tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post3408407836598151284..comments2023-03-28T06:15:50.703-04:00Comments on Counter Rhythms: Smart Boards and Smart Students by David GilfixDavid Gilfixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275956364860425006noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-1166843111352447122010-12-19T18:08:08.079-05:002010-12-19T18:08:08.079-05:00I'd prefer stupid boards and smart students. ...I'd prefer stupid boards and smart students. Not entertained students and smart boards. There are no shortcuts to learning difficult subjects. <br /><br /><br />Beyond the first cost there is the cost of tech support, teacher training, lock in to proprietary software and as you mentioned, upgrades. <br /><br />I think costs are closer to $5000 ea. For a school with 100 classrooms that is .5 million! <br /><br />I'd like to see some well done, independent studies showing that these things contribute anything to learning in proportion to their costs.displayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07632222596912543022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-54408965677870266092009-10-12T13:46:31.026-04:002009-10-12T13:46:31.026-04:00Good article David. The key is to use to this tec...Good article David. The key is to use to this technology to help students - and people in general - to become more mentally active and less passive. There should be an emphasis on utilizing such tools to facilitate active participation and expression of one's thoughts and creativity. Most technologies have their potential downside. Let's try to be aware of these pitfalls and avoid them.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09909223631910697701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-69109589152403518082009-10-04T19:14:43.492-04:002009-10-04T19:14:43.492-04:00I am trying to keep my response connected to aspec...I am trying to keep my response connected to aspects of Jewish education. Modern Orthodoxy attempts to live halachic life and to integrate into modern (technological) life. It is a difficult and challenging task. Spinning it to your question; keeping good teaching practices of (old) while using the new technology is difficult and challenging. However it can be done.Erannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-24870823281739916852009-10-02T16:56:57.344-04:002009-10-02T16:56:57.344-04:00Dear David,
I enjoyed your essay about the S...Dear David, <br /> I enjoyed your essay about the Smart Boards. Roughly 40 years ago I taught Ancient History and American History at the Fieldston School. At the time they did not have much in the way of the latest technology. When later I taught American History at Scarsdale High I had many machines at my disposal eg. overhead projectors etc. I could show movies including anything that had appeared on TV . If I gave a photos or pictures of any kind to the proper person I could have slides available for my class the next day. At first I thought it was wonderful, but soon learned that discussions generated by the teacher involved the students more effectively than even a good movie about American History. There is something about watching a screen that is passive and is less engaging than responding to a live person, the teacher, or fellow students. And then there are all those power point presentations.<br /> Fond greetings <br /> RebEEmilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-37530258594477792762009-10-01T23:23:56.307-04:002009-10-01T23:23:56.307-04:00Excellent article. You imply what I have been sa...Excellent article. You imply what I have been saying directly for years, if you want Americans to be better educated, focus on what children do outside of school. Parents should not be surprised if their children show little curiosity or poor behavior in school, when they spend most of their time at home staring at a television and computer.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-80768183070909282352009-10-01T14:11:43.593-04:002009-10-01T14:11:43.593-04:00Interesting and well written article.
I believe th...Interesting and well written article.<br />I believe the problem with education is that there is no longer an emphasis on teaching or allowing students to think for themselves. They may know how to use a computer but not how it works. And they are destroying language with the cutesy abbreviations and symbols.Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-67235155324244974812009-10-01T11:10:06.515-04:002009-10-01T11:10:06.515-04:00I'll get back to you with some thoughts on thi...I'll get back to you with some thoughts on this on. But just some nitty-gritty: given that I wear a lot of black and dark colors and the traditional boards where I teach are difficult to see if there is glare unless you use soft chalk, I get covered from head to toe in it, and the white boards never seem to erase properly. I am curious about using the new smart boards the university where I teach has just installed. Also, subjects and ages. My students spend so much time reading hard copy, orally presenting and drafting projects a screen is actually a welcome break in the classroom. IN THE CLASSROOM - I don't know how many hours they spend in front of a screen at home, my guess is a substantial amount.J. Farringtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-77614461835638814662009-10-01T09:12:21.606-04:002009-10-01T09:12:21.606-04:00Hey, thanks for the insightful article. Glad I re...Hey, thanks for the insightful article. Glad I read it.solovayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05635594025123797764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143560514333540409.post-77210366947418567512009-09-30T23:23:41.496-04:002009-09-30T23:23:41.496-04:00A tool is only as good as the person wielding it. ...A tool is only as good as the person wielding it. <br /><br />That said, a really good teacher ought to get improved results when given a better tool. Or something.The Black Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10111248301694023571noreply@blogger.com