The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
A few weeks ago, the Beach School Board rejected $450 bonuses for all employees to put interactive whiteboards in elementary classrooms.
Board members said it was a way to ensure students are ready for the challenges of the future.
"With technological advancements, we have another option to present the material in a more engaging way," board member Ashley McLeod, a former teacher, said.
The short-term benefits of the technology are less clear.
The interactive boards replace traditional chalkboards with a smooth surface that features touch-screen technology and an Internet connection. Beach educators cite positive effects from both types of interactive boards they're using, Promethean and SMART Boards. The Promethean boards use special pens, while the SMART Boards respond to touch.
So far, researchers have found minute improvements in classroom engagement and test scores because of such boards.
Beach schools have spent $7.7 million on the technology, which also has been adopted by hundreds of school systems in the United States and abroad.
"There's been a tendency for the last 30 years to put the latest hardware into schools. But without the appropriate technological and pedagogical support, it's just a blackboard," said Lynne Schrum, editor of the Journal of Research on Technology and Education, and a professor at George Mason University. Anecdotal reports of successful use of the boards are plentiful, she said.
By October, the division plans to have SMART or Promethean boards installed in every elementary school, part of a push to get the technology into every classroom.
Most schools already had at least a few of the boards.
Several experts said the boards should be introduced where they're most needed.
But Ramesh Kapoor, chief information officer for Beach schools, said a blanket approach is necessary to make them part of the school culture and ensure teachers have access to the same tools.
Bill Johnsen, director of instructional technology, said teachers will get initial and ongoing training on the whiteboards.
Their measurable impact is so small in part because the boards aren't used well in every classroom, said Bruce Torff, a Hofstra professor who studied how the technology affected student motivation in elementary math.
"So far it hasn't taken root as much as it could have," he said. "Most teachers are using it as a high-falutin' projection screen."
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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Pffft...
"Just look around you, and you see computers everywhere"
You're right, but you failed to mention that as a society we are dumber and far less effective than previous generations. If you admit we need tools such as these to teach our youth, then you are admitting they cannot learn otherwise.
This is unneeded. Our brightest will not evolve from such uses. They will learn as they should to deal with what they have, to persevere through adversity.
sounds like the school board acted wisely
I think the board did the right thing by bringing up the technology of the classroom. Most offices have these boards so it will teach a skill needed in the workplace. I think this one-time expenditure is smarter than the gimmick proposed by the Noforlk school teacher on the board to give a $450 bonus to teachers.
Yeah. God Forbid a school district give $450 to a teacher.
Yeah. God forbid a school district give $450 to a teacher when we know teachers are the reason for all the ills of society. These white boards will save the human race and NOW, finally we'll see increased performance, studying and parental participation in education.
"one time" is it? Get real.
"one time" is it? Get real. Nothing electronic is a one time expenditure.
Aside from obvious repairs and the inevitable obsolete status; exactly how much electricity does a chalkboard use?
Old School vs New School
Within reason, technology and the views upon it will change no matter what we do. It's only a matter of time. I'm open to these boards though my first two reactions were: how soon does a board break after a child throws something or pounds on the board and someone accesses and exposes inappropriate information like porn and personal communications.
What is nostalgic for me though not entirely missed are the old school projectors, the ones usually on carts with the loud little motor. Especially for math class with the markers. We would fill the clear plastic 'roll' that would allow continuous work across the square, lit screen. That took awhile to clean and focus past the hum of its motor. And the focus on the projector wasn't always so great, straining the eyes. With that in mind, I say bring 'em on!
Nothing Wrong With Tech----But, Glad You Brought It Up....
VBCPS has had this obsessive fascination in technology for at least a decade. The questions that need to be asked: Is there a direct correlation between the % of increase in tech spending and student achievement and retention? Are there other, proven strategies, that are being shortchanged because of this increased tech spending?
It is not just the initial cost...it is the additional costs to maintain. $400.00 to replace bulbs for overhead projectors? That's almost as much as the rejected bonus.
But, VBCPS has no problems with the number of portables sitting behind schools? Or the tight teacher allocations per school? Or having teachers spend from their own pockets for supplies? Or identifying students who need special services the last week of school?
Rather than giving its 12,000 employees a little extra pocket change to spend locally, it decided to give some high-tech company outside of VB the $7M. Perhaps the school division needs to justify all those trips the tech dept takes? Just like CC, VBCPS needs to reset its priorities.
Proper Planning Is Always Needed
I fully agree that the schools need to be kept up to date with all the technology trends, as this is the year 2010. Just look around you, and you see computers everywhere, i.e. smartphones, and i pads. That said, the days of only using pencils and paper are over. At the same time, I do believe that it's absolutely necessary, that the proper planning and implementation be placed before hand. I do not think it's in the schools district's or anyone else's best interest to spend millions of dollars on the latest gadgets, just to have them or because another school district purchased them. If there are true needs that can be met, then I'm all for it. Otherwise, it's just another case of people's tax money being wasted.
Technology is important but...
Technology is important but it is impossible for schools to keep up with (much less stay ahead of the curve of) new technologies when the minute an expensive new technology is acquired, it's already outdated. The students are already generations ahead of the "new" technologies that school districts are currently struggling to fund and place in classrooms. As long as teachers are giving students the necessary skills to be independent thinkers, problem-solvers and innovators, students will find ways to incorporate new technologies in the process with or without schools. Face it. The use of technology will always be student-generated no matter how hard schools and teachers try to make it look like it's school-generated. I think it's about schools trying to keep up with students' technological skills (if that's possible).
Boards
This is why I'll shed no tears over the city councilredistributing the money from the schools. This is ridiculous to say this enhances learning. The guy who sold them the boards said that.....
Too Much Technology
There's a lot of smart people out there that learned with paper and pencil and didn't have much problem learning the technology items later on in life...i.e. paper and pencils and standard black boards or dry erase boards are a lot cheaper last time I looked. $7 million dollars?? Have you people lost your minds!!! If I was one of the folks that's losing out on a pay raise or a bonus or even a job because of this I would be pissed!!!!