{"id":5174,"date":"2013-03-08T12:22:32","date_gmt":"2013-03-08T12:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltchat.org\/wordpress\/?p=5174"},"modified":"2013-03-08T12:22:32","modified_gmt":"2013-03-08T12:22:32","slug":"how-can-teachers-make-the-most-out-of-an-iwb-in-the-classroom-eltchat-summary-27022013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/2013\/03\/08\/how-can-teachers-make-the-most-out-of-an-iwb-in-the-classroom-eltchat-summary-27022013\/","title":{"rendered":"How can teachers make the most out of an IWB in the classroom? #ELTchat Summary 27\/02\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This post is a summary of an\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/eltchat.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#ELTchat<\/a>\u00a0on the topic of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) which took place on February 27 at 21.00 GMT. You can read the original transcript\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/eltchat.pbworks.com\/w\/page\/64136986\/How%20can%20we%20get%20the%20most%20out%20of%20an%20IWB%20in%20the%20classroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 562px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/iwb-i-undervisningen-23hkvjf.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"iwb-i-undervisningen\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/iwb-i-undervisningen-23hkvjf-1024x768.jpg\" width=\"552\" height=\"414\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">image from the #technoLanguages Blog<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a simmering controversy in the ELT world about the value of IWBs in the classroom. For some, IWBs can enhance language instruction and learning, while for others they don\u2019t provide enough learning opportunities to justify their high cost.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As a teacher who has been using IWBs for some years but hasn\u2019t explored their full potential yet, I proposed this topic in order to get practical tips and ideas from fellow chatters<em>. What activities are special to IWBs? What materials or applications can we use? How can we make the most out of an IWB in the classroom?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Within a few minutes the chat turned into a fascinating debate confirming for one more time the controversy that IWBs can attract. As a result, apart from offering practical advice, ELT chatters discussed the pros and cons of using IWBs in the classroom. There were also those who argued that IWBs are already being overtaken by other technologies such as tablets and other types of interactive projection and explained how an iPad can be used instead of an IWB. Finally, some links for further reading were shared.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\":-)\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/wp-includes\/images\/smilies\/icon_smile.gif\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>IWBs can enhance teachers\u2019 lessons (@prese1).<\/li>\n<li>Best thing about iwbs is the ability to save all your board notes (@dreadnought001).<\/li>\n<li>IWBs allow you to organise your lessons in files (@eng4abetterlife).<\/li>\n<li>An IWB is both a board and a window into a computer (@tim_crangle).<\/li>\n<li>Easy access to the internet or internet-based exercises (@bhrbahar &amp; @SophiaMav).<\/li>\n<li>Easy access to a range of board games (@prese1).<\/li>\n<li>Erasing takes a second. Shapes are ready (@bhrbahar).<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t need to draw everything. You can save your work, share and use it again (@bhrbahar).<\/li>\n<li>You can save students\u2019 work as well (@SophiaMav).<\/li>\n<li>You can get your students to write\/interact on the board with what you are projecting (@tim_crangle).<\/li>\n<li>With IWBs you don\u2019t need to carry your laptop to class (@SophiaMav).<\/li>\n<li>It can have a great effect on classroom management (@antoniaclare &amp; @Shaunwilden).<\/li>\n<li>IWBs can motivate teachers to use technology in the classroom (@JennyJohnson10).<\/li>\n<li>From a commercial point of view it can be a selling point for a school (@tim_crangle).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>They are too expensive (@Marisa_C @blairteacher @CotterHUE tim_crangle @Shaunwilden).<\/li>\n<li>IWBs rely completely on having a computer and a data projector working with it; the board itself is just a monitor and a mouse (@Shaunwilden)<\/li>\n<li>They encourage a teacher (or board) centred learning (@blairteacher)<\/li>\n<li>Only one student can work at a time while the others are waiting. This might translate to less engaged students and poor activity (@CotterHUE).<\/li>\n<li>School owners might invest on IWBs to advertise their school but use them \u00a0rather traditionally e.g. projecting text, rules, exercises (@Marisa_C ).<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s not portable (@CotterHUE).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>What activities are special to IWBs?<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/Interactive_whiteboard1-19s59pt.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"Interactive_whiteboard1\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/Interactive_whiteboard1-19s59pt-300x300.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By Activeducator via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n<p><strong>Games<\/strong><br \/>\n@Shaunwilden suggested\u00a0<em>screenshade<\/em>\u00a0and<em>spotlight<\/em>\u00a0tools both of which can be used to hide part of a photo and encourage students to speculate. He also added that by changing opacity you can have easy guessing games.<\/p>\n<p>@tim_crangle said that Smart and Promethean boards offer Flash animations that you can customise (anagrams, MCQs, dice). He added that these particular brands have places where you can share and find lots of excellent activities.<\/p>\n<p>@prese1 finally said that\u00a0<em>Pelmanism<\/em>\u00a0can be a great game to play on IWBs<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1>Video<\/h1>\n<p>@antoniaclare said IWBs can be great with video and @bhrbahar added that, depending on the topic, clips can be useful for consolidation.