Chapter 15 - Illuminate the Internet

This chapter in Technology-Supported Mathematics Learning Environments gives an overview of the "Illuminations" program within a classroom. Its mission pursues interactive multimedia resources that can be found online, internet-based lesson plans, external web resources, and easily accessible organized content.

I like that it is stated on page 223 that Illuminations has been designed with the idea in mind that student motivation is a main factor towards successful teaching. It actively engages students into the content by integrating all of it with modern technology. After all, with all of the vast knowledge available on the internet, a program like this can help to gather valuable online information easily.

A feature of Illuminations that I found interesting to read about was the Guiding Questions, which helped teachers "consider types of questions that would help focus students' attention on making sense of the mathematical concepts and the skills and applications associated with those concepts" (p.239). The choice of questions, or even how one phrases it, can make the difference for a student's understanding. Furthermore, I thought that the reflection activities were very applicable to Wesleyan student teachers especially, as reflection is an integral part of our framework.

Interactive Whiteboards

I think that interactive whiteboards can be extremely beneficial to the classroom environment. As this article stated, teachers can include media and technology resources within their lessons which can broaden students' knowledge of the world outside of the classroom. Having an interactive whiteboard helps to engage students in the learning because they not only see, but can actively participate in the lesson. I've found that when younger students can physically do things, they often better retain the presented information. I therefore agree that the interactive whiteboards can "bridge personal and public learning spaces." This board can provide classrooms with a cental point for evaluating, sharing, and discussing different ideas and information.

From my observation experiences over the past 3 years, I've found that interactive whiteboards are frequently used by both students and teachers. I've had the opportunity to teach a couple of lessons using a smart board and I've seen that students positively respond and maintain focus throughout the entire class time. Often students fear going to the board in the front of the class, but with smart boards students can't wait to show their answer to the class. I don't think that this should be the only method of teaching in the classroom, but overall I think that interactive whiteboards positively influence interactive learning when used properly.

Interactive Whiteboards

My first experience with the interactive whiteboard was last Thursday in class. I will admit that I had a lot of fun playing around with all the different features. After reading the article, I realized that not only is this fun, but this is the sort of technology that enhances teaching, not hinders it.

Children are able to express their creativity and imaginations through interactive whiteboards. It is easy to learn when learning is fun, and the interactive whiteboard provides a fun way to learn. Technology is always improving, is always changing, but I think the interactive whiteboard is a technology that teachers find easy to use as well as it being very helpful in the classroom.

When I go in to shadow the students that I tutor through the Promise and Potential Program, I have seen first hand the interactive whiteboard be a very useful tool for the teaching process. The teachers enjoy using it and the students enjoy playing with it and all the while, the students are learning. I think it is a great balance between technology and teaching.

One to One Learning

Interactive whiteboards and other similar forms of classroom technology pave the way towards an innovative way of teaching and allow for "numerous benefits that continue beyond the walls of the classroom for students and teachers" (p. 3). They engage students' interests in lessons that could normally make them feel imprisoned in the classroom, as well as allow for different ways of teaching - such as to the class as a whole or in groups or even one-to-one attention. They also open the path for multiple media forms of education by integrating video, music, animation, and the like into lessons.

During my time as a coach in the Promise and Potential program, I saw these benefits first-hand as students suddenly went from falling asleep to jumping out of their chairs the minute the SmartBoard was turned on in their classroom. It caught students' attention like nothing I have ever seen before, and I hope that I am fortunate enough one day to have a classroom that can afford the use of a SmartBoard.

Interactive Whiteboards

When I first started thinking about interactive whiteboards, I did not support it very much. I thought that interactive whiteboards took away from students' learning experiences. I thought the technology got in the way of the learning. After reading this article and playing around with the SMART board, I realize my opinion was wrong. Interactive whiteboards, such as the SMART board, actually increase participation and help keep the students' interests present. Students are also able to learn more with this technology. Using a normal chalkboard or whiteboard can be very monotonous to students. I did not have much technology present in school and can remember being very bored just staring at a chalkboard for hours at a time. I would daydream and did not pay attention. Using an interactive whiteboard will keep students' attention and increase learning. Students can actually touch the board and manipulate it to answer questions.

The only aspect that bothers me is that not all schools can afford for every classroom to have such technology. We can only be so lucky to teach in a school that has a SMART board present in most classrooms.

Interactive Whiteboards

I was very excited when I learned that this article was about Interactive Whiteboards. Last week I shadowed in a sixth grade classroom at BJHS. The teacher was using the board as a tool in class, and the functions were simply amazing. I have never seen one used the way she used it. I've seen people write directly on it, but I've never seen them use it as a touch screen. She scrolled through instructions for what to do in class, and even drew diagrams with it. This technology is something I'm really looking forward to learning about so I can use it in my classroom.

Another technological advancement that is awesome is the use of handheld technology. It is amazing that everyone has such easy access to it now. The fact that everyone can access information so quickly and easily, means that we can spread new information faster and wider than ever before. A student could be home sick, but still getting the lesson delivered to them on the couch. The spread of ideas can take hold even quicker, and new ideas can move from hand to hand in a matter of seconds.

One of the greatest aspects in the use of the Interactive Whiteboard is the fact that you can incorporate so many different types of technology. One lesson can reach every student and his/her personal style of learning because it can incorporate technology from many different sources. How could students not pay attention when there are so many different interactive things going on in the front of the classroom?

I understand that many people are worried about students becoming too involved in their own work and not interacting, but handheld tools can be very helpful. While in the classroom, the teacher can put any student's work up on display. This action forces students to work hard because if their work is posted, the student wants to make sure it is correct. This could also cause problems in the fact that it could lower a student's confidence in his/her own work. As long as we learn to use the technology in a positive manner, it will be very helpful in teaching students of all different learning types. The teacher needs to be in control at all times, and the use of personal, handheld devices needs to be monitored, but with all this technology the classroom will evolve into a great new atmosphere.

One to One Learning

I love that personal computing devices offer students a way to express their opinions without being called upon in front of the class. Incorporating a private learning space for students to get their thoughts down allows those who are uncomfortable with verbal participation to still interact with the class. I wish that I had a personal computing device throughout high school. As a student, I always take notes and think to myself, but when it comes to verbalizing my thoughts, I struggle. However, I have found that once sharing my thoughts with a small group, I am reassured that my ideas are valid, and have no problem sharing with the class. With a personal computing device, I would be able to organize my thoughts, validate them in my head, and then share with others. Using the "private space" would allow me to fit into the "public space" of the classroom much easier. My experience as a student is supported by Liu and Kao's study in the reading-- use the personal computer to do individual work, then share that work with a group and discuss your findings through large shared displays. I think that this way of learning and teaching promotes a socially supported learning environment (something I hope to have in my classroom).
Here's a parting quote from the reading to sum up my point: "Where individual computing devices succeed as private learning spaces, interactive whiteboards excel as public learning spaces. When paired with the necessary software and wireless connections, they can make transitions between individual or small-group learning and whole-class learning smooth" (6).