IWB- Teaching 21st Century students with 21st Century technology

Teachers need to move away from seeing IWBs and ICT as a teaching or presentation tool to using it as learning tool to engage learners through interactive teaching styles.
Interactive Whiteboards are an excellent medium for appealing to the visual, kinaesthetic and auditory learners to create memorable lessons that stick in their minds.

ICT does not need to be clever and sophisticated in order to get students enjoying what they are doing. However, as we all know from our own experiences if you over use PowePoints, textbooks and worksheets, they can soon lose their appeal. Variety is critical to a successful lesson.
IWB`s are a brilliant medium but don't just use it to present ideas, get the kids out of their seats and have some fun!
The interactive board allows a teacher to bring the clear instruction pages, large visual images, audio files, movies, games to the class quickly and easily. It then allows the teacher to interact with these things without having to huddle down in front of a computer. The fact that you can write on and move the things on screen also means you are freed from the pre-ordained structure of a previously created powerpoint. Ultimately then it is of benefit to the teacher as it reduces planning time, frees up lesson time, and allows the use of a wide range of resources quickly.
It is not a panacea for bad teaching, and it can only ever be one tool in the classroom.
IWB can never replace the art of a good teacher who uses a variety of teaching and learning tools.

IWBs are one tool in the armoury of a good teacher, but like any tool its effectiveness can become blunted with over use! IWB enhances good teaching, rather than creates good teaching.
Students by their very nature are always on the cutting edge of innovation and technology and harnessing their knowledge, experience and questions is critical in any successful student/ teacher relationship. Dont be afraid to ask for their help.

I believe all IWB training should in part focus on users limitations and potential misuse. as well as the genuine benefits they can bring to teachers' planning and creation of varied lessons. Perhaps these can be explored in small after school groups where we can reflect on this.

Whether we love them or hate them, IWBs like any teaching and learning tool should never be allowed to become the sole focus in the lesson.

Equipping teachers with the skills they need to fully exploit these new technologies and use them effectively is my mission as an ICT teacher at Rosary School and OLV.
http://epotential.education.vic.gov.au/showcase/index.php?showcase_id=55