From Static to Dynamic
- ViviaMay Pitter
- Jun 12, 2015
- 5 min read
A current technology that has emerged in the last few years that shapes
learning or productivity in my industry. The following quote is an excellent description of a current technology in our department that emerged over 20 years ago but has recently materialized in our classrooms.
“The constantly changing landscape of educational technology can be thought of as a series of transitions from older tools to newer ones - although some of the newer tools had their genesis years ago and are just now coming into mainstream awareness (Thornburg, 2013, para 1).
Even though interactive whiteboards had their genesis in the early 1990’s
(Becker & Lee, 2009), my department’s entry into the world of interactive whiteboards happened approximately 15 years after the technology emerged. We purchased interactive whiteboards through a grant and placed them in six of our ten classrooms on the main campus. These boards replaced only two desktop projectors; the other classrooms had limited access to one desktop projector that had to be shared. Since the installation of the boards the college has updated the other four classrooms with ceiling mounted projectors.
The installation of interactive whiteboards brought our classes into the technological age and forced many of our teachers to learn to use this massive “computer screen” that was placed directly over the dry erased white broads in the classrooms. It offered their classes more interaction and pushed teachers to use the technology they could not ignore. In the past, the desktop projectors could remained turned off and the screens pulled up, but the interactive white boards were prominent and could not be ignored if a teacher desired to do his or job effectively.
The teacher needs to move the class from a static passive non-participating class of students to one that is dynamic and want to be involved in their own learning. Using and interactive whiteboards in the proper way can help the teacher become more dynamic and help motivate the students to become collaborative active members of the class and ultimately active directors of their own learning.
The problems or challenges associated with this technology. The problems or challenges varied from the type of interactive whiteboards we purchased to finding teachers willing to learn the software associated with the new board. We purchased Promethean interactive whiteboards. Training days were quickly established and teachers were chosen to learn the new software. The software had simple instructions for the teacher who just wanted to use the boards as simple instructional tools but added a flair. The software also had much more technical instructions for teachers who wanted to add more than just a flair to their presentation and include students and whole class and group activities. After the training teachers left excited but many resorted to using the boards and projection screens, “gloried chalkboards” and big screen televisions for video clips.
Other problems developed that were not with the technology but affected how the technology was utilized.
The company who sold us the boards and provided training became defunct. So we did not have the opportunity to train a trainer.
There is a great deal of lessons and activities associated with the software, but they are geared mainly towards K-12. The lessons for adult learners were limited.
Teachers who were not trained on the software and the use of the boards had no board space to instruct students because of the position of the boards in the classrooms.
New teachers were informally trained to use the boards as projection screen and chalkboards, so the software in completely ignored.
The societal needs this technology meets and what its benefits. The interactive whiteboards promise to make classes more interactive and offer teachers a more superior way of involving students through the use of technology. The boards come with a teacher pen and a student pen which allows teachers to plan for students to use the board during class time. It also differs from the Smart® Symposiums in the regular college classrooms, the desktop projector, and overhead projectors. The board places the teacher in front of the class and not behind a podium (symposium), at the desk clicking through slides, or behind a hot overhead projector with the lights turned off. The boards is well lit and offers students a well-lighted view of information.
Interestingly this interactive whiteboards were created specifically for teacher and not adopted into education from other industries (Becker & Lee, 2009). This fact makes the interactive whiteboard an educational innovation. As technologists we are constantly looking for emerging technology that can be brought to the classroom or can fit into the classroom. The interactive whiteboard is one technology that was created for the classroom specifically. From an educational perspective this revolutionary and enhancements to the technology will only make it more and more appealing to schools.
The pitfalls of this technology and adjustments needed.
If the board needs to be repaired the teacher is left without an instruction aid or a means of writing information for the students because of how the boards are installed at my site. If teachers are willing to use the boards then we need to provide alternate writing space in case the boards fails or for other non-technology related information.
In this day of touch screens our present boards are limited to special pens which also have the same function as the mouse so teacher do not need to return to the desktop to access other functions. The boards need to be calibrated to the pens and the pen tips need to be responsive or a teacher will never be able to write properly or clearly. The new boards have touch screens as shown in the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y_kS9d_Vgs
Even though the teacher is encouraged to be in front of the class because of the versatility of the board, it is also limits the teacher’s movement and create one focal point. To correct this student would need to have access to personal technological devices for group work and in a futurist mindset it would be awesome if these devices could synch to the boards (controlled by the teacher) for more collaboration.
Graphics and a links
1. Promethean ActivBoard 300 ProSeries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AJkYaX3qRM
The board in this video is a smaller version to the ones we have installed in our classrooms.
2. Promethean Boards Demonstration
Note the use of the pen to move items around on the board. This board is similar to ones installed in my classrooms.
3. Promethean ActivPanel Touch collaborative Learning Center
Note how the board is installed in the center of the classroom, yet the teacher has access to dry erase white boards on each side. Also note the student using their own technology and working collaboratively in groups.
4. Promethean Planet
This website has a wealth of activities and lesson specifically for the Promethean Board. The site also has a blogs and opportunities for professional development.
References
Becker, C., & Lee, M. (2009). The interactive whiteboards revolution:
Teaching with IWB's. Victoria,
Austrailia: Acer Press. Retrieved from http://euis.umn.ac.id/materipengajaran/SK/SK771-METHODOLOGI%20PENELITIAN/Materi%20SK771/proposal%20skripsi/interactive%20whiteboard/pustaka/%5B12%5D-X-The%20Interactive%20Whiteboard%20Revolution.pdf.
Thornburg, D. (2013). Current trends ineducational technology. Lake
Barrignton IL: ThornburgCenter for Space Exploration.
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