0120-250+Class_Team+4

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= Introduction = There was a time when having a white board in a classroom, rather than a chalkboard, was a big deal. There was no dust, no cleaning of erasers, and no cleaning the chalkboard after school every day. Only a short time later, those same whiteboards have become a thing of the past. There is a newer, and smarter, whiteboard in town - The SMART Board. SMART boards combine the convenience and cleanliness of a whiteboard with the technology and practicability of a computer in an interactive way that makes learning both engaging and enjoyable for students of all ages, regardless of the subject matter. The SMART Board phenomenon has expanded outside of the boundaries of classrooms throughout the country and into the buildings and conference rooms of many businesses in the United States and abroad.

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= Features of the SMART Board = SMART Boards have many features that not only make it easy to use, but also facilitate both teaching and learning. These include:
 * Welcome Center - Includes interactive websites, lessons plans, software access, etc.
 * Interactive Keyboard - At the touch a button, a keyboard appears on the screen.
 * Digital Ink - Used for drawing, writing, highlighting, etc. Comes in a variety of colors.
 * Digital Eraser- Erases only the digital ink and can be used many different ways.
 * Auto Shapes - This is particularly helpful when teaching lessons where shapes are an essential component.
 * Sensor Pen/Eraser Tray - Neatly holds all the pens and erasers. This is how the board recognizes which object (pen vs. eraser) and color is being used.
 * And many more . ..

= History of the SMART Board = The company, SMART, was founded by David Martin and Nancy Knowlton in 1987 in Canada. They began as being a distributor for a United Sates projector company. The revenue that was generated through projector sales was used towards the research and development of the SMART Board. In 1991 SMART introduced the first interactive whiteboard to the public. In the beginning sales were very slow because no one really knew anything about interactive whiteboards and what they might be able to do with them. Over time educators, business people and the government was able see how the SMART Board could be used. In 1992, SMART merged with Intel Corporation. Through this partnership with a known American corporation, SMART was able to develop and become part of history.

= Advantages of the SMART Board = SMART Boards can be used in many different ways which makes them an open- ended piece of technology. What this means is that they can be used in any grade level for virtually any subject. Through the use of SMART Boards, teachers are able to show visuals such as projections of current events, news, documentaries, maps and almost any other educational resources that can be found through the internet. Many teachers believe that there are endless advantages from using SMART Boards in the classroom. Another advantage being that it is an interactive tool that many students can be involved with on a daily bases. SMART Boards not only involve students, but they are a great tool in gaining students interest in topics that they otherwise may not willingly participate in. SMART Boards can help a teacher facilitate entire lessons including audio and visuals, this can help make it easier for the teacher when a student is absent and needing to catch up on previous lessons. Many students agree that SMART Boards are fun, and that they allow one to not only listen to the teacher, but become involved with the lesson. SMART Boards can be an ideal technology for students who learn best though visuals, or through the act of physically doing something rather than just listening. SMART Boards can be an asset to have in a classroom setting, however, SMART Boards are not limited to classroom usage; they can also be incorporated into faculty meetings or parent/ teacher conferences.

= Disadvantages of the SMART Board = One of the most widely agreed upon disadvantages of the SMART Board in classrooms is that it is a relatively new technology and some educators do not feel that they have the time to learn about the SMART Board and its many uses. Possible disadvantages concerning students and their future success as learners depends upon each individual student (like everything else). However, the truth is that SMART Boards are not a universal design for learning, one example being that for students who have un-diagnosed/ un-recognized vision impairments, it may be hard for them to see the board. Often times the font and image sizes projected onto the SMART Board are not large enough for all students to clearly see from their seat (depending upon the classroom). Clearly, if a student is unable to see activities on a daily basis, they will begin to fall behind. Another disadvantage of SMART Boards is that they are rather expensive, and can cost up to 5,000 dollars (depending on which version is purchased). That is not the only cost factor, the light bulbs themselves for the projector can cost up to 300 dollars apiece. Because SMART Boards use a projector in order to transfer the images from the computer onto the interactive board, when using SMART Boards, one needs to position themselves so that they do not cast a shadow onto the screen. This proves to be a difficult task for many teachers and students. This means that the person who is using the touch screen feature on the board, is most likely casting a shadow which prevents other class members from actually seeing the board.

= Future of the SMART Board = SMART Boards are the future! We are living in a world full of technology that continues to increase rapidly. SMART Boards will soon be dominating every classroom. They help students focus attention on the content of the class as it captures the students' interest. "Technology makes it possible to differentiate classroom instruction in a manner that engages visual, kinesthetic, and aural learners in a way that was not possible a few years ago." SMART Boards will improve learning outcomes. They "deliver dynamic lessons, write notes in digital ink and save all your work." SMART Boards offer teachers and students everything they need to achieve long-term success. SMART Boards are the new wave of the future.

= Personal Thoughts = Lilian - I am a big fan of the SMART Boards. It provides teachers with numerous more ways to teach and reach their students, while allowing the students to be enthusiastic and excited about what they are learning. They can become much more engaged and are almost entertained while learning. Technology is something that we can no longer keep out of the classrooms - so why not embrace it and use it to its absolute full advantage while giving our students an education that they want to participate in and are excited about. SMART Boards have opened a door of limitless opportunities and, like most other technological advances, will only continue to improve, thus improving education and all that stems from a well educated population.

Savannah - I have had the luxury of using a SMART Board in the school setting and it has some wonderful features. I have been able to use it on a unit teaching K-1 about health and nutrition. Students were able to use the SMART Board to move various foods into the correct food group. I have been able to use other online resources to allow students to watch videos and take interactive quizzes. By the use of a SMART Board teachers are open to a enormous world of online resources. I think every classroom should have a SMART Board integrated into their classroom. I think it is important for school districts to offer training on the SMART Board, so it is easy for traditional teachers to learn how to use them.

Stephanie - I have had the opportunity to use a SMART Board inside of a classroom, and I have found it to be a very rewarding experience for both the students as well as myself. It is exciting for the students to be able to do something new with the SMART Board every day. I have seen SMART Boards incorporated in Math, Reading, and Science lessons. I believe that many students enjoy learning through the assistance of SMART Boards because it is easier for them to become interested and involved in activities. Children in the United States now have much more experience with computers, and advanced technological equipment than in the past. America is changing and become more �high-tech�, so why not incorporate that into our daily lessons and activities at school. We, as teachers cannot expect students to be interested in school without incorporating some kind of technology. I think students can relate better through the use of SMART Boards because at this day and age technology defines a big part of their lives. I believe that SMART Boards are a step in the right direction, and is an essential key to get ones classroom more involved and excited about learning.

= References = Lawson, Pamela. (2007) Smart boards, smart kids, smart future. Retrieved from http://www.hightimbertimes.com/content/smart-boards-smart-kids-smart-future

(2008) SMART classrooms + advanced technology = enhanced learning. Retrieved from http://www.advanced-education.com/educators/products/smart-board/

(2010) United Visual. Retrieved from http://www.unitedvisual.com/partners/smartboard.aspx

(2011) Beginnings of an Industry. Retrieved from http://www.smarttech.com/us/About+SMART/About+SMART/Innovation/Beginnings+of+an+industry

(2011) SMART Board Disadvantages: Kids with Visual Needs. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/68395.aspxfrom

