Is Using The Smart Board In Classrooms A Good Idea?

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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Smart boards are large interactive whiteboard, sensitive to a simple touch. They are connected to both projectors and computers, they resemble big or giant computer screens that teachers and students operate by simply touching. By use of fingers, a mouse or even a pen, students and their instructors are able to control and access each and every computer program, file, CD-ROMs, internet or DVDs. Smart boards connects the students with various learning techniques as they provide not only the instant access to digital resources but also a common focal point for the whole classroom as opposed to traditional white boards. It works on the ideological principle that students who participate in learning experience are likely to be extra engaged, interested and responsible for their school understanding. Therefore, smart board has become a darling of many secondary and primary school educators in over 75 countries in the world. Below is an illustration of smart board........

Impacts of Smart Board to Elementary, Middle and High Schools
As smart board continues to replace the archaic and old fashioned whiteboards or ...
... chalkboards and getting to new generation of pupils and students in all levels of education. It therefore makes the teaching of elementary, middle and high school students so creative and easier for teachers (Wixson, 1998). From art subjects, science, and mathematics smart board has given an ample time to teachers, becoming a learning tool of bringing lessons to life for the absolute participation of the students. Students are exposed to and given new techniques to approach difficulty solving due to visual approach and interactivity character of smart board, it also introduces ‘exaggerated nervousness’ in the class. With this technology teachers are getting excited every day as it offers opportunities to develop and improve lesson plans. Smart board is a motivation both to the teachers and students. The impact on the behavior of students is a positive one as it reduces stress and strain in the students’ working environment. However, the limiting factor of smart board tool is creativity of the teacher or instructor, because teachers using this technology ought to be very creative for students to appreciate the importance of technology (Roschelle et al., 2000)
Benefits of Smart Board Technology
Smart board benefits classroom teachers, lecturers, and other instructors. First and foremost, it makes the students to have a common focus in the classroom therefore engaging them. It allows the students to take control of their lessons and lectures a practice which many student love. The interactive characteristic of smart board makes the students to be interested in the lecture or lesson being delivered by an instructor. It is a rewarding learning asset to all students (Begoray, 2001). Even shy students will most likely warm up to a smart board much faster than for them coming in front of the class when answering questions. Smart board draws 100% participation of the class, and by so doing cuts down on the management problems of the students. It is very important to students with special needs as it provides tangible experiences which frequently needed by special needs children or students. It is known to be good and particularly perfect when teaching reading and mathematics subjects. Students are allowed to make theoretical concepts of what they have learned in mathematics, this helps them in understanding any complicated, tricky, and difficult concepts. Good in reading lessons as it helps the students to familiarize themselves with letter sounds and words. Smart board, makes students strong spellers and readers through interactive reading playoffs, as it is more interesting than merely reading from the book. Smart board technology has a spelling tool that helps and makes spelling more exciting game to the students (Au, 2000).
Constraints
Smart board is wonderful and important learning tool, but very expensive, this makes many schools unable to have it. Obtaining of smart board is not the end of extra spending to buy correct models of computers (works well with PCs than Macs). Therefore, if a school or any learning institution has an intention of using the smart board, it must first purchase the desktops or laptops which will be used with the smart board. Smart board can consume a lot of space in the classroom. Remember, a room is needed for just the board, the stand, the laptop, and wiring system that is used with it (Archer, 2006). There is also this setback of projector casting shadows on the board, causing some difficulties when concentrating on the board. Smart board can distract some student from attending and paying attention to the really lesson or lecture being thought, it is however not a big issue, but student with no experience with it, remains a probable distracter. A number of software are needed when one has an objective of coming up with fun activities. Another problem of smart board is that students can accidentally bump a table projector causing the board out of focus, suggesting the necessity of realignment. It is a trivial setback, but one nevertheless (Smith, 2000).
Ethical Issues Regarding Smart Board Technology
Smart board technology has made many college and university student to engage into plagiarism behavior. Plagiarism is an act where student replicates someone idea and words and pretend or present them as their work. It is mainly done online by use of internet to access peoples’ academic work. Another ethical issue surrounding smart board technology is piracy, where students involve themselves in stealing information from the internet without paying for rights of such material.
Conclusion
Smart board is an important, powerful and wonderful tool for both teachers and students. It is the available, perfect tool of engaging the student in a lecture or a lesson. An organized, flexible, and highly color board will create rewards for all occupied in the classroom. The drawbacks of this technology rest in the real set up and monetary difficulties of an institution, the school should dedicate or set aside a permanent space for the smart board as an alternative to temporary unit. Smart boards promote both leaning and teaching processes, it exploit the student active contribution and engagement. In addition, the technology emphasizes on the value of manifold demonstrations and mental pictures for teaching science and mathematics ideas to students and spear head the collective studies and literacy knowledge as images are connected to text and maneuvered pictures, data, and words. Multi-media modal texts are instilled with symbols. Symbol -systems include personal language, media, and other parts of dialogue, create a collective certainty to which students react as ‘natural’ yet certainty cannot be estranged from the symbols and sign systems where they are experienced. Smart board technology allows students to represent and view. It make a major contribution to an ability students to understand, control, and use the sign systems of printing and non-printing media, together with understanding the connection between them. Through Smart Board technology, the students are able to imagine new approaches and ways to articulate the gaining of literacy in classroom.

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