A Smartboard is an interactive whiteboard and projector connected to a computer where the areas of use are many. It will give you access to texts, pictures, video, audio, diagrams and webpages, all in one place. The Smartboard come along with four plastic pens in different colors, where you are able to write on the board while having documents open. These activates when you pick them up from the pen tray. You can also write with your fingers, just pick up the pen of the color you wish to use. This will activate the color and emerge when you touch the board. The eraser works the same way. You can either operate the board via the computer, or you can do it while standing in front of it, simply by using your hands.
The Smartboard was introduced in 1991 and is constantly developing. Which one to buy depends on your purpose and budget. You can work with any program that the host computer allows, but the smart board also comes with software where you can choose one adapted for you and your school.
How can it be used in classroom?
The opportunities are so many; I will have to make do by just giving some examples. Since the board is connected with the computer, it can do anything the computer can do. This means the computer can be used spontaneously, but also in a more conscious way. The internet will give you access to almost anything in an instant. If a pupil per say tells the class about a bird he has seen, the teacher can easily find a picture of it and show it to the rest of the class. The option would be to find the bird in a book, which of course is fine. Although, this does demand you to have the right books in hand, while the internet covers basically any topic you like.
The teacher can plan lessons where the Smartboard is a pedagogical tool. Telling stories with images where the whole class can see both text and image at once is one opportunity. The teacher can ask questions and the children are actively listening. There is room for conversation and reflection. Words or sentences can be underlined. The children can write their own stories and show it to the rest of the class.
The software contains many programs where the children can learn in a fun way. Learning by doing is in focus, the pupil can learn by experimenting on the board and the rest of the class can watch and learn. Having the pupils to help each other out creates a classroom where the children’s knowledge is important.
Isn’t a Smartboard very expensive?
Well yes, a Smartboard do cost a lot, but the price is not that bad when you look at it. Having a Smartboard means you don’t have to hand out copies of text in a reading exercise, by putting it on the wall everyone can read it. This means you’ll save money and paper. There is no need to buy big expensive maps that you normally scroll down from the ceiling; all maps can be accessed from the computer. If wanted, the teacher or pupils can write on the Smartboard maps, giving opportunity to geographical knowledge in a fun and easy way. Educational videos can easily be downloaded, there is no need to wait for the DVD to arrive, nor will you have to return it. The Smartboard is time saver, and time is money. All documents can be saved and used again; you can easily go back and correct previous errors.
Other thoughts.
While the Smartboard can save both time and money, it is important to remember that a book is still a magnificent tool in school. Being able to read a story by your own is being part of a magical world. The Smartboard is not here to replace literature; it is here to create an environment where conversation between teacher and pupils take place. Or more importantly, an environment where the pupils converse with each other. It is a door opener to the rest of the world. The word ‘access’ is key in this high tech board.
Johanna Gustavsson.
An interactive whiteboard (smartboard in Swedish) seems to be a very good pedagogical tool that you as a teacher or pupil can use in many different ways in the classroom. This tool is a good idea because it is something that is in time (2013) and a tool for the future. The pupils can work with a lot of different things with this ICT resource and even with all the subjects in the curriculum. As a teacher you can easily vary the lessons so the pupils´ will get a lot of different learning experiences. The opportunities has no limits that has been described before, it is you as a teacher that decides what you and your pupils´ can do with it.
ReplyDeleteThe description of this ICT resource is very thorough and if you didn’t know about interactive whiteboards (IWB) before, you do now. Money is always an issue and i think it´s very good that it´s addressed and also argued for why the school should buy an IWB and also where you can save money doing so. I think this is something that will work very well in practice and will make a fun learning experience for the children. Positive and fun learning will give positive result when it comes to learn and develop knowledge.
And not to forget the importance of books that also has been addressed, and what they can do for the pupil in their way to develop language skills. I think this is very important to bring up and that the IWB cannot replace everything in the classroom, you need books, pencils and paper to.
I like the way you write about the smartboard, it is inviting with the pictures and structure also it is very interesting reading. It is good that you point out thoughts that occurs when you are reading for example “Isn’t a Smartboard very expensive?” and your own thoughts about the ICT-tool. Like you, I believe that the Smartboard is a very good ICT-tool who should be used in more classrooms.
ReplyDeleteOn the school I usually work, they have one smartboard. When the school bought the smartboard it seemed like none of the teachers wanted to install it in their classroom. After a while one of the teachers took the Smartboard and installed it in the classroom. Nowadays the smartboard has become an ICT-tool that is used every day and is appreciated of both teacher and pupils. When I have the opportunity to work with the smartboard I gladly do it! Teachers who did not wanted the smartboard regrets it today, some of the explanations I get from them is that they thought it was difficult to use. Maybe teachers who are sceptic to the smartboard should read a post like yours to understand more of its potential.