Interactive Whiteboards for Language Teaching

Past Event Summary

This workshop, led by Ros Walker, looked at the effective use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom. The focus was on the emerging methodology for effective use of the whiteboards. The workshop, which was based on a Promethean interactive board, was be suitable for those with little or no previous knowledge of the boards.

The morning comprised demonstrations and hands-on practice with the board, highlighting the key functions of the board for language teachers. Examples of good practice were combined with time to reflect and discuss teaching with the board.

In the afternoon session participants used the whiteboard themselves to present work, prepared on laptops during the workshop. There were also demonstrations of some of the other leading commercially available interactive whiteboards.

Ros Walker is a member of staff at Hull University, based in the Institute for Learning. She is working on a two year research project, funded by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts). The project aims to promote excellence in teaching with Interactive Whiteboards, through the identification of best practice, the development of appropriate training models and the development of digital resources, including those for MFL. Ros is a qualified and experienced teacher of languages in secondary and adult education.