This section is intended for those new to interactive whiteboard technology and in particular its use in schools.

Your first and most important task is to see the interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in use, preferably with a good teacher, in a classroom.

It matters not what type of board it is.

Words, and even the best of videos, cannot adequately describe the immense capability of the technology.

A ‘Dickensian’ type of definition of a front projection IWB would describe it as a dry erase writing surface, which can capture writing electronically and where the users can interact with a projected computer image. For more information go to - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_Whiteboard

A number of the board providers have on their sites video grabs of the boards in use, which convey appreciably more than the above description. For more information go to -

• http://www.gtcocalcomp.com/erc/interwritetutorials.htm
• http://www.hitachi-soft.com/icg/online_demo/index.html
• http://www.prometheanworld.com/uk/html/training/tutorials.shtml
• http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-us/

Indeed you can get a fuller appreciation by viewing one of IWBNet’s demonstration teacher training modules at – www.digi-hub.net/e-teaching.htm program

However as mentioned above, arrange to see the boards in action if you want to grasp their true nature, their potential and to appreciate why your school should be using them.