<\/p>\n<h1>ELT activities<\/h1>\n<p>@eng4abetterlife asked if there is something particular to the IWB that is good for TESOL. @Marisa_C \u00a0said that using something like\u00a0<em>Google streets<\/em>\u00a0for directions does work really well on an IWB and @tim_crangle added that you can teach prepositions by using the shapes, arrows etc provided with the board software. In regard to grammar, @dreadnought001 said that a teacher can have lots of useful boards (eg grammar, agree\/disagree lang) ready to pull up when needed.<\/p>\n<p>@tim_crangle pointed out that you can do interactive written work with Google drive if your class has computers, smartphones or tablets and project on the IWB.<\/p>\n<p>@SophiaMav said that you can instantly find pictures to teach vocabulary and that there is no need for flash cards any more. @tim_crangle added that you can add sound to images by recording your voice naming the objects or by getting the students to record themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Some other ELT-related activities include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readingeggs.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reading eggs<\/a>\u00a0which can make learning to read effective and engaging for children \u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/d0DxydBho8 (@bhrbahar)<\/li>\n<li>Virtual tours field trips, e.g.\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.googleartproject.com\/faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Google Art Project<\/a>\u00a0 (SophiaMav)<\/li>\n<li>A project for a website re-design in which the entire class is on IWB designing mock-ups, annotating pages they like and talking (@Wiktor_K)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Great debate bits<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/Kozzi-vector_speech_icon-693x749-2b9lwcx.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" title=\"vector speech icon\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/Kozzi-vector_speech_icon-693x749-2b9lwcx-277x300.jpg\" width=\"277\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>On teacher-centredness<\/h2>\n<p>@blairteacher argued that IWBs can encourage teacher-centred learning but @Shaunwilden \u00a0disagreed by saying that this is an often cited myth and that a teacher-centred teacher will always be teacher-centred. @Wiktor_K also added \u201cSo does an ordinary whiteboard if teachers abuse it. It\u2019s tech. It can\u2019t encourage anything of itself, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>On saving and reusing your work<\/h2>\n<p>@bhrbahar said that one of the most compelling features of an IWB is the ability to save your work, share it and re-use it to which @Marisa_C replied that this is good if you keep teaching the same lessons over and over again; however, @tim_crangle added that this feature allows you to \u201ctweak\u201d and improve previous lessons and adapt them more easily.<\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s the computer, not the board<\/h2>\n<p>As previously mentioned, @Shaunwilden argued that it\u2019s not the board itself but the computer and the projector that allow all the learning opportunities, \u201cthe board is just a monitor and a mouse\u201d. @SophiaMav \u00a0agreed but said \u201cit\u2019s all in one place. No need to install or carry laptops from classroom to classroom\u201d. @bhrbahar added that this is their function and as a result\u00a0 IWBs give the opportunity. @Shaunwilden answered that they do have all in one systems, but if the computer doesn\u2019t work your board does not work either to which @bhrbahar agreed and added that an IWB is like a computer with a big screen.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>On high cost<\/h2>\n<p>@dreadnought001 thought that the price had come down quite a bit but @Marisa_C said that locally you can\u2019t get anything good in a decent size under 1700 or so euros and that you can\u2019t just get ONE! @tim_crangle added that \u201cyou can\u2019t afford to cut corners on quality \u2013 a board\/computer\/projector which breaks down is a total waste of time\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>Only one student at a time<\/h2>\n<p>The issue was raised by @CotterHUE who said that a limited number of students can work on the board while the others wait for their turn and might be distracted. @tim_crangle agreed but suggested \u201cthe robot technique\u201d which means that you get one student to be the robot who is ordered by the other students, in this way everyone is involved.<\/p>\n<h2>Can the iPad be used as an alternative to an IWB?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/5530398225_4a9822303f-2f8rhix.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"5530398225_4a9822303f\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/03\/5530398225_4a9822303f-2f8rhix-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Via proncone \u2013 flickr<\/p>\n<p>@CotterHUE kicked off the discussion by asking \u201cI never used an IWB, so how would an IWB differ from an iPad hooked up to a projector or screen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to @tim_crangle an IWB is more interactive as you can get your students to write or interact on the board with what you are projecting. @CotterHUE disagreed by saying \u00a0\u201cHow more interactive? Ipad uses video, pdfs, etc. Don\u2019t have to print worksheets and can send work to all students by email\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>For @Shaunwilden the iPad is more interactive when used with Apple TV to which @tim_crangle agreed but said that \u201cApple TVs are another story\u201d! @Wiktor_K also argued that buying an iPad and an Apple TV may also raise cost issues but @Shaunwilden said \u201cnot as much as a board! Apple TV less than a 100 quid, cheapest ipad 329 cheap projector 200 quid\u201d. He also added that instead of Apple TV, teachers can use apps that turn your iPad into an IWB if linked to a computer e.g. such as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/54JIwMFrov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">doceri\u00a0<\/a>or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nPmvRD6hoQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reflector<\/a>\u00a0but in this case you need a computer. @CotterHUE also said that you can buy a cable adapter in lieu of pushing content to apple TV.\u00a0 But that would mean that you can\u2019t walk around with an iPad.