Friday, September 21, 2012

Magic Touch! The Interactive SMART Board

 
The Interactive SMART board has become popular over the years. According to Marzano (2009) the SMART board will continue to grow exponentially. The SMART board can be controlled with an electronic pen, finger, or any other device. The SMART board is used in grades K- 12th grade.  Visual and kinesthetic learners; as well as ESOL and ESE students benefit from the SMART board; by manipulating shapes, objects, and colors with only their finger.

The SMART board comes with its own features and software. Teachers can easily download extra software and use it on the SMART board. Below are just a few websites and features that teachers can use with the SMART board. Plenty more can be found on the internet.



According to Steven Nalley, the SMART board engages students and increases participation (2012). Students of all sizes can access the SMART board due to its height adjustment lever that allows you to lower or raise the board.  The SMART board can be used for any subject; which makes it convenient to use in elementary, middle, and high school. Teachers can easily access the internet and display information for all students to view. SMART board helps students learn content standards and computer skills, and paired with interactive games can increase a student’s motivation (Schweder, Wissick, & Mounce, 2008).  In my opinion, it won’t be long before standardized testing is done on the computer. It is important that students are introduced to computer skills. An introduction to computer skills will prepare students for college and the work place. Douglas Cruickshank (2007) lists a few benefits to using an interactive whiteboard versus a regular whiteboard. Below are the ones that stood out to me the most.

o   Digital Storytelling

o   Showing streamed or downloaded videos

o   Using online map and satellite images to teach geography

o   Teaching students how to conduct research on the internet

o   Working collaboratively on writing and editing; math lessons, or science experiments

o   Instructing the class on keyboarding and computer skills

 

SMART Technologies has also created the SMART table, which is mainly used in Pre-K. The SMART table is an interactive desk that fits up to four students at a time. It is touch screen just like the SMART board and is filled with interactive games, proper grade level content, and software. Both technologies are part of the 21st century movement into education. Many classrooms throughout the nation are now using SMART boards; however there are a vast majority of classrooms still waiting to introduce this amazing technology to their students. There are plenty of training tutorials online and even on YouTube. It’s important that teachers are skilled in using the SMART board so they can use it to its fullest potential. As with any technology, it doesn’t replace good teaching; but in the hands of a good teacher it can certainly enhance and extend learning for [all] students (Lockard, 2012).

 
 
References:
Cruickshank, D. (2007). A Clean Slate: Interactive Whiteboard Makes Lessons Snazzy. Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved at http://www.edutopia.org/whiteboard-classroom
Marzano, R.J. (2009). Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards. Educational Leadership, 67 (3). 80-82. Retrieved at http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov09/vol67/num03/Teaching-with-Interactive-Whiteboards.aspx
Nalley, S. (2012). All Sudduth Homerooms now have SMART boards. Starkville Dailey News: Starkville, MS. Retrieved at http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/11087
Raycheva, M. (2010). SMART Tables makes learning fun and games for young students. The Gazette: Gaithersburg. MD. Retrieved at http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/10252010/frednew124846_32541.php
Schweder, W., Wissick, C. A., & Mounce A. B. (2008). Teaching Content with Interactive Whiteboards. Journal of Special Education Technology, 23 (1). 54-58.
SMART Technologies. (2012). SMART Solutions in Early Education. Retrieved at http://www.smarttech.com/Solutions/Education+Solutions/Early+Education

 

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Classroom Blogging


Educational technology is becoming more predominant in classrooms today. Blogging is sweeping into classrooms all over the nation. Most blogs are free, so it will not interfere with school budgets. Blogs are easy to include in all subjects. If you want to improve students writing skills, or simply motivate them to write; blogging is the perfect solution. There are many benefits to blogging. Students of all ages can blog their thoughts, class assignments, personal stories, and even artwork. Blogging at an early age prepares students for future college work. I just created my blog this semester, if it wasn’t for Dr. Thompson requiring us to create one I would have never started blogging.

“Students know the technology, what they don’t often know is how it can change them as students.” (as cited by Ramaswami, 2008).

 

Benefits of Blogging:


Motivation

  • Students enjoy reading comments from their teacher, parents, family, fellow students, and community. Blogging motivates students to write more beyond their classroom assignments.
  • Jon Schwartz from Garrison Elementary School created a blog for his fourth and fifth grade students. Mr. Schwartz has stated that even on weekends his students’ blog (Schwartz, 2008). For more information on Mr. Schwartz class visit http://kidslikeblogs.org
  • The amount of motivation that students acquire really encourages them to write, which in turn develops a passion for writing.

Increased Writing Skills and Literacy

  • Students’ grammar, punctuation, and spelling improve (Jackson, 2012).
  • Students are able to draft, revise, and edit.
  • Students become more descriptive and detailed.
  • Improvement in the quantity of writing.
  • Students write for a purpose
  • Increase Vocabulary
  • Ability to explore different point of views

Communication/ Collaboration

  • Students communicate with other students and teachers around the nation
  • Students are able to provide, as well as receive feedback on their blogs
  • Blogging increase collaboration within the classroom
  • Creates a community of learners
  • Students develop an audience

Online Portfolio

  • Can be accessed anywhere
  • Tracking a student’s improvement throughout the term
  • Can be viewed by parents/guardians, family members, and teachers
  • Teachers can also use blogs as an online portfolio and professional development tool

Student-Center

  • Students blog about any topic
  • Students use the internet and different forms of media to research new topics
  • Student can pursue their own answers and direct their learning (Davis, & McGrail, 2009)

Safety First!

Students who blog feel more motivated to write. Students invest more of their time when they are writing for an audience. It’s important to establish safety rules and procedures prior to blogging. Parents should be aware of these safety rules when students are blogging from home. Jon Schwartz approves each comment that is added to a student’s page. Teachers should set up passwords to each student’s blog to monitor their posts as well as comments. There are some blogs that are created specifically for the education community. Teachers looking for a student safe educational blog can download blogmeister, a free online blog created by David Warlick.
 
Brain research indicates that growth is enhanced when students move beyond their comfort zone ad into the unknown (as cited by Brooks, & Brooks, 1993). Blogging creates an environment where students can explore a world outside of their classrooms. Students are provided with information that they might not understand. This encourages students to go above and beyond their assignments to research and discovery new answers. Blogging stimulates creative and reflective thinking (Ramaswami, 2008). It’s imperative that educators model the benefits of blogging. As stated by Deb Marciano “we need to learn technology, otherwise, our students won’t. We need to roll up our sleeves and do it as well.” (Marciano, 2008).
    Kathleen Morris and Kelly Jordan (2011)


 

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