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Smart Board gets, keeps students' attention
"I can draw on it, type on it, change the type like a computer," says Josh Sullivan. "It's more fun than a chalkboard, it's like a
computer and I can't highlight on a chalkboard," adds Melissa Mendoza. "A chalkboard can't make sounds," says Morgan Root.
All three are second graders in Mrs. Shanna Dickey's class who learn daily using a new innovative teaching tool called a Smart
Board.
"I love my Smart Board because I can easily incorporate technology into my classroom and students LOVE technology," says
Mrs. Dickey.
"They are amazing," adds Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett. "They really have the attention of the kids."
"There are so many ways that I use my Smart Board in my classroom," says Mrs. Dickey. "My students are so much more
engaged when I use it as a teaching tool compared to when I use the chalkboard. When we are learning vocabulary words, I am
able to get pictures from the internet to help better portray the words. If a question comes up during the day, such as where does
the vice president live? I am able to search the internet for a picture then display it for everyone to see."
Dickey also points out the Smart Board's interactive quality that allows anything that can be done with a mouse on a computer,
students can do with their finger. "They can sort words by dragging them into categories and they can use their fingers to
highlight rhyming words in a poem. Plus, they can write their spelling words on the board and then sort the words based on their
vowel sound."
Auburn Elementary School principal Amy Donaldson notes that the new technology has both teachers and students excited.
"This equipment allows teachers to use the large screen like an interactive computer The Smart Board opens the door to a new
style of learning. Students are drawn to its surface, where work and play come together through hands-on, collaborative activities.
Our teachers are doing amazing things with these Smart Boards."
Continuing, Donaldson adds, "in the beginning, we were worried about how we would use them. Now, we use them every day
for all sorts of lessons. The teachers have found them easy to use and the students of course, figured out this new technology
amazingly quickly.
Mrs. Newhouse and Mrs. Dickey did a demonstration for all the elementary teachers at our February in-service day. All the
teachers were impressed and are eagerly waiting for us to purchase more for all classrooms.
"Students today are not the same students we taught many years ago and with new computer games, video games, and TV
that students are accustomed to. Smart Boards give us the opportunity to utilize the same engaging technology in an educational
way."
Garrett says that her plans are to continue as funds become available to buy more of them which cost an estimated $4000
each.
"The Divernon Elementary and middle school are up next," she says. "I will look at the budget each year and work in as many as
possible. In addition, we will continue to seek grants for this purpose."
Most classrooms at the high school are equipped with them, and there are some at the middle school and junior high. At
present, there are two in the Kindergarten, first, second and third grades at Auburn Elementary plus one in the computer lab and
the pre-K room.
"I can draw on it, type on it, change the type like a computer," says Josh Sullivan. "It's more fun than a chalkboard, it's like a
computer and I can't highlight on a chalkboard," adds Melissa Mendoza. "A chalkboard can't make sounds," says Morgan Root.
All three are second graders in Mrs. Shanna Dickey's class who learn daily using a new innovative teaching tool called a Smart
Board.
"I love my Smart Board because I can easily incorporate technology into my classroom and students LOVE technology," says
Mrs. Dickey.
"They are amazing," adds Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett. "They really have the attention of the kids."
"There are so many ways that I use my Smart Board in my classroom," says Mrs. Dickey. "My students are so much more
engaged when I use it as a teaching tool compared to when I use the chalkboard. When we are learning vocabulary words, I am
able to get pictures from the internet to help better portray the words. If a question comes up during the day, such as where does
the vice president live? I am able to search the internet for a picture then display it for everyone to see."
Dickey also points out the Smart Board's interactive quality that allows anything that can be done with a mouse on a computer,
students can do with their finger. "They can sort words by dragging them into categories and they can use their fingers to
highlight rhyming words in a poem. Plus, they can write their spelling words on the board and then sort the words based on their
vowel sound."
Auburn Elementary School principal Amy Donaldson notes that the new technology has both teachers and students excited.
"This equipment allows teachers to use the large screen like an interactive computer The Smart Board opens the door to a new
style of learning. Students are drawn to its surface, where work and play come together through hands-on, collaborative activities.
Our teachers are doing amazing things with these Smart Boards."
Continuing, Donaldson adds, "in the beginning, we were worried about how we would use them. Now, we use them every day
for all sorts of lessons. The teachers have found them easy to use and the students of course, figured out this new technology
amazingly quickly.
Mrs. Newhouse and Mrs. Dickey did a demonstration for all the elementary teachers at our February in-service day. All the
teachers were impressed and are eagerly waiting for us to purchase more for all classrooms.
"Students today are not the same students we taught many years ago and with new computer games, video games, and TV
that students are accustomed to. Smart Boards give us the opportunity to utilize the same engaging technology in an educational
way."
Garrett says that her plans are to continue as funds become available to buy more of them which cost an estimated $4000
each.
"The Divernon Elementary and middle school are up next," she says. "I will look at the budget each year and work in as many as
possible. In addition, we will continue to seek grants for this purpose."
Most classrooms at the high school are equipped with them, and there are some at the middle school and junior high. At
present, there are two in the Kindergarten, first, second and third grades at Auburn Elementary plus one in the computer lab and
the pre-K room.
Issue Date: Feb. 26, 2009
