Using a computer, a digital projector and a touch-sensitive screen, an interactive whiteboard allows information on a computer screen to be displayed to the whole class. It’s a hugely versatile piece of equipment that can potentially be used in place of a roller whiteboard, overhead projector, video recorder and television.

Interactive whiteboards can have a positive effect on learning and teaching, but as with any ICT tool, the impact on learning and teaching depends on how successfully they are integrated into classroom practice. ICT can increase pupils' achievements only if it is supported by effective teaching. Teachers who use electronic whiteboards in their lessons can raise standards by using them as part of an effective teaching strategy.

Teaching tips

Teaching with an interactive whiteboard means you can address the whole class in a new way, using the latest in educational software as part of your lessons, rather than pupils having to crowd around a small screen to benefit from computer-based learning materials.

You’ll have access to a large range of materials when teaching using an interactive whiteboard, including software, web pages, CD-ROMs DVDs, videos and television.

When using an interactive whiteboard, you can enhance your lessons by adding video, animation, graphics, text and audio to the rest of your presentation.

One of the main advantages of using an interactive whiteboard is that it’s interactive. The computer is controlled by touching the screen with a special pen or with your finger; pupils can come up to the board to solve problems on it or move images around. Any changes to work can be saved as you go along.

Interactive whiteboards are versatile. Most software will work with them, or you can create your own by scanning in pictures. Because of this, they can be used to support any area of the curriculum. Science teachers, for example, can use step-by-step pictures to explain processes, and art teachers can use the board to show artists’ work.

Learning benefits

Pupils can benefit from the full range of educational software without having to wait for a turn on the computer when a teacher uses an interactive whiteboard.

They can interact with the board by being invited to solve a mathematical problem on it, or to drag words across the screen to form a sentence. Work in progress can be stored in the computer as the lesson goes along.

There are several different types of electronic whiteboard products available for schools, including:

· wireless dual membrane boards

· impact-resistant boards and plasma screens

· infrared and ultrasonic resources.

When using electronic whiteboard technology, the emphasis is on effective whole class strategies, including:

· modelling

· exposition and demonstration

· prompting, probing and promoting questioning

· class discussions

· opportunities to predict, test and confirm

· bringing the class together to reinforce key points emerging from individual and group work.

Electronic whiteboards can offer unique, interactive learning and teaching opportunities. They are not just 'presentation tools' for teachers to use in the classroom, as students and teaching assistants can also use them to great effect.

When starting the content design process, ask yourself if your content is:

· Purposeful

· Interactive

· Collaborative

· Transforming

· Useful

· Relevant

· Engaging

The "interactive" element of electronic whiteboards offers the ability for learners and teachers to interact with content, to make and to save changes when required and to share existing and modified content with others within and beyond the school environment.

Knowing what you want your users to achieve when using your content is important. Do you want users to interact, modify and transform the content?

Understanding how the content will be used is vital. If learners and teachers can modify and change content this will help them personalise their teaching and learning further.

Good electronic whiteboard content is generally defined as content which displays results immediately in highly visual terms and which is most effectively understood by groups of individuals. It's important to think carefully about content for the whole class as well as smaller groups of students, as well as students with support from teachers and/or teaching assistants, and reflect this in your content design.

Good electronic whiteboard software contains enhanced features and functions that make it possible for learners and teachers to quickly and effectively draw together digital content from a variety of sources. The key design criteria for electronic whiteboard content is summarised by the FRAMES model for electronic whiteboard content development.

This simple checklist is designed to remind content developers of the demands to be met by electronic whiteboard content:

Flexible – Electronic whiteboard content that restricts the ability of users to interact also reduces their ability to modify the content to meet individualised and personalised needs; this type of electronic whiteboard content is inflexible.

Responsive – If the electronic whiteboard content is loosely structured, difficult to follow and contains limited ‘useful' content, end users, including teachers, teaching assistants and/or students will fail to understand how the content can be used effectively.

Accessible –Think about and reflect on who will be using the content and why? If the content is for individual student and teacher use, in groups or with the whole class, it is vital that this informs the content development process. Who the content is designed for and how it is to be used in the classroom/computer suite must be embedded in the content design as well as made clear in the support documentation.

Meaningful – Electronic whiteboard manufacturers generally provide software that already contains some content. This could be described as 'generic content' such as graph paper, images, backgrounds, sound clips and so on. Good content providers will examine existing content and recognise that electronic whiteboard software encourages and prompts learners and teachers to use the features of the electronic whiteboard s to bring together personalised learning and teaching solutions. Your content will not only need to meet the needs of learners and teachers but must also be compatible with other content solutions.

Extendable – Good electronic whiteboard software contains enhanced features and functions that make it possible for learners and teachers to quickly and effectively draw together digital content from a variety of sources

Stimulating – Thought-provoking electronic whiteboard content that stimulates, captivates and educates learners and teachers will ultimately transform learning and teaching.

If interaction is not embedded within your content and if the main purpose of the content you are considering developing is to present static, non-dynamic content, it may be worthwhile considering alternative ICT tools, rather than electronic whiteboards.