I have been seeing the advertisements for CDW/CDWG and Discovery Education’s annual technology sweepstakes coming around again recently. It is a great contest and I am sure CDW does very well with collecting contact information for teachers and administrators that they can use later for future marketing methods. However, in answering the questions on the entry form, I noticed that they list “Excellent” educational technology as: "Each classroom was equipped with a laptop cart, a projector, an interactive whiteboard, and audio/video tools".
Now I really don’t understand why so many people/companies feel that a classroom must have an interactive whiteboard (IWB) in order to be a 21st Century Classroom. While I know there are exceptions to the rule, generally IWB are nothing more than glorified chalkboards. For example, when I started teaching over 10 years ago, my classroom possessed a chalkboard. I stood at the front of the classroom with my back to my students and wrote on the board whenever I needed. Then we upgraded that chalkboard to a marker board. Now I was able to stand at the front of my classroom with my back to my students and write in multiple colors. Fast-forward a few more years and then you would see me standing in front of a classroom with my back to my students writing on an IWB. Sure I did neat interactive lessons with my students and sure they enjoyed the technology, but a single IWB was not sufficient to reach all of my students. Each student might only get to use the whiteboard every third day of class.
Now I am sure that there are many great teachers out there doing wonderful things with interactive whiteboards, but there is one issue that has yet to be resolved: classroom management. I once heard a classroom management guru say that teachers need to be moving around their classrooms while students are in attendance. This is to keep students on-task and prevent behavior issues before they begin. I have used this method in my own classroom and found it to be extremely effective.
In my mind, a 21st Century Classroom has a large projector screen, an appropriately powered ceiling-mounted projector, classroom response systems, multiple interactive pads, integrated audio, and an Internet connected device for each student (e.g., netbooks, laptops, iPod Touch, iPads). Now let’s outline each of these choices:
A large projector screen overcomes the small screen size of IWB. The largest inactive whiteboards have a 94” diagonal screen size. A 4:3 96” screen has a 120” diagonal. Let’s face it, how many schools out there buy the biggest IWB? Most schools I have visited that have IWBs installed are using not using the largest models therefore students at the back of a classroom might have a hard time reading what is being projected.
All too often I have seen educational institutions buy the cheapest product they can to fill a need. This is very true when applied to digital projectors and what results is a classroom that must have the lights dimmed or turned off in order to use the projector. I recommend a projector with an appropriate amount of power to be used with the classroom lights on.
Classroom response systems are extremely valuable for polling the understanding of students in a measured, data-collected manner. I don’t advocate giving quizzes or tests with these systems, but being able to gather data immediately about the concept comprehension of students is a big bonus in a modern classroom. This allows a teacher to target teaching and learning for students on an individual basis, bridging knowledge gaps, and preparing students for those Federally-mandated tests (don’t get me started).
Instead of a wall-mounted IWB, I prefer to see teachers utilizing smaller, portable IWBs. Typically called inactive slates or pads, these can be used to do everything a IWB can do, but from anywhere in the classroom and for a much lower total cost of ownership (purchase price is much less and there is no installation cost).
Classrooms with ceiling mounted projectors need quality integrated audio in order to take full advantage of the system. How else can you show (and hear) online videos, podcasts, etc. If you can attach a classroom address system then even better. The infrared connections for classroom address systems are a little flaky, especially for a teacher adhering to classroom management practices previously mentioned, but still a nice investment since studies have shown improvements in student achievement after the addition of such a system.
Finally, each student needs an Internet-connected device. It doesn’t matter if it is a full-blown laptop, a netbook, or a iPod touch. It doesn’t matter if it runs OS X, Windows 7, or Ubuntu. The bottom line is that students need a device to use for teaching/learning and it helps if everyone in the classroom has the same device.
I hope we can get beyond the thought that each classroom needs an IWB in order to be set-up for teaching and learning in the current era and the future.
6 comments:
YES! And I have a IWB in my room. Anytime that new technology is offered, I'm first in line. Whether I actually need it or not, I want to see the impact that it will have on my teaching and student learning.
The IWB is the least used technology in my room.
Top: student laptops. We spent too much on MacBooks and could have put more laptops into students hands with a lower priced alternative.
Second: Projector. We have a great projector, ceiling mounted, that can be used with lights on.
Third: audio enhancement. The four speakers in the corners of the room allow all students to hear everything that happens.
Fourth: slate. I have a wireless Mobi slate that gives me the IWB features wherever I am in the room
Fifth: IWB
Sixth: student response system. Perhaps I haven't taken enough time to fully integrate this.
I also want to add that Web 2.0 is more valuable then most of the hardware in my classroom. I could survive with just a projector and a class set of laptops.
Great observations, which express my own feelings with variations.
I recently started referring to myself as a recovering early proponent of IWBs. 6 years ago, I tried hard to get more interest in them at our district & 2 years ago I tried to put the brakes on it.
However, I feel something similar about dedicated student response systems, especially where they are not already purchased and in use. I believe any worthwhile Internet device put into the hands of each student should also be able to perform the functions of a response device and maybe even that of a projector if I had to choose between them.
Rusty, I truly believe that getting so sort of technology hardware into each student's hand the entire school day is the key. Having that access has transformed my classroom, and not in just a little tiny way. TRANSFORMED.
I somewhat agree on the projector issue. The way I teacher, the projector is basically a way to give directions. I could easily accomplish the same thing with whiteboards.
Okay, now that I really think about it, teachers shouldn't spend much time with a projector either. If the students are doing the work, there really isn't a need for a piece of technology that puts something front and center. Hmmm..thanks for making me think.
Thanks for the comments: the Mobi is a pretty nice product but I like the Mimio Pad as well.
I should have expanded on my comments about the Internet-connected student device a bit more. If the classroom is set-up using constructivist-based, authentic learning methods then the projector only becomes a tool for students (and teacher) to share what they have learned with others. Not the only tool, but a tool nonetheless.
I also have some reservations about the response systems. That is why I wouldn't want a teacher using them for "graded" assignments. The potential is there for these devices, but I have yet to see one that worked as well as it should.
I have to agree, a classroom doesn't need an IWB for it to be 21st century. For me 21st century has more to do with collaborative, hands-on, inquisitive learning with the use of technology that supports those activities. IWBs often aren't used that way. Can they be? sure but they are not necessary!
I agree with Mrs. Tenkely. I think there is tremendous potential with IWBs. However, the cost of professional development and training is equal to the cost of the IWB to make it live up to it's potential.
For me, when I open my school, small groups of students will collaborate to make Wii Whiteboards (http://www.ted.com/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html).
It's about $200 with a small pico projector. That way, every collaborative group can have their own board and you can several of them going in the same classroom for less than one "regular" IWB.
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