The administration of school and Childcare (Skol- och Barnomsorgsförvaltning) in Jönköping has presented the interactive whiteboards to schools. The project started in the beginning of year 2007. The administration has offered schools to participate in a project which two interactive whiteboards are tested, SMART Board and ACTIVBoard. The elementary schools have chosen ACTIVBoard and Grammar schools and Schools for subnormal have chosen SMART Board.
In the project, schools were offered to participate in free training-courses to learn how to use the interactive whiteboard’s software.
An online survey was created with the assistance of the administration’s IT pedagogue. The purpose with the survey was to learn about teachers’ habits and thoughts concerning the new technology.
To be able to understand the technology of the interactive whiteboards, the paper mentions the theoretical background of the technology. It’s also declared the possible accessories of these and type of functionalities.
Information technology’s awareness and qualification are very important in teaching, especially when the interactive whiteboards are used; therefore the importance of Information Technology at school was taken in consideration. The survey showed a very high IT- qualification among teachers.
Another survey was created and sent to other schools in Sweden. Those schools have been using the interactive whiteboards for a long period. The purpose with the second survey was to get a broader understanding of the new technology and its practice at schools.
Heads of schools and teachers showed a great interest in the interactive whiteboards. They have captured students’ attention more than the old fashioned whiteboard and for teachers the teaching experience has become more exciting and efficient.
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