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Whiteboards Are the In Thing in UAE Schools

DUBAI — Swanky, interactive whiteboards are slowly phasing out conventional blackboards in classrooms as an increasing number of schools and colleges in the UAE are turning to them for teaching.

Educators say the technology is a “great learning tool” since it engages children much more than the traditional blackboards.

“Research shows that children can learn and grasp quicker with interactive boards than traditional blackboards. Learning and research is instant with them since on an interactive board, teachers can edit and make changes and everyone can see it. It is an interesting tool,” said Himmat Sandhu, director for School Business Operations at the Gems network.

The touch-sensitive, digital, electronic boards are mounted on walls and connected to a computer and projector. Whiteboards can incorporate multi-media tools like video, animation, graphics and sound to teach pupils, while pens or keyboards are used to write on them.

The Gems group, in fact, plans to replace blackboards with whiteboards in all its schools. “Our premium schools already have them and we are planning to do the same for even our mid market schools in the next year or two,” Sandhu noted, while adding that the costs of using the technology was ‘negligible’ when compared to its learning and teaching benefits.

Promethean, which develops the interactive learning technology and is showcasing them at the GITEX Technology Week, has sold over a thousand whiteboards to schools and colleges in the emirates.

“Promethean is experiencing a significant increase in demand for our interactive learning technology products in the Middle East. There are different software for young and adult learners. The interactive board makes learning more interesting because of its ability to upload videos and animation,” said Majeed Sharaf, Vice President of Promethean Middle East.

Educators at Dubai Women’s College (DWC) find the interactive boards or smart boards, multi-functional and environment-friendly, besides the fact that documents can be quickly captured and projected on computer screens. This, educators opine, would ensure students concentrate on the lectures rather than on taking down notes.

“They increase attention span of students and are environment-friendly as students are not wasting papers copying them down. The documents can also be modified easily and teachers can use different documents at the same time,” said Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, Assistant Director at Dubai Women’s College.

preeti@khaleejtimes.com