Research finds that interactive whiteboards help alleviate anxiety and improve teacher quality of life
CALGARY, Alberta --- August 19, 2009 --- SMART Technologies announces the release of its white paper, “Reducing stress in the classroom: How interactive whiteboards and solution-based integration improve teacher quality of life.” The white paper examines the causes of teacher stress and finds that effectively integrating interactive whiteboards can help reduce it. For example, using an interactive whiteboard to create lessons can shorten lesson preparation time, simplify resource sharing among peers, facilitate differentiated learning and reduce anxiety felt by new teachers. The white paper also provides practical tips on purchasing and successfully implementing interactive whiteboards and other technology products in the classroom.
“Reducing stress in the classroom” references numerous studies from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia to explain that comprehensive, solution-based integration can help ensure successful adoption and use of interactive whiteboards, thereby reducing workload-related stress. With appropriate professional development and access to resources and administrative support, teachers can use interactive whiteboards to quickly and easily incorporate multimedia resources into lessons, all of which ultimately shortens preparation time. With a touch-enabled interactive whiteboard and lessons rich in multimedia content, teachers can reach a broad range of students with different learning styles. In addition, sharing digital resources with peers allows teachers more time to better meet the specific needs of individual students. Recent research from the University of Virginia cited in the paper also demonstrates how the use of interactive whiteboards enables flexible sequencing and pacing of lessons. Teachers can alter the flow of lesson delivery based on how well students progress through and understand subject matter. The white paper also illustrates how interactive whiteboards decrease anxiety felt by new teachers by providing lesson storyboards that enable them to maintain their train of thought and regain focus when the planned flow of a lesson is interrupted. The white paper is available at www.smarttech.com/whitepapers.
“The questions concerning classroom technology products today are not about whether or if, but when and how,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “This white paper points to research on how interactive whiteboards can be used to help reduce teacher stress, particularly as it relates to workload, but it also underscores the need for teaching infrastructures with administrative systems that support professional development and innovative approaches to accessing, creating and sharing digital lesson materials.”
