Advantages and Disadvantages of an Interactive Whiteboard

The first and the foremost advantage that we havenot only for the teacher, but also for the students
from an interactive whiteboard is that it has given usthat may suffer from dust allergies. Lessons can be
the freedom to interact in class. Now, there is aprepared well in advance and this also allows for
healthy discussion between students and teachersmore teaching time. In the past, teacher would have
that can be built upon as the lessons progress.to write everything up on the board whilst the
With new technologies, such as the touch pen forstudents waited, technology is slowly changing this.
students and teachers, a teacher can explain variousHaving talked about the advantages, there is one
concepts in great detail and this can help a studentdisadvantage that is also worth mentioning. One
who would otherwise remain confused ordisadvantage is that many teachers are not familiar
unresponsive.with the technology to be able to use it to its best
The additional use of animations and videos to anyadvantage. The whiteboards are often installed and
lesson helps to engage students even further. Eventhe training provided to the teachers who are to use
those students who have demonstrated poorthem, is severely limited. This disadvantage can easily
attention and behaviour seeking actions will stop tobe fixed however, through the appropriate amount
interact with a whiteboard lesson that is fun,of training.
interactive and engaging.There are some really good inline sites that offer
Gone are the days when teachers used totraining programs in relation to the use of the
continuously write and rub things on the board. Thewhiteboards. Usually you will find that the first training
whiteboard has taken away the need for chalk andsession is free and this will give you a really good
dust in the classroom and this is also a good thing,introduction into the use of the technology.