AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS IN SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS
Author(s):
Hannah Thinyane,
Ingrid Siebörger,
Cheryl Hodgkinson-williams
Paper abstract: Across the world computers, and at an increasing rate interactive whiteboards (IWBs), are being
deployed to schools as tools for teaching and learning, despite inconclusive evidence regarding their
benefits to these environments (Cuban, 2001). The paper describes two case studies as part of a
feasibility study performed on behalf of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) to
investigate the benefits and drawbacks to the use of interactive whiteboards in South African schools.
By examining related work and our own experiences, it identifies seven criteria for the successful
integration of interactive whiteboards into teaching environments. By carefully examining each criterion
individually, across two schools, the paper illustrates that unless teachers change the way they view,
resource and teach classes, interactive whiteboards cannot be successfully integrated into South African
schools.
Keywords:
Human Computer Interaction, Education, Interactive Whiteboards, User Study.
