IWBs FAQ

FAQs and more

1. The IWB is difficult to use.

   Not if you have a basic understanding of using computers. An IWB is just a big computer screen, which reacts to your touch as if it was a computer mouse. It's THAT easy!

2. It takes a lot of time to prepare the materials.

   It may take some time at the beginning when you're still getting used to the IWB, but then you can save and reuse the same materials in other classes. And don't forget you can also use the Internet resources, ready-made materials, and even the CD-ROMs that come with the Student's Books or Workbooks.

3. When you have IWB materials, you cannot customize them to the needs of individual classes.

   The IWB software lets you change and modify the materials a lot, so you can be sure all materials can be somehow utilized in different classes, even at different levels – it's just a question of choosing the right type of activity.

4. I'm afraid of using the IWB in front of my students. They all know so much about computers and what if something goes wrong? / Students will laugh at the teacher when they don't know how to operate the IWB.

   On the contrary! Students will be quietly proud of themselves for being able to do something in front of the class. It will also build their confidence and make them feel more responsible for what is going on in class.

5. The IWB is good for teaching young learners, but doesn't seem to work with adults.

   The IWB is intuitively appropriate to use with younger learners, because they readily get involved in games and quizzes. With adults you will just have to go for different types of activities and interaction, e.g. using the board for presentations, graphs, maps, etc.

6. You have to use the IWB all the time.

   Not at all! Experts say you can use the IWB in every class, but the attention of the teacher and the students should not be focused on it for more than 20 minutes in a lesson. The IWB is definitely one of the most powerful elements of the teaching mix, but it should not become dominant.

7. It'll be impossible to manage the class - students will just start shouting out the answers.

   It is possible that students, particularly the younger ones, can get excited about the new "gadget" in class. You could try to use this initial interest to your advantage: show them different functions of the IWB, play games, get them to interact with the IWB. Class management will also seem easier when you have read our Top Tips.

8. Won't the focus on whole-class, heads-up activities mean that quieter students get left out?

   The IWB can be used in different types of class interaction and there should be a good mix of these within any one lesson. Whole class activities are good for feedback and checking or grammar presentations. But if you want to make sure that all students are involved, get them to work in groups, or invite everybody to play a team game. With a little bit of careful planning, and using the possibilities of IWBs, you should be able to get your students involved. Finally - don't forget the IWB, although powerful, is just another tool in your hands, and you still have a wealth of other elements of the course to choose from!