Interesting article in the
Cincinnati Enquirer about how new schools aren't using chalkboards, opting instead for dry-erase boards and Smart Boards.
I like chalkboards, but I'm very particular and I haven't always had chalkboards that were to my liking. I mean, I grew up wanting to be a teacher; chalk and chalkboards are tangible reminders of my childhood ambitions. I love the way it feels to put a line on a chalkdboard, and to step back and admire my writing. *sigh*
Whiteboards have their place, and I'm finding myself leaning that way anyway, since my colleagues prefer them. Now that Expo2 has those bullet-tip markers (I
hate those chisel-tips!), I can write on whiteboards almost as confidently as I do on chalkboards. My students seem to like how I use the different colors, especially in math classes.
I'm moving into a new classroom this year, equipped with a Smart Board. Since I integrate so much technology in all my classes, this seems like a natural fit (and it's why I'm getting one -- my administrators know who's going to put it to best use!). I'm eager to give it a try and to test the limits of this new technology.
In the end, though, I definitely agree with this teacher, quoted in the article:
Quote:
Still, some educators contend there's more to teaching than technology.
It's all just chalk dust and mirrors, says Alan Frager, a Miami University education professor. If a teacher writes too much on a board - be it black, white, or "smart" - students won't learn how to properly take notes.
"You can look in any education methods textbook . . . and you wouldn't find anything on chalkboards or white boards because it's not an important factor in teaching," he said.
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Amen!
Blackboards: "Old School"
Linear Mode
