SMARTBoard being used in the Mendon Upton School District – contributed photo
SMARTBoards are interactive whiteboards, designed for engaging students and delivering unique presentations. A SMARTBoard allows the teacher and students to interact with the screen. Teachers no longer need to stand behind a projector and swap out slides. Think of an interactive screen the size of a blackboard which teachers can use as a touch screen computer or a blackboard which captures every stroke made.
The SMARTBoard has done to the the blackboard in a classroom what the word processor did to the typewriter in the office. Most area schools have installed them, they are considered industry standard.
All classrooms and computer labs at BVT have interactive SMARTBoard, sound system, projector VHS/DVD player with a TV tuner and a teacher’s computer connected to the projector and interactive whiteboard. SMARTBoards are used in both academic and vocational settings.
According to BVT Superintendent Dr. Fitzpatrick, “Blackstone Valley Tech takes a multifaceted instructional approach utilizing a variety of technological modules and platforms to advance learning. For at least 15 years, the district’s teaching methodology has included SMART boards, simulation exercises, role playing, and case studies. Further complementing the integration of academics and vocational technical education via technological support has included the use of telecommunications programs such as Skype, collaborative programs such as Google Docs, prevalent system-wide internet access, and more traditional video media. Teachers function in interdisciplinary teams to share motivational lessons enhanced via the methods and tools referenced above.”
Mendon Upton Superintendent Maruszczak said, “Technology is not an end; rather it is a means to improve teaching and learning. We don’t invest in technology in the Mendon Upton Regional School District just to have technology. We do it in a thoughtful and deliberate way to improve teaching practices and the way that students consume and process new content.”
With regard to Mendon Upton’s use of SMARTBoards, the drive to obtain them really has come from the elementary teachers and principals said Maruszczak
“The thing that I find the most remarkable is that they really help kids understand and reinforce concepts,” he said. “Think of math lessons or the elementary “Everyday Counts” curriculum, where kids are learning things like how to tell time, count and make change, how the calendar works, etc. The SMARTBoard allows the use of digital manipulatives, so kids and teachers can actually drag and drop things such as virtual coins. It really helps to make abstract concepts more concrete in their minds,” he said.
According to Maruszczak technology is a theme that runs throughout the district’s strategic plan and its many goals/initiatives. “I am very comfortable in stating that these goals don’t come from me- they really are the collective wisdom of many teachers, parents, and even students who came together to give feedback on what the district should do to improve over the next five years,” said Maruszczak.
“The simple fact is that we live in 2015, where technology is ubiquitous. It is a way of life in how we do business, how we organize our lives, and even how we entertain ourselves. Technological proficiency is considered to be an essential 21st century skill. Hence, we should be using it and teaching its effective and responsible use with our kids,” he said.
UPTON DAILY 