Marzano Research on Promethean ActivBoards

http://www.prometheanworld.com/upload/pdf/Preliminary_Report_on_ActivClassroom_20090417112310.pdf

I recently discovered from Professor Daley in Classroom Management that Dr. Robert Marzano's Research is one of the most thorough and credible studies done in the field of Education.  Many districts require teachers to implement what this research says into their classrooms.  When I found the Marzano Preliminary Report that was done on the Promethean ActivBoards, I signed up to recieve it and skimmed through this 54 page document.  The following points provide a very brief summary of what I learned through this research on how ActivBoards impact classroom learning.  Much of the assertions I have made are based on charts, which have been referenced for ease of access.  Some of the statements seem like common sense, but the important point here is that they are grounded on tested evidence.

What I learned:

• The longer experience a teacher has had with Promethean technology, the greater its impact will be in the classroom (pg. 33).
• The more confidence a teacher has in their use of technology (which was rated on a Likert scale), the more students gain from the technology (pg. 34).
• Surprisingly, Elementary and High Schools had a significantly larger gain in the ActivBoard use compared to Middle Schools (23% and 21% versus 6%).  First grade classes experienced the highest benefit in using ActivBoards (pg. 31).
• Science classes appeared to benefit the most from ActivBoard use (pg. 32).
• Teachers with 26-32 years experience in Education had the best results (20% gain) in using ActivBoards (pg. 40).
• In general, the more Promethean technology is used in the classroom, the greater the benefit.  However, when it is used far too frequently, the gain suddenly decreases (pg. 41).

Marvelous questions were asked in this report and the studies are most definitely practical for teachers who want to make the most out of their ActivBoards.  To maximize student achievement through using Promethean ActivBoards, teachers should have at least 10 years experience in teaching, 2 years in using the technology, use it 75-80% of class time, and be confident (pg. 35-36).   These observations should be noted by teachers, but also by administrators who determine which classes would benefit the most from technology and thus will have it for instructional use.

Questions I Have for a Teacher who Uses ActivBoards in Class:

• About what percent of your instruction time integrates the ActivBoard?
• How long have you been using it?
• How long did it take you to truly get a hang of it?
• On a Likert Scale of 1-5, how would you rate your confidence level?
• Do students respect the technology?
• Which features are your favorite?
• Which features are the most practical for you as a teacher?
• What advice would you give to a new teacher who will be using Promethean ActivBoards?