Emerging Technologies in Education

Education 3801 Assignment # 2

October 11, 2011

Submitted by: Kim Ryder Higdon

Introduction

This Blog will highlight three emerging technologies in the field of Education that can be used to enhance teaching and learning.  Interactive whiteboards, the SMARTPen, and digital textbooks are technologies that can provide the learner with more constructivist learning opportunities and the instructor with teaching advantages in instruction over more traditional educational technologies.

Interactive Whiteboards

A Bridge Design on an Interactive White Boar

An interactive whiteboard is a large, touch sensitive board which is connected to a digital projector and a computer. The projector displays the image from the computer screen onto the board. The computer can then be controlled by touching the board, either directly or with a special pen.  Proprietary software purchased with the interactive white board such as SMARTboard's Notebook Software greatly enhances the board's capabilities and use as a learning and teaching tool. "Creating Classrooms for Everyone: How Interactive Whiteboards Support Universal Design for Learning" is a comprehensive white paper on how interactive whiteboards can support inclusive learning.

                                            SMARTboard Demonstration

Interactive Whiteboards in my Instruction

I would use interactive whiteboards to simplify and speed the process of sharing information using a variety of media formats incorporating such things as webpages, streaming video, blogs, and tutorials to make my teaching accessible to all by providing opportunities for all learning styles.  I would also provide opportunities on the interactive whiteboard for students to manipulate objects thus creating tactile and interactive experiences allowing for differentiation of instruction.

 Advantages and Limitations of Interactive White Boards

Advantages:

• raising the level of student engagement in the classroom
• motivating students and promoting enthusiasm for learning
• supporting many different learning styles
• can help educators streamline their preparation

Limitations:

• some educators use interactive whiteboards as 'technological chalkboards' with none of the teaching learning advantages expressed above
• amount of professional development and time needed to learn technology to make proper instructional use of it
• the physical separation of the computer from the whiteboard itself sometimes causing instructors to shuffle back and forth, as well as the tendency for instructors using a board to have their back to the class