Promethean Lesson Planning and Student Interactivity

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The Interactive Whiteboard should not be used like a very expensive screen or a traditional chalkboard/whiteboard.  The Interactive Whiteboard is not merely a presentation tool for the teacher.  Flipcharts are not PowerPoints.  Do you ever find yourself saying these statements?

One of the true benefits of the Interactive Whiteboard is the ability to have students actually interact with the lessons.  We want students to interact with the lessons on many levels.  I created the menu and chart below to help teachers create IWB flipchart lessons with an emphasis on student interactivity.  It is hard breaking the habit of creating lessons that resemble PowerPoints.  But in order to use the IWB to its fullest potential we have to plan lessons to focus on student interactivity. 

Student Interactivity Menu

Student Interactivity Chart

Once filled out you can look at the chart as a "road map" of a lesson or what the lesson looks like from the students' point-of-view.  It is quite eye-opening to fill out the chart at least once using the student interactivity menu as a guide and see just how interactive the lesson is for students.   

Example Flipchart "Before" Revising for Student Interactivity

Example Flipchart "After" Revising for Student Interactivity

One teacher now has the student interactivity menu laminated at her computer when lesson planning.  She just looks down and tries to make sure the lesson has multiple opportunities for student interactivity.  If you would like the file attached below in editable digital version, please email me directly at aimee.martin@fcps.org.  I would love to collaborate with you and get your feedback.  Thanks!