Saturday, March 29, 2008

Pro IWB and Benefits in the Classroom

I have come across a site via the "Virtual Learning" website http://www.virtuallearning.org.uk/iwb/index.html retrieved 3-30-08
that talks about he benefits of IWBs in the classroom. First of all, the Virtual Learning site is full of resources involving e-learning. I encourage anyone interested to check out the home sight.
The article I read is provided by Chris Warren of Actis Ltd. and is easy to read. I retrieved the site 3-30-08.
http://www.virtuallearning.org.uk/whiteboards/An_approach_to_an_effective_methodology.pdf
First off there is a comparison of a single computer to the use of an IWB. Of course the result is that more students are being reached in the same amount of time. I particularly like the diagrams, which help to clarify the information. I am a visual learner. The article talks much on the value of the teacher in the use of IWBs. The teacher is the mediator between the content on the whiteboard and the students. Without the teacher, the interaction would be more like a computer game. The teacher helps to fill in the gaps.
The article suggests that you do not design the lessons with all the information. Therefore, the students have to provide the answers or information. A way to show comprehension. The emphasis is on the "whole" class versus a single student in front of a single computer screen.
I like the way the information is presented in an outline format. It is clear and concise. A good resource.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Virginia ED Tech forum

This is a forum sight from the Virginia Society for Technology in Education group.
http://forums.vste.org/showthread.php?t=7&highlight=Interactive+whiteboards
You need to register to this sight, it is free, to post. The sight itself is full of all kinds of educational technology articles and information. I read an article from the "Free Lance Star" a newspaper in Fredericksburg Virginia. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/112005/11012005/141841/index_html?page=1
The article is from 2005 and is a general article about an elementary school and its using of an IWB that they received from a grant. The area that interested me was the use of ACTIVotes, hand held devices that allow the students to interact with the IWB. The teacher can ask questions and the students can respond. I remember seeing something like this at the recent FETC (Florida Educational Technology Conference) in January. I think I would like to write a grant to obtain a set of these interactive devices to use with my SMARTboard. I will look for more information and maybe some research about the hand-helds and IWBs. With assessment driving so many aspects of education presently, I am always interested in different ways to assess.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Solvie Research Paper and more

I found the complete paper that Solvie had written that I talked about in an earlier post on March 14. The statistical data is interesting to see and helps with understanding her earlier post. I know some of you wanted to see more of the research. The first post was from an article in Reading Teacher magazine. The new link is: http://smarterkids.org/research/paper13.asp
Retrieved 3-27-08
The research concentrated on the student attention during literacy lessons. The same amount of lessons were used with and without the SMART board. The sample was small, 16 first grade students. I would like to see a study with more students and different assessment.
Also, for this posting I found a blogging sight called "Teachers Love Smart Boards" by James Hollis, retrieved 3-27-08. http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/teachers-love-smart-boards/posts/tag/smart%20boa
This blogging sight has a lot of SMART board information plus what seems like advertisement. Looking through some of the posts there is one on Sept. 11, 2007 that lists positives and negatives of the SMART Board in the classroom. A major negative deals with the proper training and follow-up for the teachers in the classroom. I am currently experiencing this at my school. I take some time once a week after school for an hour or so to help a teacher learn about the SMART Board but she is still very hesitant to use it without support in the room. We have had several in-services at school but not much follow up. It seems that when some teachers get the SMART board in their room, they become possessive and do not want to share. I'm not sure what the answer is.
Another post I found interesting is the September 9, 2007 titled Smart Boards - How to Integrate into Classroom. In this post you are taken to an article by Allisyn Levy titled How to Integrate a SmartBoard into Your Teaching.
The article is very short and basic but the additional resources at the end are useful.
I'm still struggling to get research to help with determining the effectiveness of Interactive White Boards and early reading so I would like to know if there are any search tips some one can give me. I only know the basics.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Research

