Wiping the Board continued.. An Oxfordshire music teacher commented that, ‘interactive whiteboards are all very well. But they encourage teachers to prioritise the look of a lesson over its effectiveness. What you end up with, if you're not careful, is a slick and glossy lesson that's short on content. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that these boards are only a tool and not a learning objective in themselves.' In addition to this worry, some have wondered whether the increase in pupil motivation recorded by various studies may owe more to the novelty effect of a new toy than to any intrinsic value of the new technology.

‘In a few years,' one teacher suggested, ‘the novelty will have worn off and pupils will regard them as everyday classroom objects. 'Whether this technology lasts may depend, ultimately, on how cleverly it is used. If teachers are able to separate worthwhile resources from worthless gimmickry the interactive whiteboard may earn itself a place in scholastic history. But we shouldn't forget that for every treasured DVD there is a discarded Laserdisc; for every prized Segway, a neglected Sinclair C5; and for every cherished VHS, an abandoned Betamax. Only history will decide the fate of the interactive whiteboard.

Further information - If you need further information about getting started with interactive whiteboard technology, the following websites may be helpful:

www.dfes.gov.uk/ictinschools - A website giving information about all areas of ICT in schools

www.curriculumonline.gov.uk - A catalogue of software resources available for purchase under the government's eLearning Credits scheme

www.teachnet.gov.uk - A website specialising in giving general advice to teachers

www.whiteboards.becta.org.uk - An online catalogue of interactive whiteboards, including information about suppliers and prices

www.smarttech.com - Manufacturer of the SMART Board, a leading device for classroom use

www.daydreameducation.co.uk - Commercial supplier of music resources for use with interactive whiteboards