Books > Vol. 1 - Teacher productivity > Chapter 5 info

Research

As shown empirically and through research, interactive whiteboards are indeed powerful educational tools.  To date, the best research study available is Embedding ICT In The Literacy And Numeracy Strategies, Higgins, Steve (et.al), April, 2005 from BECTA (the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency).  

You can download the complete research report at:

http://partners.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/univ_newcastle_evaluation_whiteboards.pdf

Highlights of the study are summarized below:

The pace of instruction increases 17% when interactive whiteboards are used in the classroom, so content gets covered more quickly.  Math lessons, in particular, are faster paced.

Student interaction improves. Students provide more detailed answers to teacher questions when interactive whiteboards are used in instruction.

Interactive whiteboards create a paradigm shift in teaching.  Seventy percent of teachers using interactive whiteboards do more whole class instruction, and believe that using an interactive whiteboard has affected the structure of their language arts and mathematics sessions.

Ninety-nine percent of teachers feel that interactive whiteboard use increases student motivation.  Four out of five teachers believe that boys are “more motivated, interested, focused, and participate more… Boys thoroughly enjoy the visual aspect and have improved their writing.” 

For girls, use of interactive whiteboards helps girls with spatial awareness.  Girls tend to want to use the interactive whiteboard for drawing and artwork.

The report states that in pupil interviews “a word frequently used… is ‘easier.’  In this context it seems to refer to actually ‘seeing’ what the teacher is doing and combining what is seen with the teacher’s explanation.  The impression is, however, that ‘seeing’ first, aids understanding.”

(More research info in the book…)