Investigation of interactive whiteboard usage experiences at secondary and high school levels

Today, Interactive WhiteBoard (IWB) technology is used in almost all educational institutions in order to use information technologies (IT) efficiently and to maximize learning experiences. This study has been prepared in order to examine the experiences of IWB used extensively in educational institutions, opinions indicating positive and negative aspects, current problems, classroom activities observed in the lack of IWB, and to reveal the educational experiences related to the long-term use of IWB in education. For this purpose, the opinions of 170 secondary and high school students and 50 IT Guidance in the province of Elazig were consulted in the 2020-2021 academic year. The study was carried out with phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods, and the data were obtained by applying an open-ended semi-structured interview form, by telephone and face-to-face interview methods. The raw data collected during the research process were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive analysis methods. The results of the study revealed that the use of IWB gives mostly positive experiences, as well as various negative aspects. Conclusions on positive IWB experiences are interest, participation and motivation increase, learning becomes easier and permanent with visual and media opportunities, while the workload of the teacher becomes lighter, course management becomes easier and time is used efficiently. In terms of negative experiences, there are technical problems and negativities at the solution point, loss of time, service problems and maintenance costs, inefficiency caused by unqualified use and the existence of pedagogical problems. Unlike similar studies, there are experiences such as negative effects on the professional abilities of the teacher, unqualified learning activities, possible technical problems, partially or completely adversely affecting or postponing the course activities due to the course activities carried out continuously based on IWB. For these reasons, it is recommended to provide continuous quality education for teachers, in order to develop IWBs with serviceability and modular solution-oriented and to develop undergraduate education with an understanding that will provide a paradigm shift for teachers. In addition to all these, it can be said that the study is important in terms of creating a resource for new IT research to be done, determining the measures to be taken regarding the identified problems and contributing to teacher training.