Q. My school just bought an interactive whiteboard. Can Scoilnet point us in the direction of some resources that may help show how they can be used effectively in class?
A. Interactive whiteboards are becoming increasingly popular. However like any form of ICT they will only enhance the learning experience if they are used imaginatively. Here are a few links that might point you in the right direction.
Interactive Whiteboards (NCTE)
PDF advice sheet exploring - What is an interactive whiteboard; possible educational uses; technical considerations; and purchasing considerations.
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eBeam
Contains links to lessons and activities for use with their products. Drumcondra Education Centre has also developed some excellent resources for use with eBeam technology and all are relevant to the Irish curriculum. |
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MimioConnect
International online, teacher community with a wide range of downloadable IWB lessons and activities. Requires registration (free). |
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Promethean
Promethean Planet is an international site and requires registration (free). Thousands of downloadable lessons and activities but seems mostly geared to international curricula. Downloads are predominantly specific to Promethean IWBs. The “Partner Resources” area includes links to other free educational IWB resources, including ones from Oxfam, Texaco and RSPCA, all of which have relevance to the Irish primary curriculum. |
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Smart
The Teacher Zone of Smartboard.ie requires registration (free). Once registered, teachers have access to plenty of downloadable activities and lessons including many as Gaeilge. These are notebook files intended for use with Smart boards. The international Smart website also contains downloadable files for use with Smartboards.
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Other Resources
TES - iboard
Free
resources based on the concept of teachers and students creating a
learning dialogue around a resource. Covers a wide range of subject
areas at lower primary level.
Interactive Whiteboard Resources
Created and managed by staff at Woodland Grange Primary School in the UK, it features hundreds of downloadable, curriculum-relevant activities for use with IWBs.
Teacher Resource Exchange
Use the advanced search to find IWB resources. Resources created and shared by UK teachers.
Topmarks
UK website containing downloadable activities relating to Maths, Geography, Music, Literacy, Visual Arts and Science.
Crickweb
46 curriculum-relevant interactive activities for use with IWBs.
Opinion
Anseo.net
Reviews and opinions on IWBs from Simon Lewis - a practising Irish primary school teacher. He also has a podcast on Teachnet explaining the use of IWBs in his school in Carlow.
Ning - Interactive Whiteboard Revolution
Network which encourages educators to have an ongoing conversation about the effective use of IWBs in the classroom.
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