Like any other technological advancement the Interactive Whiteboard has found its place in our classrooms. Many schools use them and many publishing houses have already produced materials to be used along with the Interactive Display. Although technology has its place in our classrooms we need to be aware of the fact that there are certain things to consider while using it.

One of the most useful types of communication in the classroom is the teacher telling the students what to do. Replacing that with written instructions on the IWB takes away a great source of comprehensible listening. If you are a new teacher, it also takes away the possibility to work on how to grade your language.

Presenting a handout on the interactive white board certainly cuts down on photocopying. However, if there are things which the students may wish to take back home with them copying from the board can be a waste of time and even annoying sometimes. The dynamics of using a handout in pairs also forces the students to talk instead of looking at the board all the time.

Standing in the projector beam for too long may seriously strain your eyes and lead to headaches and tiredness, especially if you overdo it. Try to avoid standing in the beam and try to stand away from the infrared interactive whiteboard. For example, in a flashcard presentation stand at the opposite side of the room, especially when teaching young children. Also avoid standing in front of the projector beam when writing on the IWB. Since writing with your back turned to the students, it is worth thinking of alternatives such as typing things out on the computer keyboard.

It is commonly accepted that people become sleepy in dark rooms whereas sunlight makes people feel good. Leave the classroom lights switched on or leave the blinds open at the back of the room and turn the lights off only for a short time when students particularly need to see the details of what is on the IWB.