Getting the Most Out of Your Interactive White Board (Chapter 6: Students Examine and Create)

      I chose to do chapter six in this book, Getting the Most Out of Your Interactive Whiteboard, because I think it is extremely beneficial to have students both explore and examine quality work form both their peers and other professionals. This is something that can be easily accomplished when using an interactive whiteboard. Allowing students to view models of good work will help them to develop an understanding of what good work looks like. One way the book suggested this could be done is through the use of the Notebook software. A sample can be brought up on the board and students can then underline or highlight what is being studies, i.e. parts of speech, hyperbole, transtion words, etc.
      Another useful way to incorporate the interactive white board is for students to present their own learning to both the class and teacher. Using the whiteboard students can present their work to an audience which also helps reinforce public speaking skills as well as being an accurate representation of what the child has learned. Children can use sites such as blogs, wiki dot, classchatter, etc. All of these can be accessed through the internet browser and shared with the entire class. As a teacher I really like this idea, because it allows the classroom to be student-centered while also allowing the teacher to see what exactly the students have learned.
      Another way is to have students produce input into their assessments.Firstly, students can be involved in the assessment design process. The books suggests to ask the students to discuss in small group what could be good ideas for indicators on a rubric, such as proper blog writing. The teachers can record groups responses on the white board. A rubric can then be created. The teachers can also share each class' ideas to share with other class, so it is a good point of reference to be able to save on the whiteboard.I really liked this idea, because I know that when I was in high school I would have really liked to have a say in what my assessment would be. I think it would have helped me to take more ownership and also have a better understanding as to what would be expected in the assessment.