Interactive whiteboards in the classroom

October 2007
Tim Rudd, Futurelab

The full version of this paper is available to download in pdf format - see box below. On this page you'll find the paper's introduction.

Introduction

Aims of this report

The key aims of this report are to extract some of the key findings relating to the use of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in UK classrooms from the research literature. From these findings we then extrapolate some of the key issues and debates in order to put forward some initial recommendations relating to more effective use, and also some ideas and suggestions for potential future developments in terms of teaching, training, use and
design of IWBs.

The report is not an academic report and therefore does not attempt to comprehensively nor systematically review all of the research literature in the field . Rather it has drawn on the research in order to produce a document that will add to and stimulate debates around the future use and design of IWBs, particularly in relation to current policy, initiatives and future educational practice and pedagogy.

The overall intention is to help us move away from simplistic arguments around whether IWBs are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ per se, to ones that are more nuanced and sophisticated, which consider the optimum conditions for effective use; the factors that may support such use; the aspects that may influence future developments; as well as the types of evidence needed that will enable us to implement appropriate changes.

Background to the report

This report was written by Futurelab in partnership with Promethean in order to stimulate debate around the use of IWBs, but was initially written as background reading to support a jointly hosted debate for policy makers, developers, researchers and practitioners, entitled: ‘Do IWBs have a future in the UK classroom?’, held in London on 24 May 2007.

Whilst both organisations are quite different in their aims and roles, both have a vested interest in exploring the potential, improvement and development of new technologies to enhance and improve learning and teaching.