tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post8473075118031838194..comments2024-02-02T02:23:58.285-06:00Comments on Interactive Whiteboard Insights: Interactive Whiteboards Alone Are Not InteractiveEmily Starr, CEO StarrMatica.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07737402980846358373noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-8878315358892337872010-08-15T09:41:34.572-05:002010-08-15T09:41:34.572-05:00Hi Emily, thanks for your quick reply.
I agree wit...Hi Emily, thanks for your quick reply.<br />I agree with the points you state, of course. When I read your sentence ("After all, teaching with IWBs isn't appropriate for every classroom.") what I understood was that you were referring to the setting, i.e. in some teaching settings the IWB would not be an appropriate technology to use. Well, every technology (not only IWBs) is only appropriate in the classroom as long as the teacher is willing to use it and can use it effectively.Joao Alveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11843865769282975578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-1964272682364660702010-08-15T08:38:53.505-05:002010-08-15T08:38:53.505-05:00João,
Thanks for your comment! There are several...João,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment! There are several throughs behind that sentence:<br /><br />1. It is difficult to "force" teachers not interested in teaching with IWBs to accept the technology let alone use it effectively. Even with targeted and long term professional development, it has to be the teacher's decision to learn.<br />2. Some teachers may already be using alternative technologies such as mobile pads and be reluctant to add another piece of technology, or they may not believe that the two can paired. They may feel their solution is already "better" than an IWB.<br />3. Teachers who already use effective teaching techniques in hands-on learning classrooms shouldn't be forced to integrate a piece of technology if they don't believe it will add additional benefit to their already successful teaching model.<br />4. It makes me uncomfortable when a "one size fits all" approach is taken to anything in education. Every classroom is different and we should be leery of saying one piece of technology is appropriate for every classroom.Emily Starr, CEO StarrMatica.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07737402980846358373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-61119785242135022132010-08-15T04:40:25.585-05:002010-08-15T04:40:25.585-05:00You wrote "After all, teaching with IWBs isn&...You wrote "After all, teaching with IWBs isn't appropriate for every classroom." Can you explain what you mean?<br />Thanks.Joao Alveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11843865769282975578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-55973699255828062332010-01-11T21:17:45.830-06:002010-01-11T21:17:45.830-06:00Bill,
I appreciate your comments and the conversa...Bill,<br /><br />I appreciate your comments and the conversation you have initiated and facilitated over at The Tempered Radical.<br /><br />As I stated in my blog, I'm an advocate for interactive content, not interactive whiteboards. I'm on the same page with you that school administrators should be educated consumers before purchasing hardware, and it is important to debate what technologies schools should be investing in. There are an increasing number of hardware options available to schools with varying prices, most of which accomplish the same goals.<br /><br />However, with the prevalence of interactive whiteboards already in schools, isn't it equally important to help those districts who have invested thousands in IWBs to realize that if their IWBs are not being utilized effectively it is not the hardware choice but the implementation that is most at fault? <br /><br />This allows for schools to be empowered to change their situations with well thought out and consistently applied implementation plans rather than lamenting their purchases and accepting their failures.<br /><br />Even then, I am agreed that it is unrealistic to expect that every factor in my list will be successfully implemented in every classroom in a district. After all, teaching with IWBs isn't appropriate for every classroom.<br /><br />But, does that mean that teachers who can benefit from quality targeted professional development shouldn't be given the opportunity?<br /><br />I appreciate your questions about the benefits of teaching with interactive technologies and plan to address them in depth in subsequent posts. <br /><br />I'm curious, which technology integration efforts do you consider to be less complex?Emily Starr, CEO StarrMatica.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07737402980846358373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-17496982159080458602010-01-11T07:02:15.390-06:002010-01-11T07:02:15.390-06:00Emily,
Look at your list of factors that effecti...Emily, <br /><br />Look at your list of factors that effective integration of whiteboards relies on. It's certainly accurate--which is what makes it so frightening. <br /><br />If ANY of the factors that you list are overlooked, whiteboard efforts fail. What are the chances that every factor is implemented successfully in every classroom and every school dumping thousands into whiteboard programs? <br /><br />And more importantly, what are the tangible benefits for districts who somehow fight through your entire list of factors successfully? How does instruction change? What makes whiteboards a better investment than netbooks? <br /><br />Shouldn't we focus our efforts on technology integration efforts that are less complex? <br /><br />BillBill Ferriterhttp://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radicalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-32335395554538397372010-01-10T20:26:57.327-06:002010-01-10T20:26:57.327-06:00Absolutely, Alex. Thank you for taking the time to...Absolutely, Alex. Thank you for taking the time to comment!Emily Starr, CEO StarrMatica.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07737402980846358373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-46603785697545200342010-01-10T18:33:00.832-06:002010-01-10T18:33:00.832-06:00Thank you for the enlightning post Emily. It just ...Thank you for the enlightning post Emily. It just goes to show that, again, it's not about the technology. It's about "good teaching, reflecting and focusing on (relevant?) student learning." Regardless of the tool you might use.Alex Franciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14085432505243484135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-15708782901987493762010-01-08T13:43:07.037-06:002010-01-08T13:43:07.037-06:00Well said, Vanessa! I whole-heartedly agree that ...Well said, Vanessa! I whole-heartedly agree that effective implementation of technology should be our focus. Thank you for taking the time to comment.Emily Starr, CEO StarrMatica.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07737402980846358373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742361519893731161.post-4015717053427160192010-01-08T12:03:48.321-06:002010-01-08T12:03:48.321-06:00Thank you for echoing my thoughts exactly! I share...Thank you for echoing my thoughts exactly! I share your frustration with feeling like we spend too much time debating technology items and not enough time on solutions for making their implementation more effective! I am a firm believer that "good" teachers could teach students with a ball of yarn, some post-it notes and a piece of chalk, but these will also be the ones who find relevant ways to use whatever items come their way, IWBs included.Vanessa Cassiehttp://blog.sharpsav.comnoreply@blogger.com