A successful whole of school interactive whiteboard strategy would appear to have to:

• Integrate the key school effectiveness findings
• With those from successful ICT and education initiatives and blend into the mix
• The key structural qualities of the interactive whiteboards
• And add the lessons learnt from the change management research.

While the initial challenge might appear daunting in reality the task is simple in a well-run school. Good schools are already addressing most of the variables and thus all that is required is that the remainder are integrated into the existing school development strategy.

The one major change you will need to make is to move from a predominantly personal computer based ICT and education strategy to one where the focus is on the skilful teacher and on the wise use of interactive whiteboards by all the teachers in the school. The transformation can be swift and dramatic.

However as indicated in The Decision you need to recognise from the outset that you are embarking on a fundamentally different ICT and education strategy that will be operational for many years.

Remarkably, the shift from a PC to an IWB based strategy will serve to highlight the importance of skilful teachers and to quash the notion that computers lessen the need for quality teaching.

School Effectiveness

To have any chance of success the interactive whiteboard strategy must be integrally woven in to the school’s overall development strategy.

The strategy needs to incorporate:

• The vital leadership role of the principal
• The setting of high expectations for staff and students
• A common vision
• Quality teaching
• The use of appropriate pedagogy
• On-going professional development
• The development of school culture that engages the students
• Parent support
• On-going reflection and development
• On-going evaluation of performance.

ICT and Education

While conscious that very few ICT and education programs can be said to be wholly successful, those that stand out have:

• Integrated the ICT and education strategy with the total school development strategy
• An agreed understanding by the school community of the importance of ICT proficiency and the capacity of ICT to enhance teaching and learning
• At least one high level educational leader – a ‘chief information officer’ – overseeing the implementation of the strategy
• Opted for a holistic ICT and education solution rather than a disparate collection of technologies
• A critical mass of the technology
• Provided all teachers a computer and personal email address
• Ready, networked internet access from each classroom
• Gone some way towards making the use of ICT normal classroom practice
• Staff at ease with the technology in their teaching
• On-going professional development
• An ever-evolving strategy
• A significant number of teachers who have attuned their teaching style to make best use of the technology
• Ready technical support that diverts the load from the teachers
• Moved some distance towards integrating the use of ICT in all school operations
• Significant parent support
• A large percentage of students with internet access at home.

To these should be added:

• Use of the appropriate technology with each learning situation.

Interactive Whiteboards

The nature of the interactive whiteboards allows the adoption of a strategy where:

• The class is the main medium of learning and interaction
• Teachers are readily able to adopt a graduated take up of the technology
• Teachers can grow their pedagogy when they feel comfortable
• The tool can be used in multiple forms, as a whiteboard, an interactive whiteboard, a large screen digital convergence facility and in conjunction with other tools, including desktops or laptops
• The limitations are primarily those of the mind of the user rather than the technology
• The outlay on ICT hardware can be reduced and diverted to teacher development and quality educational and support software.

Change Management Lessons

The quest to have all teachers using an IWB as an integral part of their everyday teaching will entail a very significant change in the work practices of all within the school community. This will oblige those leading the change to draw upon the lessons learnt from the organisational change research.

In addition to all of these variables you are going to need some luck on your side and a willingness to take advantage of the breaks that go your way.