<\/p>\n<p>@VSnack finally shared a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/8Wixu24v1p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">link<\/a>\u00a0to a video that demonstrates how to transform any WB into an IWB and added that it\u2019s a much cheaper solution.<\/p>\n<p>@dreadnought001 wanted to know how using an ipad as IWB replacement works and whether it is awkward to write on it. @Marisa_C answered that you can type or use a stylus but @dreadnought001 thought that \u201cstyluses (styli?) are awful on the ipad\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>@CotterHUE offered a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/Vq1HebYAID\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">link<\/a>\u00a0to stylus for ipad\u00a0 and added that there are also loads of great apps. @Marisa_C said that she had never used a stylus but she can easily draw, type, screen record and email everything with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/educreations-interactive-whiteboard\/id478617061?mt=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Educreations App<\/a>. She also uses it for error feedback. She explained that it\u2019s like jing but you create as you record and save all your pages like an IWB.<\/p>\n<p>@Shaunwilden added that he prefers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/screenchomp\/id442415881?mt=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">screenchomp<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a free app for creating and sharing short tutorials on the iPad. @Wiktor_K also suggested\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/evernote.com\/penultimate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Penultimate\u00a0<\/a>&#8211; a handwriting app for iPad that allows you to easily take notes and save your work. It can be fully synchronised with Evernote and stylus works great with it.<\/p>\n<p>He finally concluded that after tablets and gesture control (check\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leapmotion.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leap Motion<\/a>) IWBs are not \u201cthe most interactive game in town\u201d.<\/p>\n<h1><strong><\/strong>Most memorable tweets<\/h1>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>@Marisa_C: So can I sit back and relax then \u2026. we seem to have two opposing camps here \u2013 FOR &amp; AGAINST \u2013 fun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>@dreadnought001: Don\u2019t get the hostility to them, it\u2019s like being angry at a tape recorder, it\u2019s equipment, good teachers use it well, bad teachers don\u2019t.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>@CotterHUE: Sounds like IWBs offer few more bells and whistles but expensive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>@Marisa_C: Personally I don\u2019t like publishers who just put out book pages on their software and call this innovation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>@Wiktor_K: IWBs are really worth it if they\u2019re used by dedicated &amp; creative teachers, I think. So I\u2019m sure we shouldn\u2019t give up on them!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h1>Links<\/h1>\n<p>As usual some great links were offered for further reading and consolidation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/vnR9iQ9Mbu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">IWB debate with Gavin Dudeney and Pete Sharma\u00a0<\/a>(@antoniaclare) \u2013 Note that the recording can only be accessed by LTSIG members.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/sR6dwiAQ1Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">An interesting article: IWBs are no Silver Bullet but can be poweful\u00a0<\/a>(@SophiaMav).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/eGMpZ8BAwm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Summary\/reflections on Paul Braddock\u2019s IATEFL talk<\/a>\u00a0(@antoniaclare)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/2yaRshCYqP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New technology \u2013 new pedagogy by Pete Sharma<\/a>\u00a0(Wiktor_K)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/iwb-efl.wikispaces.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Using the IWB in EFL by Graham Stanley<\/a>\u00a0(@SophiaMav)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Many thanks to moderators and ELTchatters\u00a0<strong><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\":-)\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/wp-includes\/images\/smilies\/icon_smile.gif\" \/><\/strong><\/h1>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>@Marisa_C, @Shaunwilden, @bhrbahar, @tim_crangle, @SophiaMav, @Wiktor_K, @CotterHUE, @prese1, @blairteacher, @SueAnnan, @dreadnought001, @antoniaclare, @eng4abetterlife, @blairteacher, @DWar,\u00a0 @MarjorieRosenbe, @eng4abetterlife, @VSnack @JennyJohnson10<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>About the contributor<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<aside id=\"widget_sp_image-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/02\/photo-1pg4g68.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" style=\"margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/files\/2013\/02\/photo-1pg4g68.jpg\" width=\"91\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/aside>\n<aside id=\"text-1\">\n<div>Sophia Mavridou is an EFL teacher currently teaching in a private Primary &amp; Secondary school in Athens and studying for her MA in EdTech &amp; TESOL with the University of Manchester. This post first appeared on her blog <a href=\"http:\/\/sophiamavridi.edublogs.org\/2013\/03\/08\/eltchat-summary-iwbs\/#.UTnCg28giYt.twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ELT @ First Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post is a summary of an\u00a0#ELTchat\u00a0on the topic of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) which took place on February 27 at 21.00 GMT. You can read the original transcript\u00a0here. &nbsp; There\u2019s a simmering controversy in the ELT world about the value of IWBs in the classroom. For some, IWBs can enhance language instruction and learning, while&hellip; <br \/> <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/2013\/03\/08\/how-can-teachers-make-the-most-out-of-an-iwb-in-the-classroom-eltchat-summary-27022013\/\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-summary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}