Technology Reflection: The Instructional use of Smartboards

11/18/11

Technology Reflection: Instructional use of Smartboards

In the previous seminar, the speaker discussed Smartboards and how they can be used. Smartboards can do many things, including interaction with the classroom, and innovative ways to teach lessons. Smartboards can be operated by touching the board, or can be operated from a smaller mobile pad. Smartboards can be effective in teaching all different grade levels.

Application:

I could use a Smartboard in a classroom to do a presentation on the Vietnam war. I would create a PowerPoint lecture on the War and American protests, including YouTube links to show videos and documentaries, and also songs that were written and influential during that time. This would take about 20 minutes of class time, and then the Smart board could be used to give a quiz on the PowerPoint, where grades would be displayed on the Smartboard instantly.

Learners and Learning Outcome:

The learners in this assignment would be freshman or sophomores in High school, and the learning outcome would be to gain a greater understanding of the Vietnam War, using primary resources such as famous songs and people during that time period. Photos, audio of music, and documentary clips would advance the students learning.

Assessment:

The assessment would be included in the quiz at the end of the presentation, and the benefit is that the quiz can be conducted by giving each student a remote connected to the smartboard and grades can be posted instantly.

Timeline of planned lecture:

·         First, the students would be introduced to the time period that the Vietnam War took place in, as well as a Smartboard review, so they are comfortable with the process of this lecture

·         Then, slides would be posted going over the main points of the War and the American reaction to this

·         These slides would include links to videos on YouTube (another technology easily accessed through smartboards) where videos would be posted, such as controversial music from that time, and pictures of influential people such as Richard Nixon would be viewed

·         After the lecture is complete, a quiz would appear on the smartboard, one question at a time, and the students would be able to submit answers and get grades instantly

Reflection

            Pedagogical-Content:

The strategy for teaching in a lecture style format for this specific assignment is beneficial because it is the introduction to a new topic. When introducing a new topic, it is important to open all the information up to every student equally by lecturing the student all at once. Also, the Smartboard eliminates the stereotype that lecture is boring, because Smartboards can make lectures very entertaining for students.

            This lecture will incorporate illustrations, videos, documentaries, and can even involve group or cooperative learning at the end if I decide to allow the students to work in groups to answer the questions to the quiz at the end of the lecture. Classroom management may be an issue during this activity by students possibly becoming distracted and conversing with other students. I would avoid this by always moving around, in between the students desks while giving the lecture, making sure no students are becoming distracted or dosing off.

            Technological- Pedagogical:

Selecting the Smartboard for use of a lecture keeps students interested and intrigued. Having a quiz at the end of the lecture gives students the extra motivation to keep focused during the lecture. Once again, I would use the strategy of walking around the classroom close to the students who have the highest possibility of becoming distracted, and also continually asking the students questions during the lecture to keep them on task and prepared for the upcoming quiz. This assignment would support the teaching strategy of lecture and student-motivation.

For introduction to a new topic, lecture is benefical because it keeps all the students on an even playing field, giving them all equal opportunity to gain as much new knowledge as possible. The Smartboard is the absolute best way for lectures of any sort.

            Technological Pedagogical Content:

Using YouTube links to Vietnam War music, documentaries on the Keene State protest, or footage of Vietnam from the Smartboard lecture encourages student discussion and interest in the lecture. A Smartboard would undoubtedly enhance the way the illustrations, videos, and documentaries are shown. Withouth the smartboard, there would be no way to incorporate all the different various types of example into one lecture. Smartboard gives you the ability to have a lecture transform into a student discussion, or a visual lecture by playing videos in between the PowerPoint slides. Smarboards are a beneficial learning tool and will only enhance the overall learning of all students who allow it to.