SMART Board 600 series
Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board (which is basically an interactive whiteboard) connects to a projector to display teachers’ desktops on the interactive whiteboard. Any notes written with the digital ink are able to be saved to a file and accessed later. The SMART Boards come with SMART Notebook collaborative learning software, which really aides teachers in creating, delivering and managing high-impact interactive lessons. A software review of this product will be posted at a later date. Having a SMART Board in the class really engages the students and allows them to become active in the lessons by watching, listening, and doing all at the board.Nova5000
The Nova5000 is a data logging device with many probes where its technology makes the classroom a mobile, dynamic and collaborative learning environment for all sorts of lessons. It can be transformed into a portable science station used for field projects or at home. Or it can be used in the classroom to enhance experiments, drawings, annotations, and note taking. The many uses of this piece of equipment include using MultiLab’s video playback capability to replay previously recorded experiments; students and teachers accessing an extensive online library of science worksheets, curriculum books for all sciences plus an interactive periodic table; allowing students to create sophisticated Lab reports in Microsoft Office compatible Word and Excel documents, as well as direct printing; and watching video of experiments being performed while simultaneously viewing the analysis of data collected. This product is made by Fourier Systems Inc out of Israel.M3600DGL Series
This energy-efficient, variable, cordless microscope, with an LED that provides a white light with virtually no heat ideal for capturing images and protecting live specimens should be in every classroom. This new generation educational microscope made by SWIFT optical out of Texas has a modern look and built in 1.3 megapixel digital camera. With this microscope you are able to capture single and time-lapse images or video clips, as well as edit, measure, annotate, draw and magnify captured still images. The manufactures tout a “student proof” design in that it has a tamper-proof one-piece eyetube, the eyepiece and one-touch spring-loaded stage clip are locked-on, it has a plastic iris diaphragm shield which protects the iris and a unique slip-clutch system that protects against over-focusing.
Some things to consider about using these technologies:
ReplyDelete1) To what extent will students know what the technology does FOR them? That is, a pH probe can produce a very accurate titration curve, but what skills or understanding might the students miss by using a pH probe?
2) While technology is engaging, we must ask, "What are the students engaged in? Science content or a computer screen?
Consider the Smart Board. How often would a classroom with a smart board look exactly like a traditional classroom just with a "fancier" blackboard. Yes, students can interact with the smart board, but most of the students in a class of 30 would be watching and listening: two processes that do not explicitly encourage ACTIVE thinking.
Just some things to consider.
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteMy 30 hours of clinical were in a classroom with a Smart Board. The instructor used the board to do short summaries or presentations about the topics they would be covering. Also, he did test reviews on the board.
One of his requirements was that each student had to do a short presentation on a topic. One of their options was to use the Smart Board for the presentation. Several students did their Power Point this way. I can think of several advantages for Smart Boards:
1) It connects technology with learning.
2) Kids are natural learners when it comes to technology. They can do projects outside of class and present them at a later time in front of everyone.
3) This is a great tool for "on-the-fly" learning. That is, if the discussion veers off topic, it's easy to pull up information on the Smart Board for everyone to see.
4) It allows the instructor to touch on a lot of information without getting bogged down in handouts and writing on the board.
I'm all in favor of Smart Boards as long as the instructor uses the technology to engage the students, and the Smart Board doesn't become the teacher.
I think these are all great technologies to include in a classroom yet it may take some time out of your teaching time to help students understand how to properly use each piece of equipment. I really have seen the smart board to be very beneficial within the classroom. Students seem to easily adapt to the way it works and enjoy using it! Along with this, I like how anything done on the smart board can be saved and viewed later unlike a regular whiteboard or chalkboard.
ReplyDelete