The Potential of Interactive Whiteboards

To be honest before starting this post I didn’t know what an interactive whiteboard (IWB) was…fortunately, now I do. An IWB is a large interactive display that connects to a computer. A projector projects the computer’s screen on the surface of the board where users can control the computer on the board with there finger or stylus. IWB is an important tool in a classroom to add interactivity and collaboration between learners and between the teacher and learners. It allows all forms of media to be displayed on the screen as well as interaction to take place with this media. Learners can come up to the screen and write notes on images that can be transformed into text and saved to the computer. This has many opportunities for group work and interaction in the group.

An IWB is very cost effective because it shows how one computer can display information to the whole class. This saves money because one IWB is more cost effective than equipping a whole class with laptops or iPads. It is actually easier for learners to work in groups on a IWB rather than on a computer or iPad. In addition, because IWB include so many different technologies it can then replace other technological tools, for example a television or a DVD player.

The potential for uses of an IWB in my subject areas of Life Orientation and Physical energy are widespread. IWB can be used to make mind maps and brainstorm where learners can come up to the board and draw and write out their own mind maps on the topic. This can then be saved and printed out as their notes. Important sections in a text can be highlighted and images can be drawn next to the text for better understanding. IWB can also be used to show learners how to safely use the internet as the teacher can use the computer and it will show up on the board. This function is also helpful for any computer related activities. Brief instructional blocks can be recorded by the teacher which students can review later, this would be helpful in relaying homework or test information. In Physical Education videos of different sport skills or matches can be played to the class, then paused while notes and drawings can be done on the screen. This will help learners see the different aspects of a skill or the different strategies used in a game.

The potential of IWB in classrooms is vast. I think is is beneficial because it will motivate learners to be interactive and motivated to learn because it brings in different aspects of learning that are fun and exciting.  

Being Meaningful and Mindful

The classroom is supposed to be an environment where discussion is encouraged. It would be a very boring lesson for both teachers and learners if the teacher talked to him/herself the whole lesson. This stresses the importance of learner involvement – it is vital for an effective learning environment. After all, the learners are the ones who need the knowledge and therefore their involvement through questioning and discussion is essential. The work by Wills was very interesting to me and her idea to focus her learners was very effective. By allowing students to do tasks that involve mindfulness is very important in my opinion. Learners have many things on their mind all day and they could definitely benefit from completing a task in which they have full control over and feel calm, peaceful and organized (as Wills’ learners did).

This topic now brings to mind a story of when an old teacher of mine did a mindfulness task with us. It was after a Physical Education lesson and we all had to lie on our backs on the floor. She spoke to us as we breathed in and out slowly while relaxing different parts of our body one at a time. Besides the fact that I think some people fell asleep I enjoyed the task and it helped us to focus and redirect our energy in a more positive way, especially after an energetic physical education lesson.

In my opinion, some teachers may mistake learners’ attitudes as being disinterested when in actual fact it may be that they do not feel involved or included in their own lesson. As Wills stated, her learners enjoyed having their own words instruct their activity. I believe that all learners would love to have more involvement or say in how their classroom is structured and conducted. This will create a positive environment where learners feel welcome and appreciated. This idea connects to the video by Foley where ‘pastoral care’ is described as a positive atmosphere where teachers are always accessible to learners; there is open communication and a relationship between teachers and learners. I think this is very important to heighten the well-being of learners and increase their self-efficacy and sense of responsibility. Foley stresses the importance of having empathy and understanding the context of the learner. This includes knowing which teaching practices and learning styles are best for them and which resources are available and accessible to learners.

In my classroom I would use these techniques as I strongly believe that these aspects will encourage meaningful learner involvement with the added benefit of promoting self-confidence and creating a mindful atmosphere. 

Creative Teaching and Self-directed Learning

Hamilton's writing, "The Standards of Cultural Digital Pedagogy" touches on many ideas that some may not have thought about or considered before. One concept I have thought about and disagree with, as Hamilton does, is that teachers are bankers making knowledge deposits and learners are empty bank vaults passively receiving deposits. Although this is a creative metaphor I do not agree. We are confined by these limiting roles if we think about education like this. We should change our view of teachers being the only people with something to teach. Children want to learn and if they feel in control of this learning and feel as though they have some say in it they will be more willing. This point is backed up by the video “The Independent Project” where learners started their own ‘school’ where they were free to choose to learn anything that interested them. They found that they did well in their chosen topic and their marks in their other subjects actually improved too. Today children go to school feeling as though they are confined to one system that they have no say in – by allowing them to have control (self-directed learning) they will want to be more involved.

Technology is an effective way to make self-directed/distance learning take place. Hamilton brought up aspects of technology that I had not thought of before. As written by Adam Banks there are different aspects to the idea of access. When we think of technology as a learning tool we think it is not possible if we don’t have access to devices, but Banks also explains “functional access (the ability to use), experiential access (the ability to use in personal context), and also critical access (the ability to choose to use).” I think this is important in self-directed/distance learning because possibly not everyone would like to use technology or are able to. Therefore, everyone should have the choice of how they wish to learn and use for this learning. This is also seen in “The Independent Project” where the students wanted to do something different and they chose it for themselves. Systems for education should be put in place with learners having the freedom to choose how they want to learn and allowing a creative learning environment. This also allows for learners to engage with any available learning material and any other learners around they world. This links with what Bernardo Trejos writes about the language gap between his Taiwanese students and Western lecturers as being fertile ground where teaching and learning can grow. Learners can learn so much about and from different people around the world through technology. Education is a “process to be engaged in”, learning does not have to only take place in ‘core subjects’ as shown in “The Independent Project”.

Technology-mediated self-directed/distance learning gives learners the opportunity to enjoy learning in a creative, student-centered way.