week+2+participants

Week 2: A very interesting discussion is happening... = The Great IWB Debate = = = = =

Enter your opinion on the debate here:

 * Name:** Maureen
 * Quotation:** White elephant or Teacher's pet - It requires "a sea change in methodology if it is to be used optimally"

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 * Why it matters:** I had no idea there was so much debate about the use of iwbs and I don't think I would have thought about them being student-centred or teacher-centred. The list of 'Old things done in old ways' was too close for comfort and the required 'sea change in methodology' a challenge. I was glad to hear Chris Betcher say that it can take two years to become proficient and I'm sure that's with a training and a lot of practice. This is a good start.


 * Name:Episode 30: The Whiteboard Conundrum**


 * Quotation:"**Then there are others who see IWBs as the devil incarnate, a scourge on the educational landscape that sets our classrooms back by thirty years. They claim them to be setting the sage back on the stage and ruining the student focused nature of the classroom".


 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context: Black and white positions take us nowhere. IWB is a powerful technology to be used by both students and teachers to enhance the learning experience.**


 * Name:** Marc Prensky


 * Quotation:** "Personally I don't think we should let the teachers use the interactive whiteboards. I'm not saying we shouldn't have them, but if we have them, they should be the province of the students. The students should use them, the students should present with them, the students should figure out the most engaging and important ways to use them."

@http://advanceducation.blogspot.com/2009/04/prensky-on-interactive-whiteboards.html
 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:**


 * Name:** Liane H.


 * Quotation:** "... if the onlookers want to constantly dismiss them because they might be able to be done in other ways with other tools, then they will never see the value that convergence brings to these tools."

From: http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/28/finding-new-things-to-do-with-an-iwb/


 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** The keyword is //convergence//. IWBs combine a number of tools that when viewed individually are not especially remarkable. What's remarkable is that so many different tools are "combined into a single, digital, point of contact on a large shared screen that every participant of the classroom can see, hear and engage with..."


 * Name:** Irina Ishkhneli


 * Quotation:** "You start to use board initially to do things that you've always done. We call it 'old things and old ways'. And then you move gradually into doing the old things but in slightly new ways. And then eventually and hopefully you start to do new things in new ways. You start using the IWB technology to do things that nearly were not visible or possible or likely using old technilogy."

[]
 * From:** Conversations with leading teachers about technology in the classroom. The Whiteboard Conundrum.


 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** Hopefully I start doing new things in my classroom. If I didn't use my IWB, I would be behind my students who use various gadgets in their everyday life. It's like being illiterate. You should take advantages of all new technologies that are available in your professional area. I believe that my life experience and 16 years of working in education will allow me, and primarily my students, to benefit from using IWB technologies. I am optimistic about doing new things that will help us rise to higher levels.


 * Name:** Anja Plemelj

"The real question is whether the teachers who work with them can make the most of that potential and use them to bring that “revolution” into their classrooms.!"
 * Quotation:**

Before reading most of the suggested materials I wasn’t aware of the massive extent of the IWB debate. I was surprised to see how many people debate on the advantages and disadvantages, how many researches have been made, and that all of these things have been going on for so long. I think IWBs are an inevitable part of teacher's future, whether we like them or not. For nowadays children, lessons using only textbooks are not dynamic enough. I’m not sure if I can answer Mr. Betcher’s question because I haven’t had the chance to use the IWB much and I’ve only seen a few demonstrations on you tube what IWBs can do. Nevertheless, I think that good teaching with an IWB depends mostly on the teacher. A good teacher combines different activities and approaches in each lesson and therefore an IWB in the classroom can add a new dimension to the teaching & learning process.
 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:**


 * Name:** Michelle Howell-Martin


 * Quotation:** "Let's not forget, however, that the IWB needs the computer in the corner in order to work, so there's no competition in my mind. You turn the data projector (DP) off, and you have that computer in the corner that the learners can use . Turn it on, and you have a very powerful way of displaying and presenting to a group of students."


 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** While I don't have an IWB in my classroom, I do have access to Promethean software through my school district and have been working with a team of teachers to develop flip charts to support our whole group teaching in reading, at least for now, with other subjects slowly coming online. Without the board, opportunities for interaction are somewhat limited, although I do use it with a presentation clicker and have my students manipulate items in activities with the clicker or at my laptop. I have noticed that the more opportunity my students have to interact with the flip charts, the more engaged they are, so I incorporate games whenever possible, have them do the writing and typing, and have them manipulate parts of the flip chart. While the IWB will be a wonderful tool to have in my classroom, it will be my planning that leads to student engagement and student achievement, not the IWB alone.


