Teaching and Learning with Smartboards
It is not enough to merely purchase Smartboards for each classroom. Teachers need to be shown benefits, challenges, and strategies associated with using Smartboards.
Scaffolding teachers and students into using Smartboards as a means of interacting with the language and the content of the course is an effective means of building a critical mass of teachers who use the technology effectively and efficiently.
Scaffolding teachers and students into using Smartboards as a means of interacting with the language and the content of the course is an effective means of building a critical mass of teachers who use the technology effectively and efficiently.
Benefits of using Smartboard in the K-12 classroom:
There are countless benefits to incorporating Smartboards in everyday teaching and learning. Here are 4 important ones:
- Welcome to the 21st Century: Being part of the 21st Century means integrating technology in useful ways. Smartboards helps teachers take advantage of the benefits technology offers by transforming the board into a powerful tablet-like computer.
- College and Career Readiness: Technology is transforming all facets of society, mainly in how we access and manipulate information. Using Smartboards helps students develop the technological skills they will need in education and tomorrow's workforce.
- Green is the new White: Smartboards are pretty friendly to the environment. Proper use of Smartboards can cut down on paper waste by minimizing the number of copies that a teacher needs to make as as the Smartboard puts everyone on the same page ©.
- Engage Everyone: Smartboards helps teachers reach all learners. They allow students to interact with the language and the content in many meaningful ways. Smartboards allow everyone the chance to create, modify, and record their learning in an interactive way.
Challenges of using Smartboards in the K-12 classroom:
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Apart from the technological challenges a school may face in installing Smartboards, the biggest challenge in using Smartboards lies in training teachers on practical ways they can use the Smartboard in their classrooms. Without proper training, a Smartboard never grow past being a big screen to watch youtube videos or to project a document.
Because we tend to fear things that we do not understand, many teachers may shy away from 'playing with' the Smartboard in class. It may be that they aren't comfortable with the technology and may fear breaking it (after all, no one wants to ruin something that looks really expensive). Often, the fear lies with how to use the Smartboard in a way that supports a well-behaved classroom. Fortunately, teachers can be trained on how to use a Smartboard in a way that maximizes learning while minimizing disruptions to learning. |
Solutions to Supporting Smartboards
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TESOL Trainers, Inc. can provide Professional Development on teaching and learning with Smartboards in the K-12 content area classroom.
TESOL Trainers, Inc. offers highly experiential, engaging, and educational workshops on using Smartboards to stimulate teaching and learning. Whether it is a short term training or a longer endeavor, TESOL Trainers, Inc. sets everyone up for success. We can help your teachers discover practical, useful ways to integrate Smartboard Technology into their classrooms. |
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Smartboard Training: Putting Everyone on the Same Page ©
Contact John Kongsvik at TESOL Trainers, Inc. for more information.