Interactive whiteboards in the PMLD and complex disability classroom

A question that I am often asked is "What is the best interactive whiteboard to install in a classroom?"

Interactive whiteboards are a sign of the times and an essential tool in any classroom. They offer interactive learning like never before and can engage a room of students in a way a chalk board or traditional whiteboard can't. However, when it comes to teaching students with complex disabilities we need to think outside of the box a bit. I want to offer a few brief points to think about.

Firstly, the majority of interactive whiteboards that I have come across tend to display their image by way of a front mounted projector. The difficulty one might come across with this type of board is the shadow that anyone using the board will cast across it when pointing to or interacting with the on-screen image. Even with newer "short-throw" projectors this can't be avoided. The shadow can be very off-putting for those with visual and visual perception difficulties. For those trying to sequence the events and engage with the on-screen activity the shadow may be an unavoidable distraction.

Secondly, we need to think about how we are using the board. Time is precious in the PMLD classroom and attention spans are hard to grab let alone sustain. Teaching from the front of the class without the student's physical engagement with the activity can mean that the student is gaining little if anything from the lesson. From my experience students will be distracted by other things around them, will not make the connection that they are being communicated with or can't connect themselves with something happening so far away. The physical and active involvement of a student in a task is so important as they are engaging their senses. In disabilities such as cerebral palsy this active learning and continued practice of a task may be the only way the student can really learn and retain that learning and go on to develop a new skill.

This leads me on to student interaction with the board. In a classroom with students that have complex disabilities it is fair to say that the majority will be in specialist seating and postural management equipment. Therefore, just getting close to a poorly positioned whiteboard can be impossible. When installing a whiteboard it is important to think about wheelchair access for instance - can the student be placed close enough to be able to touch or see the board? In most cases the best option is a freestanding, mobile, height adjustable option.