Birchland’s Smartboard Open House : 2009-09-01
Introduction to Smartboards
This session was intended to help teachers begin to understand how Smartboards work and some of the possibilities. This recap is instead of a hand-out and intended to be a resource that participants can refer back to in order to recall and make use of the information from this session. Please add a response to this blog entry if you have questions or need clarification on any of the items in this post. Chances are others will have the same questions.
It is not about Smartboards!!
It is not about Smartboards because they are just an instructional tool. It is very important that we are carefully considering how we use Smartboards as instructional tools to support our students. The main point of this presentation- and of this blog- is how digital technology can be used as a tool to support powerful learning opportunities for kids.
Many educators in the educational technology community are concerned that Smartboards are not worth the expense. One concern is that Smartboard classrooms can potentially be very teacher centred. Many educators are finding great benefits for students but, like any tool, Smartboards and other digital technologies are only as powerful as the learning activities and the pedagogy they are based on. If we use them in ways that simply allow us to teach in the ways we always have, they are simply fancy whiteboards as their detractors claim, and they are certainly not worth the expense. If, however, we use Smartboards and other digital technologies strategically to create classroom environments in which the learning is more accessible for all, they have to potential to transform teaching and learning.
The importance of hands-on learning experiences
An excellent point of discussion was brought up by some participants – they were clear that Smartboards and other digital technology should not take the place of hands-on learning. Great point!!! It would be optimal if all learning could be hands on and done in real environments. Of course hands-on is not always possible (or practical!!) within the classroom setting. This is why classrooms have traditionally relied on textbooks. If we have access to digital technologies in our classrooms they can provide us with learning experiences that are readily available, and are far closer to the ‘real thing’ (video, online discussions, simulations, etc) than reading about it in a textbook.
On June 7th 2009 a new baby beluga was born at the Vancouver Aquarium. Having access to digital technology meant that our students could see the birth of the baby beluga rather than just hearing us talk about it, or reading about it in the newspapers. The experience of watching a video of the birth, however, cannot be compared with the experience the children who were at the aquarium on a field trip that day had. Witnessing the birth of a beluga first hand is an experience most will never forget!!
Why Smartboards??
It is imperative that as educators we are actively involved in critical evaluation of the digital technologies that are available to us in order to ensure that we are putting our resources into tools that best serve our students’ needs. This (incomplete slide illustrates some of the benefits educators in Coquitlam have been experiencing with the use of Smartboards in their classrooms.
Click here to read Darryl Cummings’ comprehensive report on the benefits of Smartboards.
Please add to this conversation by responding to this blog entry.
Finding Smartboard Resources
The Internet has a wealth of fantastic resources for teachers learning to use Smartboards. Here are some of my favorites:
The following is one of many tutorial videos available about how to set up a Smartboard.
Click here to find other great tutorial videos from the edutecher chanel.
Click on the following links to view these fantastic sites where you can learn more about Smartboards:
Visit the SMARTBoard forum Site where Coquitlam’s Smartboard Network is collecting our very favorite resources.
I am planning to update Anita’s Tips, Tricks & Weblinks weekly to provide information to people in little bits. You can enter your email address at the top RH corner of this page if you would like to receive an email alert when new information is added to the site.
