Whether it’s a SMART, Prometheum, 3M, or any other, is an interactive white board (IWB) worth the great expense to your school?
No.
Oh I wish it was that simple. I am going to preface this article by divulging that I have a SMART Symposium in my classroom. I also currently teach in a lab with a 1:1 student computer ratio. But I have taught grade 9 math in a room with the standard SMART Board setup.
I find IWBs scary. Not scary to use. I am a huge gadget fan and I love new technology, and I am pretty adept at picking it up. What scares me is when I hear phrases similar to “I don’t know how I could go back to teaching without a SMART board.” I hope these people don’t actually think that. I hope this is a case of people drinking the IWB Kool-Aid. Some people are so caught up in the hype that they think their usefulness is beyond reproach. But why shouldn’t they think this? After all, when they changed the marker to blue the children’s eyes got brighter. The teacher uses the screen shade and their pupils dilated; the spotlight tool had them drooling. One kid passed out when the new magic wand pen was used to zoom in.
Sure student engagement is necessary for learning. But what are you engaging them with? If I juggle periodically in class, certainly that would grab their attention as well as a happy face pen. Some will argue that the tools in the SMART software package are indispensable. I am a little more accepting of that one. I really like being able to use the clone tool I have used it in a variety of ways. But many others, like the screen shade, are just repackaged legacy techniques, like placing a piece of paper on the overhead projector. Either way, the software can be useful – even without the physical board.
In many cases it is the projector that is providing the magic. It is what allows us to show videos, flash files, images and more. The only thing I need to get up there fo,r is to get in the way and cast a shadow. Using a board solidifies the teacher’s place at the front of the room. My real fear is that for many teachers an IWB becomes a crutch. It made walking easier, but now they can’t leave it to find new ways to run. way I have seen (or viewed in a video) most teachers keep their “sage on the stage” delivery. The dazzle of the IWB is what may keep students focused. It seemed educators were really getting the message out to try and get away from the teacher at the front delivery model. And as we started to move away, even just occasionally, we were shackled back in place by a shiny interactive ball and chain.
Offended yet? Well if you are, perhaps theme truth there. Are you still challenging yourself to be a better teacher? And I mean better teacher, not put together an even more polished looking Notebook file. A technology shift does not equate into a pedagogy shift. It may lead to one, but only maybe.
What would I spend my money on? Well, I have this pretty great piece of technology. They are small enough to go on desks, but large enough for students to collaborate on. So I can have a small group of students creating, editing, refining and more. Unlike a IWB this tool is infinitely multi-touch, so there is almost no limit to how many students can use the device at once. And I was able to get a class set for a fraction of the cost of a SMART Board. I of course am referring to pieces of regular whiteboard I bought at Home Depot. Oh, and markers I bought at Staples. I certainly did not invent this method, and I wish I could remember how I learned it from so I could give them credit.
My over-arching message is the following: Let’s look for what we want to achieve, then find the tools for the job. Or, figure out where we ant to go, then decide upon the vehicle. And finally teaching is a tough gig. Even if you have the best students, it is tough because you always have to ask yourself how you can improve. If we expect our students to question and improve themselves, then we should do the same. Happy questioning
