Technology in the classroom is a growing topic in the educational field. When I was growing up the only source of technology in the school was a computer lab. I didn’t start noticing computers in individual classrooms until I was in junior-high/high-school. Today there are computers in every classroom, as well as “smart boards”, I-Pads, I-Pods and other forms of interactive technology. Incorporating technology into the classroom is very beneficial, it allows teachers to educate students in an unorthodox context. Not every student learns in the same manner; some students are visual learners. Technology allows teachers to teach subjects in a variety of ways.
I myself am a visual learner. I can read a subject out of a textbook and learn the material, but I find it easier to see pictures/hear audio on the subject to really connect and understand the subject. Technology allows visual learners to learn in a way that is more suitable to them. The school I teach at uses both “smart boards” and I-Pads in the classroom on a daily basis. I think both of these tools are very beneficial to both the student(s) and teacher(s). Incorporating technology such as these allows a little bit of “excitement” and variety to the daily routine. It breaks things up, and allows students to learn in a visual sense/using different parts of the brain.
When I teach, I want to use technology on a daily basis. I think “smart boards” are a great invention! Smart boards (interactive white board) allow teachers to convey lessons, share notes, and involve students in the teaching/learning process. With this board you can pull pictures, videos, and text from the Internet, as well as write on the board with a special pen. Everything added or corrected during the lesson is then saved to a computer. Smart boards also allow students to be involved in the learning process. Most of the interactive white boards have remote clickers for the students. This allows students to answer questions from the lesson and allows teachers to collect information on the percentage of students learning the material. Students can go up to the board, add ideas, solve problems and play games with the smart board pen. This allows students to learn while having fun. Smart Boards are also very user friendly. If you can operate a computer, you can operate a Smart Board!
Here are some links to Smart Board websites:
http://smarttech.com/smartboard
Lydia Darnall 