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NSW Department of Education and Training

Curriculum support for NSW Public Schools

Using interactive whiteboards in PDHPE

Teachers are constantly working to improve the quality of their teaching and learning programs, particularly trying to find new and different ways to connect with students so that they are motivated and highly engaged in the learning. Perhaps an interactive whiteboard may be a possibility for your school or faculty!

This case study looks at how one school uses an interactive whiteboard in PDHPE lessons.

What is an interactive whiteboard?

An interactive whiteboard system is made up of three different pieces of technology - a computer, a digital projector and the interactive whiteboard. Information from the computer is displayed via the projector onto the touch-sensitive whiteboard, which really functions as a large computer monitor.

To use the interactive whiteboard, you simply touch the panel using your finger or special ‘pens’ in the same way that you would use your mouse on your computer. You are able to open and close applications, navigate the world-wide web, and use digital ink to write over applications, websites and digital videos. There is also special software, which comes with your board that supports you to plan lessons, develop PowerPoints or use other applications.

How might I use an interactive whiteboard in PDHPE?

Students are motivated by the interactive nature of this tool. It gives them the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and understanding of learning outcomes.

For example, in a Stage 4 lesson on safety, students are asked to create a story board in their workbook. They select one of six characters e.g. Nervous Ned, Skatin’ Sally (see the graphic) and create a situation in which the character is taking a risk. The student must include reasons for taking the risk, and potential consequences of taking the risk. Students with the best storyboards are asked to draw their storyboards on the interactive whiteboard. The opportunity to write on the interactive whiteboard is a major motivator for students.

It provides an opportunity to reinforce the main messages of the lesson around risk and consequences, whilst providing an incentive for the students to complete their work to a high standard in a short period of time.

As students' motivation and engagement in learning increases, so does their enjoyment of lessons. Other activities which the students enjoy include PowerPoint game show activities such as the Who Wants to Be a Yummy Foodaire? which is delivered as part of a Year 8 Healthy Eating unit. The interactive whiteboard in this game is the perfect tool to enable students to become the game show host. It provides the teacher with the opportunity to sit back and observe both the interaction and level of involvement of individual students in your class.

Example questions from the game, Who Wants to Be a Yummy Foodaire? include:

1. A teenager should eat how many serves of vegetables per day?

A:  4-5    B:  5-6   C: 2-3   D: 3-4

2. To maintain a steady weight:

A: the energy eaten is less than the energy used

B: any energy eaten will help our weight to stay steady

C: the energy eaten equals the energy used

D: the energy eaten is greater than the energy used.

A useful website for obtaining game show PowerPoint templates is http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

The use of an interactive whiteboard encourages students to work cooperatively to find solutions to tasks. For example in Stage 4, when teaching about water safety students visit the Royal Life Saving web site and participate in some of their online interactive activities. After the students discuss and agree upon an answer or option, they indicate their choice using the interactive whiteboard. They are required to justify their decisions in terms of the water safety concepts being discussed.

 

Other benefits of using interactive whiteboards

When teachers deliver lessons with the interactive whiteboard, students are able to focus more on listening and less on taking notes. Notes on the interactive whiteboard can be saved and accessed for later review, ensuring students have good review material to support their learning and retention of information.

  • The graphic brainstorming software ‘Inspiration’ is an excellent tool to use on an interactive whiteboard, particularly for Stage 6 students to review syllabus content in preparation for examinations.
  • Interactive whiteboards allow the students to take on the role of the teacher. This increased ownership of learning leads to better retention of learning by students.
  • Students can do presentations or work with interactive websites. It is also useful to do cloze passages or quick revision exercises such as word puzzles.

Interactive whiteboards are a great way to engage the students in the lesson material right from the very start of the lesson.  Take the time to find out more about this interactive tool as many schools are finding that its benefits are far outweighing the cost.

Bibliography

Thank you to Melinda Bright, HT PDHPE Cheltenham Girls High School, for contributing this case study. The PDHPE faculty has had an interactive whiteboard in one of their home rooms for approximately three years. They are also fortunate enough to have 15 computers in this room which are often used in conjunction with the interactive whiteboard.

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