"Turning Whiteboards into Smartboards"

Alan Pierce, a technology education consultant who writes in the journal TechnologyToday, is right when says that 'students will whisper under their breath, "Borrrrring"' if teachers continue to teach using old-fashioned chalkboards and whiteboards.  We ought to not only stay up to speed with our students, but get ahead of them when it comes to understanding and mastering technological gadgets!  I learned through this article though, that this previous statement is far easier to say than to do.  Smartboards are actually quite complex gadgets to comprehend.  Fortunately, they were designed and crafted very thoughtfully, so teachers need not fret or fear.  Pierce's article, "Turning Whiteboards into Smartboards and Standard Notebook Computers into Tablet PCs" describes several features of Smartboards that benefit teachers in their classrooms.

The Advantages of Smartboards:

1. A special projector which is mounted at the perfect angle allows students to see the screen without having to dim lights in the classroom.
2. Likewise, this careful mounting prevents a shadow from hiding what students need to see.  Thus, a teacher can stand beside the board without blocking the view. 
3. The new Tablo feature allows users to write on the board with "a special wireless pen."  This pen has the ability to translate handwritten notes into text when its magnetic tip is connected. The pen can also be applied directly to the computer screen so actions appear simultaneously on the Smartboard.  Students may also use pens to engage with information on the screen.

What are the practical impacts of Smartboards on learning?

1. Students become more motivated to engage in lessons because they involve gadgets that are fun to use.
2. Students with different learning styles will retain lessons better because they can grasp information visually and tangibly.
3. Smartboards provide the option of efficient testing: students can take a quiz all at once, receive their scores immediately, see how they fared compared to their peers, and still have the privacy of their grades.

What are the practical impacts of Smartboards on teaching?

1. Class management becomes easier when students are focused on a lesson that involves technological-interaction.
2. Time is conserved when notes can be written, attendance taken, and assessment recorded through the Smartboard equipment rather than manually on the board or in files.
3. Smartboards create a professional atmosphere in the class.  It can help keep the class organized.

The more a teacher grows in knowledge, imagination, and practice with the Smartboards, the greater the list of impacts on the classroom will grow!

"Turning on the Lights"

When we started Sunday school this year, I requested email addresses from each student so I could send them personalized birthday messages and keep them updated on homework and church activities. These kids are twelve years old. When I asked for emails however, I was both surprised and dismayed that only one out of a dozen students even had an email. Thus, Prensky is right-on when he says that we as teachers ought to prepare our students for the future by cultivating technology skills in the classroom. Simple email correspondence would be a great place to start. Although Prensky is right when he says that this generation of students is growing up in the light, it should be noted that many kids are also quite behind technologically. For instance, immigrant students who did not come from the “developed countries” that Prensky notes on, often have no exposure to technology or computers before they come to America. They are faced with culture shock; not just of American culture, but of an overwhelmingly complicated technological culture. The good news is that technology is engaging, and such kids can catch up quickly if they have the atmosphere to learn.



Prensky points out that it is important for old-fashioned curriculums to be re-oriented around what postmodern kids enjoy and find practical. This is true. I will never forget how thrilling, yet challenging it was to learn how to type in middle school key boarding class. His suggestion of allowing kids to come in to work on computers outside of class, is an excellent one; particularly for low SES communities. Yet on the other side of the coin, old-fashioned curriculums should not be thrown out altogether. YouTube videos and robots should not replace hand-made poster projects and essays, but should be added in addition to them. The key is getting kids to use their different learning/intelligence styles and passions towards academics.


A potential disadvantage that I can see critics point out from Prensky’s idea is the possibility that making school too fun might cause kids to take the subjects less seriously. What I have learned through his article though, is that it is absolutely possible to make my subject matter interesting and challenging as long as the curriculum is practical and employs tools that kids are equipped with and like to use.

Welcome to Inna Semenyuk's Blog!

Technology is changing at rapid speed, and so it is changing school classrooms with it. The role that technology plays in K-12 schools is incomprehensible! I can recall using old computers in 2nd grade to create our own ABC Books using clip art pictures, learning how to type in 6th grade Keyboarding class, and taking library trips in high school to work on extensive research projects. Computers are not only helpful resources, but absolutely essential resources in schools these days. But the basic computers that used to be all that technology revolved around (in addition to overhead projectors and calculators), have been supplemented now with things I probably haven't even heard of yet (and look forward to for this class)!


Technology should be used as a tool to enhance our class curriculum. Whether it be documentary videos to illustrate September 11th in History class or power point presentations that students must make to share a project they've studied with the class. Technology should also be taught to prepare students for using it practically in the future career world. Basic skills such as emailing, internet research, and typing would be a good start. Learning these skills in school would assure that they are praciticing them in a professional and appropriate environment, with the help of experienced adults. Integrating technology would also be a tremendous motivator to students to learn other subjects.


In my life as a teacher, technology would also be essential towards communication with staff, parents, administration, and students. Email alone provides opportunities to regularly keep people updated with newsletters and how students are doing in class. Likewise, a website could be used to provide all necessary information about class (personal introduction, syllabus, calendar, homework, resources, letters, permission slips, grade, etc.) Technology could make my life significantly easier if I use it to the maximum and with efficiency. Tasks such as grading, lesson plan and presentation, and parent meetings could be made simpler if technologies are utilized wisely. This would also save me time that could be put towards other work to be the best teacher possible!

Why Middle School??

This site was created in preparation for being a future middle school teacher. The desire to be a teacher was sparked when I began teaching twelve year-old Sunday Schoolers about five years ago. Until that point, I was praying and fasting that God would reveal my niche and His purpose for my life.  My mother was a Sunday school teacher and needed assistance in her classroom.  She was worn out and discouraged because though these were 60 church kids, they were by no means easy to teach.  I asked her if I could teach a lesson and she provided me with the bible story that was to be taught next.  As I prepared and carried out that first lesson, I realized a new and profound passion: teaching pre-teens and young teens about life and God!


Thus, it was through Sunday school that I discovered the ability to teach.  I quickly decided that this was what I wanted to do not only as a side ministry, but as a profession.  I chose 11-14 year old students (6th - 9th grade) because those were the most awkward, instable, frustrating, and teachable times of my life.  I looked up to my middle school teachers more than any other category.  My body and character changed the most during that period and I realize how essential it is for kids at that age to have godly teachers to guide them through such a uniqe process.



I look forward to this "Technology in Education" class because of the skills and practical tools that it will equip me with to be an effective and engaging teacher!