IWB INTEGRATION IN THE SCHOOL SUBJECT SCIENCE: PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS

Abstract

This study investigates the integration of the interactive whiteboard (IWB) into Science teaching during the primary educational cycle and teachers’ perceptions about the use of the information and communication technology (ICT) in the school subject Science. An online questionnaire was distributed to Croatian schools in 2015/2016. A total of 104 teachers expressed their perceptions, 65 of them were from schools without an IWB, while the remaining 39 responded to our online questionnaire from schools with an implemented IWB. The results indicate the higher usage of ICT in schools with an IWB compared to schools without an IWB. Teachers use IWBs and computers mostly once or twice per week and DVDs once per week. Additional results pointed to the positive teachers’ perceptions on technology in linking student motivation to outcome levels in science. The findings reveal the constant education focused on IWB integration, and internet and technical support as a starting point for an innovative practice in science. Future studies are directed to the investigation of the use of technology in all schools in the Republic of Croatia.