IWBs and some benefits

Where to start, where to start??? How about IWBs! Mysteriously I was put in charge of Mimio implementation in our school. This was due to the fact that we decided to trial them out and the teacher next to my classroom was meant to have one but she was taking on a new position so I was lucky enough to get the chance to have it installed in my room and I haven't looked back since! We now have 25 Mimio units school wide with ceiling mounted data projectors, teachers create many of their own resources as well as using content that is available online. I have found that there are many benefits to having an IWB in the class. These include:

• Global Communication-Using skype for video/audio conferencing.
  
• Access to all forms of media- video and audio from various sources (youtube/nationalgeographic) Images available from numerous sources.
  
• Save and view written or annotated work from previous sessions.
  
• Lesson can be enhanced by easily integrating video, animation, graphics, text and audio
  
• Notes, diagrams and entire lessons can be saved, archived and added to the school intranet.

Beauchamp and Parkinson (2005) highlight several ways in which IWBs can help enhance both learning and teaching in the class. The first is focussing the attention of the children. Having a large screen at the front of the classroom allows the children to focus their attention to one particular area, this is useful for engaging children's interest at the start of a lesson.

As well as helping focus children’s attention, IWBs have enabled teachers to more effectively scaffold learning. “When one begins to unpick some of the distinctive features of scaffolding it becomes apparent that the features of the IWB fit the bill admirably” (Beauchamp & Parkinson, 2005, p. 99).

Daniel (another member of the course) poses some questions about IWBs on his blog:

* Will my students learn better because I have one? - Maybe

* Will teachers need training to be able to use IWBs? - Most Definitely

* Will it effect the way I teach and make me a 'chalk and talk' rote learning teacher? -Possibly!

I would like to offer my answers...if I may!

• Will my students learn better because I have one? - Absolutely!!!!

The change I have seen in my students through interactions with the Mimio has been astounding. They are keen to be involved, enthusiastic about the use of the Mimio and the amount of discussion that it has promoted when working in groups has been incredibly impressive!

• Will teachers need training to be able to use an IWB? - Absolutely!!!!

Ongoing training is vital for keeping up to date with what is happening in the IWB world. It is easy to reach a level of proficency and then plateau out if you do not keep up to date with new innovations and training options. It will be interesting to see how schools deal with PD for ICT in the coming year, especially since funding for PD in all areas except Literacy has been cut.

• Will it effect the way I teach and make me a "chalk and talk" rote learning teacher- Absolutely!!!! Well...only on the "effect the way I teach" part.

I now see my role in the classroom as more of a facilitator, the Mimio has allowed greater children ownership of activities and the way things are run in the classroom, we interact together with the Mimio and have established a more reciprocal relationship. I don't think an IWB would lead to "chalk and talk" at all. I believe quite the opposite, it allows for more creativity, freedom and more child involvement.