Retrieved 3-23-08

http://smarterkids.org/research/library_subject.asp

I have found a web sight that has many research links concerning Interactive Whiteboards. Jessica, feel free to use this sight to help with your quest. There are plenty of links. The specific link I used tonight was : http://smarterkids.org/research/paper6.asp#intro
This link is a Research paper conducted by Mary Ann Bell of Baylor University in the
Winter 1998. The paper was constructed in typical research style so I have summarized some of the key points and where to locate them in the paper.
the purpose of the study was " investigate the use of the interactive electronic whiteboard in instruction." (Bell, 1998) Bell had a limited number of participants in the survey due to the nature of the need for participants to have experience with IWBs and the ability tp reach a variety of education users. In Chapter 2 of the survey, there is a review of the literature and a history of the use of IWBs in education. Chapter 3 provides the research design.
Chapter 4 is what I call the nitty-gritty, the demographic information. Bell used Likert Scale questions:
1. Ease of use. One of the answers described the ability to use the board to show groups how to use computer applications and software.
2. Effectiveness as a teaching tool. Answers included the document camera and use in writer's workshop for revision and ideas.
There was a section for student responses. They were generally positive and fun.
3. What they liked best. The interactivity was implied and student motivation.
4. Unintended use. One was happy to find the option of videoconferencing.
5.What they liked least. the complexity of the cords and the logistics of situating the board. Cost was another key factor.
I am happy to have found a typical research paper although it doesn't have information concerning the effectiveness of student learning. I plan to look at some more of the information on the main site that provides the links where this paper was located.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Teachers Talk About Their Uses of Interactive Whiteboards

Retrieved March 22, 2008
From the School Planning & Management magazine, January 2008
http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1705

Several teachers comment on their uses of an IWB. I am glad that this article is from the US to compare to what has been published in the UK. I also hope that my group gets to look at this since the teachers come from a variety of backgrounds, including special ed and middle school.
The author, Ellen Kollie, reports on the use of IWBs by teachers. First, a teacher from a high school in Richmond, Va teaching students with learning disabilities. He talks about using a document camera to introduce activities. I like the practical use to help students with job applications, a real world need. He also likes that the IWB allows him to access a variety of applications to use with what he needs to teach. I imagine this could also help his student learn to use basic computer programs that are now so important to job success. I would think if it was possible to put a cash register or other electronic device that is commonly used in the workplace would be helpful. Not to lower expectations but to provide needed skills.
Next, middle school teachers ,one in speech and language and the other an intervention specialist discuss their use of the IWB. A way that I think is very valuable is the use of posting the students' "daily planner". They can manipulate the information to put it in a more understandable order. They also talk about reading the newspaper online.
The last section discusses professional development with a program called eMint (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies.) This training has a goal to instruct teachers how to use the technology to improve test scores. The article talks about the benefit of improvement of student behavior. Several articles discuss the behavior improvement aspect due to more student attention and motivation when using IWBs. The eMInt program is very extensive and when completed the teachers receive the tools necessary to implement what they have learned.
There is so much to learn about this subject. The IWB provides so many avenues to impart instruction and have students work using several modalities.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Some Research, from SMART Technologies

New Smart Technologies, retrieved 3-17-08
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/About+Us/News+Room/Media+Releases/2007+Media+Releases.htm?guid=%7B1532C3A3-2A10-4B71-88CD-2F2DA64D8F76%7D

Here is some recent research on the use of interactive white boards and student achievement. The research is from schools in the UK and is quite positive. I am interested that it discusses the gains in math over a two year period of 2.5-5 months. That is considerable.
Another part of the research was to evaluate the length of exposure to IWBs and the impact on student learning. The subjects most noted with improvement were math, science and English.
The summary report is at: http://partners.becta.org.uk/upload-dir/downloads/page_documents/research/whiteboards_expansion_summary.pdf.

One of the key components was that results were better when the IWB use was consistent and long term. Although the research is published by SMART Technologies, the maker of SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards, the report says that only 63% of the boards were their brand. Which , to me, gives the report more reliablity. I am anxious to read more about research in this area to compare results. I am looking for results in the US.
At the end of the report there is a list of advantages to the extended use of IWBs including addressing the multiple learning styles and better student motivation. Hmmm.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Great Site for Interactive Whiteboard Ideas

Retrieved 3-16-08
From the FDLRS, Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom
www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/whiteboards.html, last updated 2-27-08

First, I want to let you know that I will be using IWB to mean interactive white board in my blog posts from now on. Hopefully save some time.
I think I've found a site I will be using in my classroom this week. while it doesn't contain much research, there is a lot of information that anyone using an IWB could use. The site is sponsored by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) and is updated regularly. Some of the features of on this site include:
A list of ways to use IWBs in the classroom from the Instructional Technology Department of the Wichita Public Schools. A new one for me is to end each day by having students write down one thing they have learned. I also like writing a class book and narrating it with the audio feature.
Next there are pictures of the various types of IWBs and links to their company sites. this is helpful if you are looking for features and what companies have to offer.
Another linked section has a list of IWB tutorials and templates. I liked the link Engaging Learners the SMARTboard Way, under the heading Elementary, Simple Machines. I could of used this a couple weeks ago with our science unit. Might still use it as a review.
Interactive Websites is the next heading. This is headed as Resource Materials and Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Some of these sites have free activities and games and some have subscriptions. There are many!!
Lastly, there is a section of Software to Download. There are several Jeopardy type games in this section.
I hope that some of you enjoy this site and I will hopefully be able to use some of this information as I search for ways to make my SMARTboard more interactive and useful in my classroom.



