The Wonders of Interactive Whiteboards

I read an article by Neal Starkman called "The Wonders of Interactive Whiteboards." Starkman described how SMART boards have positively impacted classrooms and the way that students learn. Using interactive whiteboards causes students to want to engage in school. It is more interesting for students when a SMART board is being used. Starkman wrote about a school in Ontario that used to have more suspensions every year than actual students. Once the SMART boards were brought to that school, the number of suspensions dwindled to 20. Also, the grades of students in that school went up. This was because students were able to engage in what the teachers were saying. SMART boards are also useful for teachers. They can save information and they are easy to use. Overall, SMART boards are a great addition to classrooms.

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Turning on the Lights

It is interesting to think about how much education has changed. It is becoming more and more important to incorporate technology into education. It makes sense that students would be bored in a classroom that does not incorporate technology when they are so accustomed to using technology outside of school. In today's society, kids seem to know more about technology than adults do. Therefore, it is important for teachers to learn about technology in order to teach students more effectively.

Although I think that technology should be used in the classroom, students do need to "power down" certain forms of technology. For example, I do not think that cell phones should be used in the classroom. Cell phones are only a distraction for students and can't be used for educational purposes. However, some personal electronic devices can be useful in the classroom. In high school, I had a teacher who allowed students to listen to music on their ipods during work time. This is because many students are able to learn better if there is music playing in the background.

Overall, I think that teachers' attitudes toward technology in the classroom is what needs to change, not the students' attitudes. The importance of technology in today's society and in the future is the reason why students should learn more about technology and how to use it. Not only will it make learning more interesting and applicable, it will also help prepare students for the future.

My Decision to Become a Teacher

I didn't know that I wanted to be a teacher until I was a senior in high school. I began working with kids at my church in the Junior Bible Quiz program. I really loved interacting with the kids and teaching them different study strategies. The kids that I work with are usually in 5th or 6th grade. I really like working with older kids because they are more fun to interact with and talk to than younger children. My experiences in JBQ have made me want to teach for my career.

In this class, I hope to learn how to learn about different types of technology that I can use in my classroom. I want to be able to be confident in my abilities to use technology in teaching.