Comments on: More than just Dazzle http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/more-than-just-dazzle/ We've moved on... Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:30:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/more-than-just-dazzle/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 Chris Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:35:20 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/more-than-just-dazzle/#comment-1782 Just out of curiosity, in, say, a Year 1, 2 or 3 classroom where it's unlikely that every child is going to have fulltime access to their own laptop computer (and nor would you probably want them to at that age), what technology WOULD you suggest as the "right solution" for bringing digital media, the web, and some sort of shared focal point for teaching and learning into the classroom. If not an IWB, then what? We can make a different case for the older students, where I think the nature of IWBs and the way they get used needs to be approached very differently, but in these junior years, where there is a need for a social, shared, group-based, teaching and learning space, I'm trying to think what might be a better option than a live, net-connected, tactile surface that every student can see and share? Your thoughts? Just out of curiosity, in, say, a Year 1, 2 or 3 classroom where it’s unlikely that every child is going to have fulltime access to their own laptop computer (and nor would you probably want them to at that age), what technology WOULD you suggest as the “right solution” for bringing digital media, the web, and some sort of shared focal point for teaching and learning into the classroom.

If not an IWB, then what?

We can make a different case for the older students, where I think the nature of IWBs and the way they get used needs to be approached very differently, but in these junior years, where there is a need for a social, shared, group-based, teaching and learning space, I’m trying to think what might be a better option than a live, net-connected, tactile surface that every student can see and share?

Your thoughts?

]]> By: That "Some People" http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/more-than-just-dazzle/comment-page-1/#comment-1763 That "Some People" Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:38:52 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/more-than-just-dazzle/#comment-1763 Hey good post... I understand what you are getting at here and it is refreshing to hear others declare that the corporate IWB spin is nothing more than marketing aimed at a rather docile level of teacher. You point out that it is important to focus on pedagogy and quality teaching practice - no one is going to argue with you there. However, the reality is that many technologies (especially IWB's) are being used as tools to somehow disguise continued poor teaching. Teachers who think they are changing but not really making any drastic pedagogical shift!! Sure there are some awesome educators out there using IWB's but they are few and far between!! There seems to be more teachers out there using theses devices in ways that are just demonstrating poor teaching practice - this time with an expensive piece of equipment. The questions I still have involves the value of IWB's in classrooms across the school. Can the same brilliant practice be achieved with the same level of engagement and student learning outcomes with less expensive solutions? While my posts on IWB's seem quite cynical and more of a "bash" session - I am keen to continue questioning these technologies. Hey good post… I understand what you are getting at here and it is refreshing to hear others declare that the corporate IWB spin is nothing more than marketing aimed at a rather docile level of teacher. You point out that it is important to focus on pedagogy and quality teaching practice – no one is going to argue with you there. However, the reality is that many technologies (especially IWB’s) are being used as tools to somehow disguise continued poor teaching. Teachers who think they are changing but not really making any drastic pedagogical shift!! Sure there are some awesome educators out there using IWB’s but they are few and far between!! There seems to be more teachers out there using theses devices in ways that are just demonstrating poor teaching practice – this time with an expensive piece of equipment.

The questions I still have involves the value of IWB’s in classrooms across the school. Can the same brilliant practice be achieved with the same level of engagement and student learning outcomes with less expensive solutions? While my posts on IWB’s seem quite cynical and more of a “bash” session – I am keen to continue questioning these technologies.

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