The first and main advantage that we have of an interactive whiteboard is that it has given us the freedom to interact in class. Now, there is a healthy discussion between students and teachers that can be built as the lessons progress.
With new technologies such as the stylus for students and teachers, a teacher can explain various concepts in great detail and this can help a student who would otherwise remain confused or unanswered.
The additional use of animations and videos in any lesson helps to further engage students. Even those students who have shown little attention and behavior seeking actions will pause to interact with a whiteboard lesson that is fun, interactive, and engaging.
Gone are the days when teachers continually wrote and rubbed things on the blackboard. The blackboard has eliminated the need for chalk and dust in the classroom and this is a good thing too, not only for the teacher, but also for students who may suffer from dust allergies. Lessons can be prepared well in advance and this also allows for more teaching time. In the past, the teacher had to write everything on the board while the students waited, technology is slowly changing this.
Having talked about the advantages, there is a disadvantage that is also worth mentioning. One downside is that many teachers are unfamiliar with technology in order to make the most of it. Whiteboards are installed frequently and the training provided to teachers who will use them is very limited. However, this disadvantage can be easily remedied with the right amount of training.
There are some really good online sites that offer whiteboard training programs. Usually you will find that the first training session is free and this will give you a very good introduction to using technology.