Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards enhance classrooms, transforming them from the traditional "black and white" chalkboards to highly engaging and stimulating methods of instruction.  Children can interact with these boards using the multi-modal approach (i.e. visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile).  I firmly believe in the many benefits of interactive whiteboards for classroom instruction.  They can be used to show video clips (auditory and visual), play games and answer questions using the pens (tactile, kinesthetic, and visual), and to surf educational websites (visual), to name a few. 

Like every new device, one must take the time to learn how to utilize the board properly, practicing its various functions so that it will be able to enhance classroom learning effectively.  For me, the technology was not overly difficult to learn as some of the functions are similar to those on publications, such as Microsoft Word.  I really enjoyed experimenting with the board, especially moving objects around and writing using the pens.  It felt like magic; it is very addicting once one starts using the interactive whiteboard! 

Pros:

• Gives students visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile ways of learning
• Software comes with ready-to-use teaching tools (thousands of graphics and interactives for each subject area)
• Provides turorials to learn how to use it
• Allows children to interact with the lesson
• Teachers have free access to download the software on their personal computers for use at home
• Engages children in learning and experiencing the content apart from direct instruction or the "talking head"

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to learn how to use
• Takes time to create the lessons
• At times, may get stuck or experience minor glitches--one who uses the board needs to understand the details to aviod these

There are two lessons that I have taught in the past with which I could have incorporated the interactive whiteboard. 

1. Introducing 3D Figures: Sphere and Cube (3rd grade)

• I might have used the board to allow the children to classify 2D and 3D shapes and objects in order to assess the students' understanding of these geometric concepts at the start of the lesson.
• We might then compare 2D and 3D objects using a Venn Diagram on which the children would write their comparisons and observations. 

2. Introduction to Harriet Tubman (4th or 5th grade)

• An interactive whiteboard could be used to show pictures of Harriet Tubman, a map of where she was born and where she traveled to when helping dozens of slaves escape to freedom.  This might be a way to review the states along the east coast.  The students would circle key states and trace Tubman's escape routes!
• Also, a documentary video clip of her may be played on the whiteboard for the students.