Preliminary Study: The Challenges of Integrating Interactive Whiteboards in Teaching and Learning among KEMAS Kindergarten Teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the challenges encountered by KEMAS kindergarten teachers when they integrate interactive whiteboards (IWB) in their classroom. Besides that, this study also intends to investigate on how teachers overcome the challenges that arise on a day-to-day basis. This is a qualitative study where data were collected through semi structured interviews, non-participatory classroom observations, and documents analysis. Two kindergarten teachers participated in this study, identified through the purposive sampling technique From the analysis, five main themes emerged in relation with the challenges faced by the kindergarten teachers when they integrate interactive whiteboard in their classroom. They are (i) lack of technical support, ii) maintenance cost, iii) classroom management, iv) technical failure, and v) lack of technological knowledge. Despite of the challenges aroused, the teachers had taken several initiatives to resolve the challenges including launching fund collections from student's parents or guardian, getting support from their own family and the community, setting rules enforcement in the classroom, and increasing their technological skills and knowledge through self-learning.