Post #4 Smartboards

At first glance, interactive screens/white boards don't appear to be much more than huge flat screen TVs with touch functionality. Cool, but perhaps not much more than a flashy gimmick. However, on deeper inspection, most models come bundled with proprietary software tools that, under the right circumstances, open the door to some truly unique approaches to lesson delivery, quiz taking, and collaborative projects, among other things. And many of the teachers fortunate enough to have one in their classroom laud their ability to rejuvenate lessons and revolutionize the way children learn. Because these are web-based applications, you can build lesson plans on your home computer before you get to class, making it easy to take these materials for a spin before you debut them for your students. More importantly, this also means that students can access and interact with lesson materials using virtually any web-enabled computer or smart device. Smart boards provided a unique dynamic to classrooms by incorporating the power of computer technology with the indispensability of traditional blackboards. There are many studies in the literature demonstrating that this mixed technology contributes to academic achievement and that this contribution can be further enhanced. These contributions come in the form of enabling student interaction, having positive motivational effects on students, diversifying instructional materials teachers can use, placing teachers to a more effective position, helping students in reifying the topics in their minds by supporting imagination, rendering lessons more interesting and enabling saving the lessons on the board. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of smart board technology by examining rates of participation by students, and evaluating the students’ ability of completing their work while focusing on students with disabilities. Students with learning disabilities sometimes have a lack of engagement in completing tasks due to inattention. Technology such as the smart board helps students and allows them to learn more effectively. The smart board also creates an opportunity for teachers to differentiate instruction for all of their students. The smart board can increase motivation, offer self-paced practice, and create a high-interest learning environment. Educators should have an interest in the use of this interactive whiteboard and how it can enhance student learning.