The Use of Interactive Whiteboards to Support the Creation, Capture and Sharing of Knowledge in South African Schools

Abstract

Abstract. This paper illustrates how interactive whiteboards (IWBs) have been used to support the dynamic creation, capture and sharing of knowledge in primary and secondary schools in South Africa. It reports on the findings of a feasibility study undertaken by the Eastern Cape Department of Education to determine the perceived benefits and drawbacks of teachers and learners of using IWBs in the classroom. The research highlights how both teachers and learners can critically engage with multiple sources of information to construct their own knowledge, aiding learners in the learning process and helping teachers to scaffold that learning process. The study illustrates that IWBs have the potential to be beneficial in the South Africa classroom by affording teachers and learners a new medium through which they can create, capture and share knowledge.