To Use a SmartBoard or Not?
It has been recommended that I think seriously about using a Smart Board in my required liberal arts mathematics course. I'm old style and love my overhead projector. I have been to other math classes that use the SB, but still don't like having to turn my back to the class or stand in the projector's light or wait for the computer to catch up to me while writing on the screen. I admit that the SB has some distinct advantages, but prepared overhead sheets, facing the class, quickly moving from problem to problem seem to outway any SB advantages. My math colleagues love the boards and I can't get them to see the weight of my arguments. Should I put the old projector in the closet and get with the new age?
Hi Daniel,
You make a very good point that all we educators need to consider. Technology is upon us but "how does that technology support learning?" is the question we need to ask. At my college if we don't embrace the latest technology that our dean comes up with we are considered out of date or resistant to change. What has saved us are our course evaluations. The students like our style of instruction and feel they learn effectively. This lets us buy some time so we can evaluate the value of the technology and the bugs can get worked out. Then if we want to use the technology we can.
Gary
We have Smart Boards in some of the classrooms where I teach and I am not fond of them. My main issue with Smart Boards is that they seem to me an unnecessary toy. While 'cool' to use do they really improve learning? Or are they simply a novelty? The latest fad? What is their real value? There is also the issue of reliability. I have seen many a lecture stopped dead in its tracks due to failure of Smart Boards. If my white board marker runs out of ink I grab another one and proceed. I also don't like the small Smart Board screen (granted they may come in different sizes; the ones we have are smaller than traditional white boards and projection screens). My students have a hard time seeing what's on the Smart Board. I also find Smart boards' response times are often slow and the "markers" don't align properly with the lines they are drawing.
We need to ask ourselves,"do Smart Boards help improve learning in my classroom? Can a Smart Board do something that I can not otherwise accomplish? Can it make my presentations more interesting, lucid, memorable, effective? What real value does it add to my class over traditional methods?"
Don, ask your colleagues to show you how they use the boards. Perhaps they have discovered a application of the Boards that suits your field and works better than traditional presentation methods. Also ask them if they can demonstrate empirically that the use of Smart boards have improved learning in their classes.
I'm a fan of technology; we use laptops in our classrooms and digital projectors (which I love). But I'm not one to embrace something because it's the latest greatest thing. Smart boards may some day become something I use; but for now I find their flaws outweigh their strengths.
Hi Debra,
A Smart board is an interactive white board. The instructor can display visuals on it, write on it as well as a number of other options that graphically illustrate the content that is being talked about.
There are a host of websites available that talks about the technology of the Smart board as well as to how it can be used. Spend a few minutes searching those sites and you will get the big picture of how the Smart board operates.
Gary
I have never heard of a smart board either. I would like to know more and learn more about this. I am always looking for ways of improving my instructional style in the classroom.
I've never heard of smart board. Is this a system used on certain LMS systems?
Hi Don,
Tough question to answer because my response is it all depends. It depends on how your students are responding to your use of media. If you are receiving good course evaluations and your students are being successful in their other courses after completing your math class then I don't see a reason for you to change media. If you are not being respected by your students and are having class management issues then I would suggest you explore making use of the Smart Board media.
Gary
