Reasons Schools Use Smart Boards

SMART boards enhance the potential for students' learning and comprehension. The interactive technology allows students to move beyond the traditional parameters of the classroom and engage in hands-on learning. Embraced by researchers of and educators alike, SMART boards serve as a model for the future of classroom instruction.

Identification

A SMART board is an interactive white board that allows educators and students to use technology to build and enhance learning. In essence, a SMART board is an extension of the teacher's computer, so any file, document, PowerPoint or images and videos that could be created or streamed on a computer can now be manipulated and transmitted through the SMART board. It is a tool where teachers and students can write with their hands or the SMART board pen directly onto images on the screen. These images can be saved, including the added annotations, and stored for later instruction or review sessions.

Benefits

Educators are eager to incorporate the SMART board into their classroom instruction because it allows them to move about the room, interact with students and promote student involvement. As Tom Hopper, a social studies teacher at Chippewa High School in Okemos, MI, indicates on his white board demonstration on You Tube, the SMART board allows him to "deliver material in a way that students are more used to seeing at home" or in environments outside of school. The SMART board draws upon the new learning styles of students who have grown up in a multimedia age where technology, digital enhancement and video interaction are commonplace. A SMART board allows an educator not only to relay information, but also to get students involved in the manipulation of the ideas. The SMART board is effective in engaging children with multiple learning styles; it incorporates visual, tactile and auditory learning into each lesson.

Expert Insight

The effectiveness of the SMART board as a tool to enhance learning is being touted by a multitude of educators who have had the opportunity to work with the technology. The SMART board technology allows for an interactive discussion between teacher and student, and instead of a traditional teacher-center classroom, there can be a dialogue that maximizes student comprehension. A SMART board eliminates the traditional model of the teacher as the expert and the student who merely memorizes and regurgitates information. In a 2006 study by Minor et al., teacher Dan Koritko observed, "The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is revolutionary because of its interactivity, flexibility and ease of use. I've seen a significant increase in teacher productivity and student performance across all grade levels with the implementation of the SMART Board interactive whiteboard within the K--12 learning environment. This technology tool is one of the most reliable ways for schools to change the way students interact and learn with the least amount of capital investment. Teachers will appreciate the selection of user templates and other great features that can only enhance their existing instructional methodologies. This is the technology tool for teachers and classes of the 21st century."

Misconceptions

Despite the positive reaction by many educators, some teachers and administrators are hesitant to fully embrace the technology. The reason seems to be two-fold. Many administrators simply cannot justify or rationalize the amount of money incorporating this technology into every classroom would take, and secondly, teachers fear they will not be able to effectively learn or navigate the technology. Many younger teachers have experienced this technology either as students or in teacher-training, but more seasoned professionals who are used to writing on chalkboards or dictating lectures are reluctant to use the SMART board as it will inevitably require training and a restructuring of their methodologies. For this same reason, administrators may fear that the money spent on such technologies will be wasted if teachers refuse to regularly use the SMART board in their instruction. The SMART board can be acquired through grant money set aside for technology. According to Smart Technologies Inc, the leading manufacturer of interactive whiteboards, "qualifying institutions in North America can purchase one for US$1,099 with a grant."

Considerations

For districts that cannot afford to put a SMART board into every classroom, they can order one per educational department and allow teachers to share the technology because it can be moved between classrooms.

Resources

• Quick Reference Guide; Smart Technologies; 2006