Interactive Whiteboard - a Modern Educational Tool or an Expensive Gadget?

Abstract

An interactive whiteboard is an incredibly attractive educational tool as it is provided with functions that other means do not have (even a computer interfaced to a multimedia projector), for example, downloading notes from the whiteboard into the computer memory, playing movies with the possibility of note taking directly on individual frames, working with computer applications on the whiteboard surface. Using the above mentioned facilities, this modern teaching aid facilitates combining a traditional lecture with a presentation of multimedia materials which a teacher has. However, new educational tools require using new methods. This article is an attempt to answer a question about the place and role of an interactive whiteboard in the modern school - is it really an effective educational tool and how often is it used in the classroom.