 * Name:** Joselia Gomes


 * Quotation:** The contribution to the efficiency of organising language learning activities is equally clear: no more hassle with various pieces of equipment.


 * From: []**

Since then I have used my laptop for preparing classes, making tests, etc, etc., but rarely in the classroom. I was taught to use posters and sticky tape in class for eliciting vocabulary, for instance or for fueling discussion. The use of flashcards and other manual tools and activities was the norm. Nowadays, we can use video, dvd, dragging activities... the range of technological tools and activities available is huge. If we wanted to watch a video, do a matching activity, show a picture and explain some grammar, we had to bring into class a tv set, a video or dvd player, some flash cards, an ohp, use the chalk board and maybe some printed worksheets, which all had to be prepared and booked a week before, at least. In my opinion, the MAIN advantage of having an iwb in every classroom, is that booking in advance is no longer necessary because everything is available on the spot, at will, with even more possibilities and all integrated in one. Classes can be more varied and appealing to students who are used to all different types of technologies. On the other hand, my biggest concern, as mentioned by some in the sites I have read, is what happens when the enthusiasm for novelty wears off. I have seen this excitement in my students, they want to come to the board to do the activity, but all that matters for them is dragging and playing with the pen and don't pay attention to the actual learning. Sure it allows discussion as even those that are still sitting get to interact with the one at the board to help him/her but I have verified that their goal is not learning but playing with the board, and I ultimately don't think students have improved their learning due to the use of the interactive board. And better learning is what's most important in all this process.
 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** I am a teacher in Portugal for 12 years now and while I was taking my degree, I didn't even own a computer, and I wasn't taught how to use it in the classroom. During the 12 years I have been teaching, there was this boom in computers and other technologies everywhere and I have learned how to use the computer and those other technologies.


 * Name:** Cristiana Lopes


 * Quotation:** //"The advantages for students may be even more compelling. The board encourages an "eyes-up", rather than "eyes-down" culture. It helps me to see that my students are with me and not lost somewhere in their own world. This has proved particularly effective with discussion activities."//


 * From:** [|http://iwb-efl.blogspot.com]

The truth is, students are more used to technologies than me. I’ve already learnt a lot with them. Sometimes they help me when I don’t understand how to solve a problem with my computer. But I really think it’s important to bring technology to class, no matter what I still have to learn. The main reason is students’ motivation. I really want to engage them in class work. I’ve worked so many times with classes that didn’t like to study English and I really had to work it out to make them eager to learn. There wasn’t an IWB to encourage them, so I had to use what I had in hands. Now that IWB are available, I really want to learn how to use this tool and make my students enthusiastic and eager to learn and enjoy classes. They could enjoy classes without it? Sure. But teenagers now live in a technological world. They like hi5, youtube, facebook, music, cinema. If we have a chance of bringing all that to class in one device that can link easily to what we want, why not? “Eyes-up”, that’s engaged learning, focused learning, working in cooperation, interacting, sharing experiences. It’s really useful, especially in ESL classes, when we want to discuss a topic, comment an image, watch a video, complete a song. Is there anything we can’t do with the IWB?? It’s really a “window” to the world, a handful of possibilities.
 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** I must say it was difficult to choose only one quotation, since I’ve read so much that would apply to what I think. But this quotation really focus the importance of IWB in our classrooms. This is the first time I work at a school with an IWB. We don’t have one in each room, but there are plenty to use. This week the director showed how sad he was, that almost no one was using them. A reason for that? Lack of training, old methodologies of teaching? Maybe. But I would risk more and say that most teachers are afraid of using them. Without enough practice, this technology can turn the teacher the “weakest link”, because he wouldn’t be confident enough in class, students would notice that and if a problem appeared, maybe the teacher had not enough knowledge to solve it.


 * Name:** María Delia Irouléguy


 * Quotation**: //"There ARE great examples of how IWBs can reinvent what happens in classrooms, but if the onlookers want to constantly dismiss them because they might be able to be done in other ways with other tools, then they will never see the value that convergence brings to these tools."//


 * From:** Finding new things to do with a IWB


 * Why it matters or doesn't in my context:** I've chosen this quotation because it is what it usually happens at school -teachers coming and going with that speech ready to be said in case they are asked whether they use tech. or not. I guess that it might be a sort of excuse so as no to accept yourself that you are quite far away from change. Since February 1st. I have spent my days finding out web pages, reading information, learning and dealing with topics I had never seen in my life, even heard them!! And I'm very thankful that I could learn so much and I feel ready to start using the IWB at school. It's true that we can teach wirh cardboard and chalk but if there's a way of making things easier and more attractive, welcome then! For us, for language and mainly for our students!!!