Reflection on IWB session

Last Wednesday, our first real technology lecture had taken place..Indeed i was amazed by this first lecture..reflecting on the title of this course, which is 'technology in primary ESL classroom', this very first lecture had actually played a good job in portraying it...why?Because this was my first time being introduced to the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB). Sound so usual?But to hear might not be the same as to see. This whiteboard is not a usual whiteboard! It is so full of technology that i never thought there would exist such thing. Actually, before this, i've got some opportunities to go teaching in school in my hometown during semester break. But considering my place was a sub-urb's, this thing never came across me..and that's plausible. But even when we were doing school orientation in this one school in KL town recently, all the teacher never uttered a word of this IWB.. I think, there is still a long way to go before we could actually use it effectively in the classroom. I felt very honoured to get this opportunity to learn new ways to make my future lessons become more interesting. The big font, the links, the colours, the animation, really attracts me. During the lecture, the lecturer had given us important input to make this thing worked. Even the assistants were a big help in helping us to get more interactive with this IWB. For the second session of this lecture, i got the opportunity to write my name on this board..and i got very fascinated as i got to write my name really well! Well, for some of us, the writing might turn out to be in dotted manner, and that is why i was so proud of myself! But what i can say is that: Seeing it is easy but to operate it needs a firm hand.

In conjunction to its usefulness in ESL classroom, i really feel that this IWB may be a helping hand to ESL teachers. I can't comment much as i haven't learnt to operate it thoroughly. But i can feel that the IWB might be a useful visual aid soon. Firstly, the IWB might be new to the children. So i feel by using this in our teaching, it might arouse pupils' interests in learning, especially primary pupils considering that they like to experience new things!Second thing, i really believe that motivation really plays a big part in determining pupils' success in learning. So, even a simple matter might degrade their level of motivation, including the feeling of frustrated for not to see what is happening in front of the class. So by using IWB, the pupils, even those at the back of the class might get to see what is happening in front, as the screen is big enough to be seen, and there is no such thing like the teacher's back blocking pupils' views, with the aid of the IWB. And also, i think what fascinated me when i was first introduced to the IWB might fascinated the primary pupils as well (but in a longer term than me i guess). But there are some questions i have in mind: in maybe 3 years time, would all schools be supplied with IWB? And will there be a lab or one class(like computer lab) that pupils can sit comfortably with IWB in front of them?

I think this is all i can share with you as i still have more lessons on the IWB to be reflected..So better save the best for the last...till then.