I've never been taught with a smartboard. I visited my old high school a couple years ago and I saw that my old physics teacher had one in his classroom, but not all the teachers had one. Judging from the article, is it kind of like making the whiteboard a big touch screen? I've said this before, young people feel the need to be entertained by fancy gadgets. I'm sure you can do some pretty neat stuff with the smartboard, but you can probably do a lot of interesting hands-on stuff with the students also. We are educators, not entertainers. I'm not condoning monotone teachers because they certainly are hard for anyone to pay attention to, I'm just saying when the students have more respect for a fancy gadget than for the knowledge and wisdom from the teacher I think it would be a hard classroom to manage.
Wow, this person was fired up about this topic. But I can't help to agree with him. Why spend so much money on a fancy overhead projector? And one lady said that you can't buy change. Progress takes time and America is such a quick fix society that people think they can just buy their way up. I believe it's contradictory to promote independent learning and discovering and then purchase something that promotes total lecture from the teacher. It would be like the early 1900s all over again with a fancier chalkboard. I'm sure for some subject material at some grade levels the smartboards would be alright if the school didn't mind spending that sort of money. But in higher grades where we want the students to be more innovated I think having a smartboard can hinder their own creative ideas.
"I believe it's contradictory to promote independent learning and discovering and then purchase something that promotes total lecture from the teacher. " I think this is the key. I also think that the tools should be in the hands of the students. I like the way you put it: technology should "promote independent learning and discovering."
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what your take is after actually using one.
The teacher can see how the students answer and this tells the teacher what areas need to be reviewed. I believe that SMART is reliable resource to the teacher and students. The applications are endless, but it is up the teacher to explore the tools available. I know that having a SMART Board isn't the only answer to bringing technology into the classroom, but it is a start. We can't expect the students to do everything by themselves. It’s up to the teacher to make sure students have the educational tools to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what my take will be after actually using one. I believe in some classrooms with the right teachers they could be beneficial. I believe that not all subject areas require a smartboard to get the lesson done. Younger children would probably have more fun interacting with a huge touch screen, teaching mechanism vs teenagers who would probably be bored either way.
ReplyDeleteI want to teach high school and unless college professors all switch to smartboards I don't see the overall benefit in strictly teaching kids with them. As it stands, a lot of universities still use textbooks and lectures. It would be a smack in the face to all these young people coming up if we don't show them all them the "old" ways too.
You picked out a couple really great quotes to support your opinion; such as: "You can't buy change," and "We are not entertainers, we are educators."
ReplyDeleteThe requirements for this assignment ask you to find a blog that supports SmartBoards-- I am curious to see how your perspective might change if you read both sides?
By now, I know you and Allison have experienced the SmartBoard-- from what I witnessed of your experience and the hoops you had to jump through-- I would guess you might carry the same opinion (understandably so). But in the event you did see something you liked-- what did you think?
In regards to preparing students for the "old ways" of learning because that is what they will experience when they get to college... Do you believe that is what is best for the students? If you, as a high school teacher, set the bar for their classroom experience high-- than they will expect more from their university experience, ultimately encouraging revolution in the higher education realm. Exposure means preparation. Isn't exposure good-- regardless of age and expectations of what is to come?
What do you think?
I really appreciate the way you challenge mainstream thoughts. Good work,
Anthony
Also, in order to complete this assignment you need to watch EDM310 for Dummies and Chipper Series.
ReplyDeleteI did like some of the features on a smartboard. I still can't justify spending the money for one for every class in every subject area.
ReplyDeleteAnd personally, I think college tuition is expensive enough already without furnishing every university professor with smartboards also. But let's say that money wasn't an issue. When students do graduate college and begin their task in the work force, wherever it may be, they won't be able to get all their answers from touchscreen google accounts.
Exposure is great. Learning is a nice aspect in general. I just don't see why exposure to books and thinking for themselves is a horrible thing and so looked down upon. I encourage the use of technology to some extent, but I also encourage the use of books and hands-on activities that require a little of their own imagination.
And yes, I'm sorry I'm way behind on my blog posts...but there's no time like the present. I will be catching up ^_^
Pauline I agree with you. If we get all of these "fancy" gadgets in the classroom it will take away from the teachers respect in knowledge and wisdom. Good Job!
ReplyDelete