Week 3: Interactive Whiteboard Smart Notebook.

Today in our ICT workshop we looked at using an interactive whiteboard (IWB) and discussed how we might use them in the classroom, to benefit our teaching and the learning of students. According to BECTA (2006), Interactive Whiteboards can be used as an alternative to virtually every other classroom. It provides ways to represent students with resources and materials that are on a computer desktop. The interactive whiteboard can serve as a huge learning bank, where a teacher's lesson can be viewed on screen and involve every pupil, allowing them to use and access it. The use of interactive whiteboards can enhance the quality of teaching and learning (Ofsted 2004). It can be used in the classroom to promote both visual and kinesthetic learning, through videos, audio and pictures. Some of the benefits of the interactive whiteboard include, developing thinking, literacy, discussion and ICT skills. In addition it can also be very useful to SEN and EAL students, who may benefit from the visual learning aspect.

Some examples of ways the interactive whiteboard is used in classrooms.

• Used to promote the learning of the contents of different subjects. From example the built in maps can be used form geography to teach the different continents, oceans etc. It can be used for teaching ways of a maths problem visually
• It can be used to teach pupils how to navigate and use the internet
• To share projects of other pupils to the class
• To teach whole group computer and keyboarding skills
• To present the teachers work or the students work in a presentation
• Teaching grammar and vocabulary using the highlighter tools to highlight vowels, nouns, punctuation etc.
• Printing and saving notes
• Web streaming and Video
• To help students with special needs
• Brainstorming
• Digital story telling
• End each day having students write what they learned.

Considerations

When teachers are using the interactive whiteboard in class there are many things to consider including the height, positioning, light and text visibility of the whiteboard. In addition all students must be able to use and see the board and materials of use must be relevant to learning.

Smart Notebook

In our workshop today we explored the different tools and resources which are available on  SMART notebook software. I learned  various different ways I could use the resources to provide interesting, useful and stimulating lesson plans. In addition we had time to create out own resource which we felt would benefit student learning in the classroom. I found a very useful science resource on the life processes of living things which I feel would actively engage students in science learning, helping them remember the seven life processes through visual and active learning.

How I will apply this in my teaching

When I start teaching, I will ensure that I am familiar with the IWB software that the school has to  offer. I will aim to use lots of interactive resources to stimulate and enhance children's learning. I feel the interactive whiteboard and IWB software can be used in any subject with an endless range of opportunities to involve children interactively. In addition I feel that that this of visual learning would be very useful to support EAL and SEN children.