. These games enable children to direct the spaceship/mouse around the screen.

TES Iboard offers a range of different games that can be played through the interactive whiteboard.

In today’s session we were encouraged to sign up to promethean planet. This is to enable a registration form can be filled out, so the PassITOn ITTSSL Team at Promethean can allocate our own

personal serial number for the ActivInspire software. This software can be extremely useful during school experience and preparation using the interactive whiteboard.