I usually don't post many comments to the entire list, but I have to second Cyndi's
comments that "the technology in and of itself isn't the problem or solution."
Just because something is new and different doesn't mean it is good, or because
something is old it is bad. The technology is just one more tool for us to use. It
is up to us teachers to use the proper tool for the job, whether that is white
chalk on a slate blackboard (yes, I remember both), an overhead projector, or a
SmartBoard. Each tool is the best one for some job and the worst tool for others.
"So, we all learned together. Someone would try something and share with their
colleagues. I would see someone doing something creative and I would pass it along.
This year, our training was significantly better. Our teachers are more confident.
I'm seeing the boards being used as part of the daily business of teaching."
Training is the key to the proper use of ANY tool. Once someone knows how to use a
tool, and some of what that tool can do for them, they are more likely to use it.
Yes, most of us will resort to old favorites until a new favorite comes along.
The original post on this thread predicted that SmartBoards would disappear
quickly. That may be true. They may also stick around for a good number of years.
Who will decide? We will. If we teachers use them, and they don't develop
mechanical/electrical problems, and nothing better comes along, they will last. If
teachers don't use them, or they start falling apart, they will be gone. Anyone
remember laser disks? They were wonderful - but they were replaced by the DVD, at
only a fraction of the cost.
David Lininger, kb0zke,
MS/HS Librarian
Hickory County R-1 Schools
Urbana, MO 65767
d l i n i n g e r at S k y l i n e. k12. m o. us
________________________________
From: School Library Media & Network Communications on behalf of Cyndi Bowman
Sent: Tue 13-Nov-07 11:25
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: SMARTBOARDS: A PILE OF JUNK
I have to jump into this discussion as we are a district that has
invested heavily in interactive whiteboards across all grade levels. I
don't think the discussion is necessarily about which brand of board
is best. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. I think
what I'm hearing you say is that successful integration has a lot to
do with teacher desire, training and time to implement. It's important
to remember that the technology in and of itself isn't the problem or
solution. The problem comes from teachers feeling overwhelmed and
reverting back to old, comfortable ways of doing things.
Like I said, we've invested heavily in interactive whiteboards. We're
up to about 80 at the high school level alone. We have some teachers
that use them as large-screen TVs to show videos or screens to project
their Powerpoint presentations on. I see teachers using them to show
something from the web. Are these the most creative uses? No. Does
this use have merit in the classroom? Absolutely. The teachers that I
disparaged of ever using their boards for anything besides expensive
overheads last year are trying more things this year. The adjustment
factor had a lot to do with implementation.
Also, last year our training was horrible. Actually, there are no
words that would pass anyone's filters that will express how awful it
was. So, we all learned together. Someone would try something and
share with their colleagues. I would see someone doing something
creative and I would pass it along. This year, our training was
significantly better. Our teachers are more confident. I'm seeing the
boards being used as part of the daily business of teaching. Not
always the most creative, but they have become an important part of
the teacher's tool chest.
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