Interactive whiteboards a hit in schools

STUDENTS are less bored and more enthusiastic when interactive whiteboards are used in class, research reveals.

The large, touch-sensitive screens are boosting pupil’s concentration and helping teachers plan better, according to the study that will be published on Monday.

And the technology, unlike the blackboard, is making subjects such as history, maths, science and geography far more accesible.

While the whiteboards are in use in schools across the country, they are not in every school because they have to be privately funded.

Developed by and for educational professionals, the products help teachers to prepare digital lessons quickly and easily.

The technology allows teachers to create, customise and integrate text, images, quizzes, tests, video and audio content so they can more easily capture students’ attention and accommodate different learning styles.

Dublin City University academic, Dr Miriam Judge, was awarded a research fellowship by DCU to look at how eight Dublin schools used whiteboards throughout the academic year 2006/2007.

Three different interactive whiteboard types — Promethean, Smartboard and Hitachi, were placed in the participating schools. Each school assigned two teachers to the project.

It is hoped the research will encourage Education Minister Mary Hanafin to allocate funding for nationwide installation.

Whiteboards have been installed in almost every school in Britain and a recent study found they were intensively used and highly rated by teachers on fitness for purpose.