Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

The $200 student-centered Smartboard

2/7/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday I was given the opportunity to lead a section of the professional development at my school. Obviously, I was very excited as I enjoy working with teachers to help them understand the newest technologies and make it easier for them to do great work. 

One of the most important things I brought up was what I call the "$200 teacher-centered Smartboard." A picture of it is here (with a link to amazon.com where you can purchase one) but I will elaborate.

While I was student-teaching in 2009 my classroom mentor was lucky enough to be selected as a member of the Classrooms for the Future grant that was expanded around that time. Ostensibly, the grant was meant to innovate the classroom and provide new tools for educators to teach our students better. I was super excited to take advantage of this - it meant we would get a Smartboard; and when I began teaching in my own classroom the next year, I breathed a sigh of relief that I had one to my own in my first full year of teaching.

It took me two years of fulltime teaching to realize two of the major downfalls of this technology: 
1) they are incredibly expensive to purchase, install, and maintain - sometimes to the tune of $6,000 (even today). 
2) They do not help promote a student-centered classroom.

Instead of working around and near students, the Smartboard keeps every teacher close to the center of attention. Of course you can bring students up to the board to oogle and oggle, but how does this board add value to the classroom? It definitely makes it easier for teachers to prepare - but that can be accomplished with a projector anyway.

Enter: the wireless tablet. Two years ago I purchased one and am so thankful I did. This device (costing around $200 including wireless adapter) allows me to control my computer and draw on programs like ActivInspire and Smart Notebook from around my room. It allows me to work directly with students and even have them write as well. If a student does not feel comfortable walking up to a board to write, they can do it from their seat. That adds value.

If schools started investing and training teachers to use these devices, that $6000 price tag would be able to provide 30 tablets to staff - a great value if you ask me. 

In case anyone reading this would like to see one in action, just come to my classroom any day - I am happy to share.

2 Comments
Lisa
2/7/2013 10:45:32 pm

Thanks so much for writing this! I totally agree! As soon as I learned about wireless tablets, I bought an eInstruction Interwrite 400 Tablet on Ebay for only $110. Tablets are a hundred times better than smart boards and only cost a tiny fraction of the price.

Reply
Bill
2/8/2013 12:10:21 am

Just a small note: Smart Notebook is only licensed in the School District for use with Smart or older Promethean interactive whiteboards. Using an eInstruction tablet to drive Smart Notebook, for example, would violate the District's software license.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.