Interactive Whiteboards

I feel as though interactive whiteboards can add so much more to a lesson and a classroom curriculum. Interactive whiteboards are easy to learn as well. I knew very minimal on the smart board before our class where Mrs.Mislevy taught us all about its features. When I was working on my smartboard project, I remembered the features and I was able to navigate pretty easy around if I did forget something. With only one 3 hour class on learning about the smartboard, I was able to create my own lesson on it. I can only imagine what I will be able to do with lessons after I learn more and more about the smartboard technology. Interactive whiteboards can spice up a lesson. It can get teachers away from the typical ways of teaching and steer them away from lecturing at the students. Interactive whiteboards get the students up and out of their sits and participating in the lesson. It has been stated by many different researchers, many different times that students who are actively participating in their own learning process, learn and obtain the information more than if it was simply taught directly to them. Students have technology at their fingertips constantly and they are good with technology. They grew up with it so they get it. When technology and interactive whiteboards are added to the curriculum, they allow students to learn in ways that are familiar to them. They are feel more confident with the content material because they are confident with technology. I feel as though students would be much more engaged if interactive whiteboards were used in classrooms more often. It takes me by surprise to learn that some school districts received grant money for interactive whiteboards and they are sitting in the closet. I understand that some teachers are reluctant to learn technology but the software for interactive whiteboards is not difficult to understand and I feel as though if they gave them a try, every teacher would be fighting for one in their classroom. When I have my own classroom, I would love an interactive whiteboard. I would use it for teaching all the time. Interactive whiteboards can be used with any content area to make it more interesting and it allows the children to participate and stay engaged.