How Does Professional Development Impact on Teachers' Use of an Interactive Whiteboard in New Zealand Primary Classrooms?

<p>My research examined how professional development impacts on teachers' use of an interactive whiteboard in New Zealand primary classrooms. The research, in the form of a survey and qualitative case study, specifically looked at the professional development experienced by teachers with an IWB and contextual factors that enhance and constrain the introduction of an IWB for teachers learning to use it in their class programme. It also explored how an IWB is used in the classroom programme. Sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework to analyse the data. The findings of the research showed that professional development featured as both an enhancing and constraining factor. This was determined by the content of the activity. Sustained professional development appeared to have the most impact on teachers' IWB use. The data examined how and why teachers like to use an IWB, and the impact of the unique and multi-media features of the IWB had on teacher pedagogy and students. Recommendations are made for effective professional development for IWB users and areas for further research are discussed.</p>

How Does Professional Development Impact on Teachers' Use of an Interactive Whiteboard in New Zealand Primary Classrooms?

<p>My research examined how professional development impacts on teachers' use of an interactive whiteboard in New Zealand primary classrooms. The research, in the form of a survey and qualitative case study, specifically looked at the professional development experienced by teachers with an IWB and contextual factors that enhance and constrain the introduction of an IWB for teachers learning to use it in their class programme. It also explored how an IWB is used in the classroom programme. Sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework to analyse the data. The findings of the research showed that professional development featured as both an enhancing and constraining factor. This was determined by the content of the activity. Sustained professional development appeared to have the most impact on teachers' IWB use. The data examined how and why teachers like to use an IWB, and the impact of the unique and multi-media features of the IWB had on teacher pedagogy and students. Recommendations are made for effective professional development for IWB users and areas for further research are discussed.</p>

A Case Study: How Young Children and Teachers Use an Interactive Whiteboard in a New Zealand Kindergarten Setting for Visual Art Learning Experiences

<p>This case study examines how an interactive whiteboard (IWB) was used in a New Zealand kindergarten to support young children's visual art learning experiences. A qualitative approach was used to investigate the use of the IWB. Data were collected through participant observation, analysis of teachers' narrative assessments of children, and focus group interviews with teachers and parents. A socio-cultural perspective on visual art education for young children provided a framework for analysing and interpreting the data. The findings of the research indicated that when an IWB is integrated into a kindergarten visual art programme it can be a useful tool for motivating and assisting children with visual art learning experiences. The affordances of the IWB allow for some new art experiences to occur that are different from that of traditional art mediums. It was observed, however, that creative art ideas developed with an IWB can be translated into traditional art mediums and vice versa. Problems and issues were also identified in the study, in particular the need for appropriate professional development for teachers to help them maximise the potential of the IWB for early childhood teaching. Areas for further research are discussed, and some recommendations are made for best practice with an IWB for supporting children's visual art learning experiences.</p>

A Case Study: How Young Children and Teachers Use an Interactive Whiteboard in a New Zealand Kindergarten Setting for Visual Art Learning Experiences

<p>This case study examines how an interactive whiteboard (IWB) was used in a New Zealand kindergarten to support young children's visual art learning experiences. A qualitative approach was used to investigate the use of the IWB. Data were collected through participant observation, analysis of teachers' narrative assessments of children, and focus group interviews with teachers and parents. A socio-cultural perspective on visual art education for young children provided a framework for analysing and interpreting the data. The findings of the research indicated that when an IWB is integrated into a kindergarten visual art programme it can be a useful tool for motivating and assisting children with visual art learning experiences. The affordances of the IWB allow for some new art experiences to occur that are different from that of traditional art mediums. It was observed, however, that creative art ideas developed with an IWB can be translated into traditional art mediums and vice versa. Problems and issues were also identified in the study, in particular the need for appropriate professional development for teachers to help them maximise the potential of the IWB for early childhood teaching. Areas for further research are discussed, and some recommendations are made for best practice with an IWB for supporting children's visual art learning experiences.</p>

A STUDY ON TEACHING COMPETENCE OF PRIMARY STUDENT TEACHERS WITH INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD TECHNOLOGY

The main objective of this study is to find out the significant difference of primary student teachers (Diploma in Elementary Education) in teaching competence towards the interactive whiteboard (i.e., Smart Board) concerning the locality.The survey method was used in the present study.The teaching competence scale developed and validated by the researcher has been used for collecting the data.The findings of the study were a significant difference between the rural and urban primary student teachers in their teaching competence whereas there is no difference between arts and science group student students.

Classroom Instructional-Based Technology as Predictor of Quality Services Delivery for Academic Staff in Delta State University

The study investigated the predictive powers of classroom instructional-based technology on quality services delivery of academic staff in Delta State University. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlation research design. The population was 861 lecturers in the Delta state university with a sample size of 430 drawn through proportionate stratified method representing 50% of the population. A 30-item Classroom Instructional-Based Technology Scale (CIBTS) and 15-item Quality Services Delivery Scale (QSDS) were used for data collection. The scales were validated by three experts in Information and Communication Units. The internal consistency reliability coefficients of 0.78 and 0.81 were computed for CIBTS and QSDS through Cronbach alpha. Liner regression was used to answer the research questions while t-test associated with linear regression was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance level. It was found that classroom instructional-based technology can significantly predict quality services delivery of academic staff in Delta State Universities. More so, classroom instructional-based technology with the use of interactive whiteboard, video conferencing and virtual field trip can independently predict quality instructional delivery. It was recommended among others that the university authority should ensure that the lecture halls and classrooms in the university are equipped with functional interactive whiteboards. The academic staff should be availed the opportunity for capacity development and enhancement on the use of communication technologies such as interactive whiteboard. The university authorities as well as the heads of departments and deans of faculties should make available computers, projectors, internet connectivity, power supply, printers and flash drive that can encourage video conferencing. The academic staff should be very proactive in the determination of sites that can provide them needed information and learning through the virtual field trip platform.