Smart Boards in the Classroom

This youtube video discusses how a kindergarten teacher uses the smart board in her room for all subjects. In my TE401 class I am placed in a kindergarten classroom that also has a smart board, which my teacher uses. Both teachers use the smart board for things like morning message, playing games, and math. The teacher in the video has more training than my cooperating teacher, who just got a smart board in her room this year. The teacher in the video also uses her smart board to make movies, test the students for reading comprehension, and correct writing samples. The teacher in the video also mentions that all children can use the smart board, including students with special needs. Since smart boards are accessible to all they are a great resource to use in the classroom. The smart board can be used from kindergarten to college and has benefits in all subjects. The students like how interactive the smart board is and when my coordinating teacher uses it in her classroom the children are more attentive and interested in the lesson. Teachers who have smart boards in there room should be trained to use the board so they can use it to it’s full potential. I think that the smart boards are an excellent resource for teachers to enhance lessons and improve individual student learning.

New Techonology in the Classroom

http://www.isubengal.com/news/a-new-kind-of-technology-in-the-classroom-1.1779557

I was searching the internet for an article about new technology in the classroom and I found an interesting article about an Idaho State University class that is teaching students how to use new technology like I-pads, wiis, I-pods, and pod-cast to enhance the students learning experience. The thing I liked most about this class and article was that the training was focusing on teachers who had limited resources. During the class they discuss how to use one or two computers to the teacher’s advantage by using games and pod-casts. During the class the students were also required to come up with lesson plans that used new technologies like I-pads, I-pods, and wii’s to enhance students learning. I think it is important for teachers to have a forward thinking when it comes to technology. Even though these resources are expensive, if a school can purchase even one or two of them teachers need to think of a way to use them. I also think that the computer lab could be used for more than typing up final drafts and teachers should take time to find websites, articles, and free pod-casts for students to use to explore subjects that they are interested in. When teachers use the technology that they have available to them to its full potential the possibilities in student’s learning is endless.