A Workshop on IWB

These are some of the slides I used for a workshop I gave at Muscat College on 10/03/2013. We have two IWBs at the college, but based on feedback from students and lecturers, the rate of actual classroom use of these is sporadic, to say the least. Besides being embarassing for lecturers, this laxity is also counterproductive for management which invested a considerable lump in these fancy-but-seemingly-useless gadgets.
What I Think
My own opinion, should you ask for one, is that IWBs can certainly add a lot of spice to any lesson. They serve to highlight lesson elements, draw students' attention as well as motivate the kinetic ones among them to participate in the lesson unfolding. The technology used is topnotch and constantly evolving; most importantly, I think that the appeal of IWB is not only driven by strong marketing strategies, but that there is some true form of research and understanding of the reuirements of research and teaching methodology that has been taken into consideration by the developers. 
Problems, Problems:
The following video summarizes it all:
To put it simply and briefly, people should be trained to do something before they are called "dumb". The main problem and probable unpopularity of technology tools intended for the teacging profession is that users often feel not ready to start using them. And then let's face it, for some people, using a simple video projector or even an old-fashioned OHP (overhead projector)
                              
can be mind boggling. Standard use of technology, not to mention creative use of it, is a skill that can be cultivated and reinforced. All worries, fears and insecurities about IWBs by senior teachers (as well as younger ones) can be cleared through the implementation of professional teacher support by a fellow teacher with enough technical knowledge (and patience) so that both teachers and students gain something out of this really promising tool.
                              
p.s: I don't particularily support the use of "dumb" in the video above, but something of that kind happened in the place I have been working in, where an unsupported teacher used whiteboard markers on the SmartBoard. Panic ensued, and the teacher felt too embarrassed to ask for help cleaning the IWB.
Tip: you can use water and soap to clean the IWB.