Well, I'm in the middle of information gathering and writing for my final paper. My paper is about interactive whiteboards and student engagement. This evening, three different articles mentioned the same thing. The technology is a tool and is as good as the teacher using it.
How true. How many of us have had a teacher who had all the material and knowledge, but just couldn't teach? Technology is a tool and needs to be in the hands of someone who knows how to use it (or is willing to learn). Yesterday I taught a group of EAs how to use a computer program to support students. Most understoood how to use the program as we were going through it, but one EA just didn't, and was getting frustrated, and, despite my slowing down and helping her out, just could not grasp what to do. I cannot imagine being the student who must work with the EA on the computer program and the frustration that both would experience.
Technology needs to be used by those who understand how to use it so that students can experience the full benefits of the technology. Teachers who know how to use an interactive whiteboard will use it in interactive, innovative, and creative ways. Students will benefit from the visual, auditory, and tactile support provided by and interactive whiteboard, but only if the teacher is able to make best use of that technology.
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