Interactive Whiteboards - Innovation or Fad?

Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) are a multi-media tool which has the capability to drag and drop, highlight, save and retrieve tasks, interact with and manipulate software.

These are the ‘in’ thing and the State Government is spending $66 million to buy one for each of the 2240 public schools in New South Wales. It is claimed that IWBs and a video link allow students both in the city and rural localities to enrol in classes held in other areas (Sydney Morning Herald, 24 April 2007).

It seems that most of the activities used with an IWB can be done using a personal computer (PC) and a data projector. An analysis has shown that there are only a few expert teachers who are using IWBs to their full potential. They are an expensive tool and unless teachers are experienced with their use, I believe funds for ICT can be spent more appropriately in other areas. If given the choice, I would choose to purchase more PCs, possibly tablet PCs and ensure each classroom has a data projector and scanner. This is more affordable and will benefit a greater number of students.

If schools are unable to purchase the requisite number of IWBs and teachers are not given adequate training, I believe PCs and data projectors can be a suitable alternative. It seems that schools that do not have IWBs feel disadvantaged and that they are being left behind. Where will the 2240 public schools place their one IWB? It would be a misallocation of funds if a $5000 plus tool was the prime technological advance while the rest of the schools ICT equipment is out of date, unsatisfactory or non-existent.