Reading
this chapter made me think about the importance of having knowledgeable
teachers using the interactive wipe boards in classrooms. One of the first
things I took away from the chapter was how teachers needed to clearly
understand how to use the IWBs in order to create a positive and productive
learning environment for the students. It was informative to me to learn that
training sessions for teachers were available through professional development and
IWB companies. This will be important for me in the future as I integrate IWBs
into my classroom. I will now know where I can find resources to learn about
how to correctly integrate the technology into my classroom.
Another
thing I found very interesting was the different aspects of the IWBs that
proved most beneficial in classrooms. The tools that students could interact
with such as highlighting, hiding/revealing text or images, getting feedback
from activities via the IWB, and engaging with student response systems. These
tools could be used for quizzes, games, or review sessions. One of the reasons I
believe they are proven to be beneficial is because they allow the students to
physically be engaged in learning. They are often using their bodies by getting
up and moving things around with their fingers or a stylus. This physical activity
goes beyond just listening to a teacher lecture about a subject, but allows the
students to become involved in their own learning. This helps engage their
minds and creates an environment that can support more gains in learning.
