I have an Interactive Whiteboard.

I rarely if ever use it.

Unlike most people who never use these things I do actually know how to use it.

I just don’t know why I would.

I use the data projector and screen, along with a wireless mouse and keyboard to allow me remote access.
If I want to write I use the regular whiteboard nearby.
I never want to save anything I write on the board; they are usually clarifications to notes which students have a copy of, or maths questions, or diagrams which I can interact with using my board markers.

I feel a little bad about this because I initally went with the hype which declared that this would change my whole way of teaching, and so I applied for funding from the school and was the first in the school to get one. Since then we probably have ten or more in the  school.

I actually had the IWB program open during this lesson, but I don’t see what advantage it provided.

What am I missing?

I can see why getting young ‘uns up to the board at Primary school level might be a novelty, but it doesn’t seem to hold the same appeal at secondary level, and anyway without an IWB students could still come up and use the wireless mouse.

I was reminded of this because Simon Lewis has written a fascinating article on inexpensive IWBs here. There can be little justification for forking out six grand when you can get basically the same service for one and a half.

But why do I need one at all?

I’m not for one second suggesting that these are a scam; hopefully someone will indeed tell me what I am missing!