The use of interactive whiteboards in classrooms

A report by BECTA ICT research on the previous research done on the use of interactive whiteboards in schools lists the main uses of an interactive whiteboard as 'using web based resources in whoel class teaching, showing video clips to help explain concepts, demonstrating a new piece of software, presenting students work to the rest of the class, creating digital flipcharts, manipulating text and practising handwriting, saving notes written on the board for future use and quick and seamless revision.'

All these uses clearly recommend their inclusion in primary classrooms and when used properly they can both enhance and provide a focal point fo learning, increasing student involvement, teacher versatility and overall efficiency. However there are undoubtedly examples of whiteboards being used badly, as old wipe down boards, as a tool simply to project presentations or actually being ignored altogether. There also needs to be the technical support on side to fix any problems with them and provide training in their correct use if their implementation is fulfill its possible potential. Teachers have to be shown how to use them and how to integrate them into their lessons fully before their use becomes second nature and the full extent of their technical abilities and uses can be exploited.

Link to BECTA ICT article
http://www.pgce.soton.ac.uk/ict/NewPGCE/PDFs/wtrs_whiteboards.pdf