The Use of a SMART Board in Teaching

The funding of this grant would pay for the purchase of a SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard on a mobile floor stand for the Pace University School of Education Department. The SMART Board allows professors to include and integrate multimedia elements into lessons, such as videos and interactive demonstrations, as a result making lessons and lectures more exciting. Students will be able to hear, see and participate with the information they are learning for that particular course.

The SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard system comes with Notebook software. This software provides a variety of tools to help differentiate instruction. By having a SMART Board, professors and students are able to write with a digital pen or with their finger, onto the SMART Board screen. Files from Notebook can be saved in different formats, printed, emailed or posted; therefore, giving students complete access to course materials. Essentially, anything that can be done on computers can be improved by having a SMART Board available.

In the elementary and secondary levels, teachers are constantly trying to create lessons and activities that meet the needs of all learners. I think that at the high education level, this mindset gets lost. The majority of courses are lecture based with essays and written examinations. Because of this set up, I feel that college students loose their love of learning and attendance and participation in courses begin to drop. If a student was a visual learner in high school, he will still be a visual learner during college. The interactive whiteboard caters to all different learners because it incorporates images, sounds and stimulations. Students are able to see, hear and interact with what they are learning.

Pace University needs more technology. Pace University has been looking for ways to increase their enrollment numbers, as well as retention rates. Installing and assimilating technology onto their campuses could be just one factor in accomplishing those tasks. As a former Pace University student ambassador and representative, I was constantly asked questions about the types of technology that are in the classrooms and what students are being exposed to. By having interactive SMART Boards on campus, I think these questions would be eliminated because you can physically see them. Pace University also has an entire school dedicated to Computer Science and Information Systems. I feel that by having technology seen in the classroom, will also nicely reflect the impact of that individual school on campus.

The students at Pace University would benefit from the purchase of an interactive whiteboard in a variety of ways. Students will look at attending class as something exciting. Students will also gain a better understanding of the curriculum and concepts being taught, due to the assortment of tools and resources that the SMART Board has that can be incorporated into lessons. Pace University, itself, would benefit from having SMART Boards in campus because students will be working on their communication and technology skills for the 21st century, therefore separating themselves from graduates from other colleges and universities.

Pace University’s motto is “Work toward Greatness”. I believe that by integrating the use of an interactive whiteboard into different courses that Pace has to offer its students, professors will inspire their students more. The Pace University School of Education’s motto is “Creating reflective practitioners who promote justice, create caring classrooms and school communities and enable all students to be successful learners.” I believe that the students within this school, specifically, will benefit tremendously from the interactive whiteboard. They will be exposed to a new technology that is widely being used in schools all throughout the United States. Students will be able to have an open mind when it comes to technology and integration in elementary and high schools. Not equipping these students with these skills would be harmful to their wellbeing. Today’s world is filled with different types of technology, from cell phones to IPads. Students are constantly surrounded with technology throughout their daily lives, which only makes sense to have that same technology become a part of their education.

2. OBJECTIVES

3. ACTIVITY

4. MEASUREMENT

To enrich and improve Pace University’s programs and set of courses through interactive technology and technology integration.

To encourage students to be independent critical thinkers and flourishing learners at the collegiate level.

To increase student motivation, participation, achievement and success.

To have students plan and conduct research, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

To have “future teachers” become educated on a company and technologies that is regularly being used in school districts presently.

To differentiate instruction for all students.

To utilize the assigned course time in the most effective way possible.

Assign web quests:

Students will be encouraged to use Pace University’s resources from the library, databases and reliable sources from the Internet.

Students will use the research and technology available to them to help them decipher problems and answer questions.

Interactive lessons:

Students will actively engage within the lessons.

Students will get out of their seats to participate and further their learning.

Videos/Lectures:

Teachers can embed videos clips that demonstrate the same concepts that are being taught in their course.

Teachers can record notes from the course, save them and post/email them to students.

Virtual Field Trips:

Teachers can take their students on a trip during their assigned course allotted time.

Presentations:

Students can present their projects using the SMART Board in several ways: creating a NoteBook file, digitally creating it, recording their voices, etc.

Exams/Reviews:

Teachers can create games/activities that can help the students review concepts for examinations.

Teachers can create examinations on the SMART Board.

Workshop Session:

Provide students with the opportunity to learn how to actually use the SMART Board.

Students will be able to use the knowledge gained in their field placements and future jobs.

Pre-course survey:

Conducted on the first day, asking students about their interest in the course, predictions of their participation throughout the course, grade and end of course experience.

Post-course survey:

Conducted on last day, asking students about their understanding of the course material, if they were successful in the course, if they enjoyed the course, would they recommend the course and impact of technology used in the course.

Informal assessments:

Teacher observation, student journal entries/blogs on the topic of use of the SMART Board.

Formal assessments:

Lessons/lectures/activities can be video taped.

Samples:

Student work samples will be saved to be included in a portfolio.

Attendance

Preparation

Participation

Behavior