Friday, March 14, 2008

A primary teacher's experience with an interactive whiteboard and reading instruction

Solvie, P.A. (2004, February). The digital whiteboard: A tool in early literacy instruction [Teaching Tips department]. The Reading Teacher, 57(5), 484-487. Available: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=/electronic/RT/2-04_column/index.html
Retrieved March 14, 2008

This article written for the "Teaching Tips" section of The Reading Teacher (see citation above) deals exactly with what I am interested in concerning using an interactive whiteboard to improve reading instruction in the primary grades. Pamela Solvie writes about what she discovered when using an interactive whiteboard with her first grade readers. Solvie did find that her students were very motivated when they were using the interactive whiteboard by manipulating work or creating activities. Solvie also mentions the students are more attentive when the lesson includes the interactivity such as writing on the board and illustrating on the board.
Another area that Solvie speaks of is how the use of the interactive whiteboard and computer allows her to prepare lessons in advance, work with them in the classroom, save the work students have done and revisit the work for additional instruction and reinforcing skills. An area that interested me was the ability to take text apart even to the phonemes. This is a way for young students to recognize the connections of complete text made up of smaller parts. The students can manipulate the words and word parts using the interactive pens and highlighters. Solvie does remind us that interactive whiteboards are not to replace books and reading, but to better engage students with the lessons. I can only wonder, with the future holding more and more information on the web, does working with reading on an interactive whiteboard better prepare students to the future of books online? Even with the tech online classes I am taking, I find myself printing articles to read and highlight, but I know more computer savvy students are used to working exclusively on the computer. This may have nothing to do with my inquiry, but I know my young students are not at all intimated with technology.
The article also mentions the use of the internet with the interactive whiteboard. Solvie liked the way her students can use the tools to highlight, overwrite and illustrate on the board with the internet page. She also liked using the video and audio Solvie's research found that the interactive whiteboard "did not result in a significant improvement over traditional skill instruction" but she "found it (the interactive whtieboard) to be effective in other ways" (Polzie, 2004).


Thursday, March 13, 2008

Smart board testimony

Well, here I go, another try to post another blog. I've been back and forth with how to do this. Putting in a title, had to check others, finally just bookmarked my groups' sights because I couldn't get the feed to work yet (I'll keep trying) and lastly, when I was finally ready to post I got a message that Blogger wasn't available temporarily. OK enough diary stuff.
Thanks to my group member Anna I have my first web blog reference: retrieved March 12, 2008
http://misterteacher.blogspot.com/search/label/Smartboard
This blog is a testimony by James Tubb a 5th grade teacher at Wyoming Middle School in Wyoming, Ohio. James talks about how the Smart Board has changed his teaching. He makes three key points that he believes makes a difference with his students and his teaching.
One is about visualization, which he uses on virtually every lesson. Another key point is concerning how the use of the Smart board provides student interactivity. This is the area that I am most interested in. I do not want a glorified overhead but an integrative teaching tool. Tubb lastly points to the manipulation of activities on the Smart board encourages his students to think more creatively. A testimony like this is encouraging to me as I work to better use my Smart board.
I did want to bring attention to the Wikipedia website that gives some background information concerning interactive white boards and education. Retrieved March 13, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_whiteboard#Classroom_uses
Section #5 provides Classroom uses and I will be checking out the recommended Academic literature reviews in section 5.1
This article discusses uses in the classroom and mentions that most teachers consider an interactive white board as time saving. The Tubb's blog above mentions the extreme amount of time it has taken him to create the lessons. Once you get the lessons as you like, then future uses will be more timely. A feature mentioned in this article is the ability of the teacher to be able to keep notes as an electronic file for future references. It is the preparation time that keeps me from using the Smart board more often and letting the students get the full benefit.
Just a note about my postings, I use the term Smart board because that is what I use in my classroom, I will be interchanging with the term interactive white board.
I welcome any advice on blogging as well as interactive white boards.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Using Interactive White Boards for Early Reading

Hi,
I am a student at the University of Florida working on my Masters Degree in Educational Technology. I am also a teacher in a multi-age K,1,2 classroom
I have an interest as to the best way to use interactive white boards in the classroom to help beginning readers. I am interested in using the board in an interactive way. Not only do I want to use the board with the students, I want the students to be able to use the board independently at center time. I'm not looking for just game activities but as to whether the use of the board can make a difference in reading skills, fluency, and comprehension. I also know that my students enjoy using the board and need little motivation but I do not have any data as to whether the board has had any effect. I look forward to hearing from anyone who can give me some research as well as experiences they have had. I'm also looking for white board activities that would help with this issue.
Sue