Starting a Revolution?
A former colleague of mine has started The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution. It is a social networking site, based on his new book, set up primarily for teachers to share ideas with one another about their experiences with IWB’s. So far, he has amassed some 116 members in just a couple of days. It is amazing how quickly something like this gains momentum.
The name of the site is quite appropriate as well. In many ways I feel we, the users of IWB’s and all associated technology, are indeed staging a revolution. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, a revolution is a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something; a paradigm shift.
This is one revolution that will take time to become mainstream in the realm of public education. There are simply too many individuals in charge of educational policy who are not digital natives, so to speak. However, once it is embraced by the powers at be, this revolution will prove to be a defining moment in educational history. It will be the moment when the current ministry-driven authoritarian model of education is replaced by a flexible model driven by innovation, creativity and collaboration across a wide variety of platforms.
Thanks Mike. I appreciate you helping spread the word about the new project. I have high expectations of the community we are building there, and really believe that we can effect some powerful change in the way people think about IWB usage.
Great to see you blogging… I have added you to my reader and look forward to seeing what you’re up to!
Chris
The problem is in the allocation of financial recources. The money is there, but getting it allocated to the places where it will be most effective is another matter.
Soooo!!!!!!!!!!!. Since necessity is the mother of invention and since where there is a will there is a way and since there are some really bright, creative people out there who are willing to share there brilliance gratis, out of either an innate sense of philanthropy or an anarchistic urge…. check out the video from Johhny Lee.
Johnny Lee has been able to harness the Smart Board technology with the use of a mere Wii remote. The necessary software to pull this off can be downloaded from Johnny- gratis.
Paul Cushing at our school here has been using the Wiimote as an Interactive Whiteboard for over a year now. Yo should go down and check it out. Very Cool indeed!
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