Whiteboard/ Smartboards

I use the white board frequently to demonstrate how to solve problems and give instructions for experiments. within my teaching I need a whiteboard, without it I am lost because at the start of a lesson I write the objectives out and tick them as I go along this is really useful for the students its visually in front of them what they have achieved in the lesson. The strengths of using a whiteboard are that it is adaptable, my style, flexible and it is an alternative to power points, handouts and worksheets.
weaknesses of whiteboard is that the hand writing has to be clear and concise for the learner to read, color of the pen has to be appropriate due to students with visual difficulties, standing in front of the board when writing, back to the class can cause disruption in class with learners, cleaning and style of writing.
Reece and Walker state that whiteboards "Can be used as a planned visual aid but also to give a resume of student work like responses to questions" Reece and Walker (2005, p.37)

Whiteboard is fantastic it is a powerful visual aid resource and is highly effective in my specialist teaching area.

Interactive board (smartboards)is a useful and effective resource. smartboard has been used to demonstrate a science practical it has helps because of the size and picture quality of the smart board. with the demonstration learners can actully view what nees to be donr in the practical highly effective tool. Information can be uploaded on it, videos, games, tasks, e-mail, powerpoint, word and you can record all screen activity and audio as a digital video file. learners to participate in group discussions

weaknesses can be elctrical faults, expensive, surface can become damaged, necessitating expensive replacement, Fixed height boards are often too high to reach the top or too low for their bottom to be readily visible etc

Reece, I. & Walker, S. (2004) Teaching, Training and Learning: A Practical Guide. 5th Ed, Sunderland: Business Education

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/interactivewhiteboards211102.doc [9th February 2009]