Emergent Technology
A current technology that has emerged in the last few years at my school is the Smart Board. This dynamic tool has transformed how I teach and how my students learn. Some positive changes include the easy storage and retrieval of class notes, lessons and files. Electronically driven, I don’t need to end my day with chalk on my hands or my clothes. Lessons can be prepared and mapped out ahead of time to include multimedia files that include podcasts, videos, simulations, games, interactive activities and links to effective and appropriate Internet sites. As a teacher of mathematics for over 15 years, I am excited and motivated to keep current with technology and learning. Through the use of the Smart Board, students can visualize, hear and kinesthetically involve themselves with their learning by manipulating objects on the Smart Board. The Smart Board, when used effectively offers opportunities for the expansion of learning that was previously not possible with the linear traditional approach limited to a blackboard and chalk.
Some problems or challenges that have been associated with this technology are the lack of teacher training, the expense of the replacement light bulb for the projector, the expense of the entire unit, and the resistance among teachers who are not willing to transition to use a new technology in their classroom. Each of these problems, have been addressed in time and slowly the Smart Board has been accepted among the majority of the staff. I believe that teachers may be have been resistant because of the need for time to learn how to use it correctly. The administrators listened to the needs of our staff and have provided the staff with several experts to support its use.
The societal needs that are met are evident in the use of the multimedia technology. The benefits are endless! Students can connect to other resources on the web to gain a wider knowledge base outside of their textbook, each other and their teacher. Diverse student learners with specific IEP’s can get a copy of class notes, either as a template prior to beginning of class or with teacher writing after the completion of a class. The many learning styles are addressed with the use of multi-media infused tools and the options to display notes in color, with diagrams, images and links to demonstrate content in a way visually appealing for learning. The students themselves have told me that they have seen a change in their learning when they are in a classroom where the teacher uses the Smart Board effectively.
This technology would be even better, if it didn’t require an expensive light bulb replacement. I have been told that in my classroom, the bulb lasts for 1500 hours and cost $1000. It would be better if in a dream world each student had a mini Smart Board similar to the Ipad to retrieve the lessons and use a touch screen to activate their learning simultaneously with the instructor. In addition, to help motivate teachers to accept the use of this technology and to implement it into their lessons, perhaps a technology teacher can be designated in each discipline to help create lessons based on the needs of the teacher and the content. As it is now,
Smart Technologies has created a link on its web site to offer support for educators and a place to upload and share lessons.
I posted my comments: http://nursingismybag.Blogspot.com
and http://enftechblog.blogspot.com/
References
http://www.Gadzooki.com (May, 2011) Retrieved from
http://www.gadzooki.com/tech-news/the-generation-of-grade-school-gadgetry-a-smart-board-in-every-classroom-try-20/
