Thursday, October 17, 2013

Wanda Knight

Professor Adair

EDUC 3302 Technology in Educational

17 October 2013


Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards

     The modern classroom has come a long way from the traditional chalkboard,

 erasers, textbooks and lectures of yester-year. The students of the digital age will

never know the joys of cleaning the chalkboards and erasers on a brick wall outside

of their school, but they have an advantage that former students could never have

imagined-the internet. Students of the digital age confidently use computersand all

things related. They thrive using interactive programs and touch-screen technology.

This being the case, it is only natural that technology be incorporated into their daily

learning at school as well.

     Through the use of technology in the classroom, students of today are able to

obtain information immediately on any subject they may be studying. Teachers now

prepare lessons which incorporate interactive portions and require a response from

the students. In classrooms where interactive whiteboards are used, teachers receive

immediate feedback as students use their learner response device-handheld voting

device. (Marzano 2009) Through the use of pie charts and bar graphs displayed on

the whiteboard, teachers assess student's comprehension of material in real time.

(Marzano 2009) As student responses are submitted, teachers assess if the class is

ready to move to the next concept, or if more review is needed. Real time

assessment is an effective way for teachers to determine if theirlessons are meeting

all learning styles represented in their classrooms as well as the goals of the

curriculum.

     Marzano tells us that students in classrooms where interactive whiteboards are

used can gain a sixteen percentile point gain in their overall scores. (Marzano 2009)

That is very impressive and encouraging for new teachers coming into the

classrooms, however, this is representing teachers/classrooms where technology

use was effective. What happens in classrooms where technology may be available,

but not used effectively?

     According to the study mentioned in the article, The Art and Science of 

Teaching/Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards, by Robert J. Marzano (2009), not

all classrooms benefited from technology use. Marzano lists some of the 'cons' of

whiteboard use. These ranged anywhere from pointless data collection to graphics

 lacking student interaction capabilities. Marzano offers some pointers for educators

who are using interactive whiteboards, or may be new to the technology. 

     Teachers spend valuable time preparing lessons to meet the ever-changing

technological demands of individual student learning needs and curriculum

objectives. Their confidence with, and ability to effectively use technology in

their classrooms will either prepare students for the future or simply serve  to

entertain them. For teachers who are not comfortable with the 'new' way of

teaching it is time to "get over it." Learn how to adapt and facilitate instead of

lecture. Your future, and your students' futures,depend on it.

Works Cited:

Marzano, Robert. “The Art and Science of Teaching/Teaching with Interactive
Whiteboards.” Educational Leadership. 67.3 (2009): n. page. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.


1 comment:

  1. Hi Wanda,
    I agree with your statement that students future success depends on the teachers ability to use technology effectively in the classroom. Living in the digital age, the need for knowledge of technology and digital media will only continue to increase as todays students progress into the workforce. Also, I liked how you mention the real time assessment. I think that interactive whiteboards are a great tool for teachers to see where the classroom as a whole is struggling she/he can reinvent the wheel and try the lesson a different way. Also, it is good for individual assessment so the teacher can see if and when a particular kid does not understand an idea or concept.

    ReplyDelete