IWB: An Introduction

We were assigned to read and reflect upon Chapter 1 "About IWB's" for this blog post.  Something that I found very interesting upon reading chapter one was just how little research had been done on the success of IWB use in the classroom, as well as how contradictory the results were from the research that had been completed.  I came out of reading this particular chapter with a feeling that IWB use might not be that significant to begin with, especially when considering the subject area that I teach.  Art already requires high engagement through hands-on, project based activities.  Is the IWB really going to further advance the students in my classroom?

This is really the first time that I have come away with a negative perception of a particular technology tool just based on what I read.  I work very hard to find ways to engage students in my classroom through a wide-variety of resources that are available, and I realize that a lot of technology integration means trial and error, constant revision, and lots of training. However, for my lessons, the amount of time that is actually spent "front-loading" information to students (aka lecture) versus daily interactive activities (aka working on projects) is a very small percentage.  Therefore, is spending hours developing specific IWB activities for just a 20 minute project introduction really worth it?  Would not just a plain, old Power Point be better suited to my needs?

The chapter goes into addressing these concerns of mine just a little by stating that "no educational tool is perfect [and] all tools have their benefits and challenges."  They note that many challenges arise in classrooms that use IWBs stem from lack of resources and training available to teachers, or technology malfunctions.  These challenges cause teachers to lose their confidence in implementing IWB integration.  While I can definitely see the potential benefits for IWB use and integration, I do not believe at this moment that full integration of IWBs will be present in my classroom. Depending on the lesson, I will definitely work on creating IWB activities, but for other lessons, it is not cost-effective with my time.  I can honestly say that the contradictory findings presented in chapter one have influenced this decision.