Buckinghamshire Area Whiteboard Network (BAWN) and Embedding ICT in Teaching & Learning

Buckinghamshire Area Whiteboard Network (BAWN)

The Buckinghamshire Area Whiteboard Network (BAWN) was set up in September 2004 by Primary Consultant Hazel Hughes to support learning and teaching using an interactive whiteboard.

There have been termly user group meetings for 3 years and this cycle was completed in Summer 2007. The twilight meetings were attended by hundreds of teachers to explore ideas and resources and share best practice in exploiting the potential of the Interactive whiteboard for teaching and learning.

In addition two Primary Conferences have been held to demonstrate example activities and lessons:

Embedding ICT (Primary Conference June 2005) celebrated Learning and Teaching using ICT with a week long programme of example lessons and activities using a wide range of technology. 

Embedding ICT returned in June 2006 with a new programme of exciting lesson demonstrations from volunteer teachers across the County

BAWN is here to promote the effective use of interactive whiteboards. You are welcome to explore this site and download sample resources from our meetings and training events.

Developing Effective Use of the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB)

The Interactive Whiteboard is a powerful tool with the potential to support and develop children’s learning. Following the wide scale introduction of IWBs in schools it is important to evaluate our practice and ensure that we can fully exploit the potential of this technology. The IWB can be much more than a medium for presentation and at its best it aims to become an exciting platform for stimulating, supporting and extending learning and enquiry.

To assist in reaching this aim, a self evaluation tool has been developed in Buckinghamshire to highlight effective practice. It is important that the effective use of the IWB is measured by the impact on learning rather than specialist expertise in its use and operation. Sometimes the simplest of technology will be the most effective and appropriate, whilst on other occasions greater fluency is needed. The effective use of an IWB depends on a combination of confidences:

§ curriculum subject knowledge

§ pedagogical skills

§ ICT confidences.

What is Good Teaching using an Interactive Whiteboard? (WIGTUIWB) is a self evaluation tool to help teachers and school leaders identify stages of development, reflect on their practice, and consider and discuss further opportunities to exploit the use of an IWB for powerful learning.