Using IWBs

In the article How Interactive Is Your Whiteboard I learned about three main ideas. The article discussed strategies for questioning students in a way that allows for more interaction on their part. These strategies ranged from giving students more time to answer and asking higher order thinking questions.
I also learned about the levels of interaction in a classroom. Funnelling is when the teacher leads students to a predetermined answer. Probing allows students to contribute their own ideas into the answer. This allows for more interaction on the part of the student. Collective reflection has the students interacting together to come to a conclusion.
I learned about appropriate use of interactive whiteboards. IWBs are not simply inteded to be an expensive LCD Projector, but, a meeting ground for interactive learning. IWBs allow students to create new ideas collaboratively as a class. Their thoughts are put together and manipulated on the IWB and combine to create a new concept that the class can claim as their own.
Interactive learning tools do not lead to learning by themselves. Interactive learning tools are just that. Tools for teachers to create an atmosphere of collaboration for learners. Without the creative manipulation from an educator, an interacitve learning tool will just be motivational novelty that soon wears off. Interactive learning tools are not automated and they are not creative. Like anything else it takes an innovative mind and a motivated body to create lessons and an atmosphere for interactive learning.
Educators can use inteactive communication tools to their best potential in many different ways.
1. Designing images that meet the needs of society. Studens can work together to create logos, flyers, brochures, etc. for local businesses and group. They can do this using simple design software like Microsoft Publisher or more sophisticated software like Adobe Illustrator.
2. Students can use software tools like inspiration or kidspiration to brainstorm ideas and thoughts for projects and activities. Students can brainstorm ideas for a new invention that can be used to solve a particular problem in the community.
3. Students can solve word problems toghether. Students can use the IWB as a communal piece of scratch paper to come up with an answer to a word problem. Students should be encouraged to come up to the board in 2s and 3s and not just one at a time. This allows more interaction by more students.
I like the idea of students working together to solve real-world problems together. IWBS can be used for brainstorming ideas, creating designs and also searching for information. The IWB allows the students to do this together as a team. This creates unity, good feelings, teamwork and social interaction.