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Chapter 10
INTRODUCTION
Over the last decade, the Interactive Whiteboard
(IWB), which is classified as an interactive
whole-class technology, has become increasingly
common in many classrooms in the developed
world. The use of the IWB impacts on the level
of interactivity that occurs in the classroom. This
notion of interactivity can be considered in a
number of different ways.
First, there is interactivity of the board, where
students and teachers are able to physically manip-
ulate two dimensional representations of objects.
Secondly is the interactivity of participants in the
Damian Maher
University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Australia
Learning in the Primary
School Classroom using the
Interactive Whiteboard
ABSRACT
The Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) is a recent innovation and with it has come a renewed discussion of
the nature of interactions in the primary school classroom. In this chapter the interactive affordances of
the IWB, where users can physically manipulate two-dimensional objects on the board, are discussed.
In focusing on this aspect, the types of resources used via the board are examined as are the multimodal
features. In considering the nature of interactions between participants whilst using the IWB, interactions
between teachers and students and between students and students are discussed. There is a focus on the
ability for the IWB to support dialogic interactions in a more student-centered classroom. In examining
interactions through the IWB, the way boards can be used to connect students to content, such as Web
sites, is explored. In focusing on interactions with other participants the use of video conferencing is
discussed.
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0137-6.ch010