 During every class there are the usual problems; there's always that kid who goofs off, the student that can't stay awake, and the social bug, and there is a simple explanation for this. The class doesn't hold their attention, and it isn't the teacher's fault that the students are not interested; it is the medium by which most classes are taught today.
The regular medium for a class is to sit at desks, read your text books, and write in note books, perhaps with some discussions and lectures here and there. At first the students do listen and pay attention, but soon after hearing the same voice everyday they begin to tune you out. So for the student's benefit and even the teacher's benefit, teachers should try to toss up, just a little, what they do in class.
What is meant by this is that instead of having students look up research in a book by themselves, teachers might rather have them utilize computers and explore the subject. Then they can consult with a group of kids and discuss what they studied or learned. If you were to do this, the kids would be moving around and socializing, while getting the information required. If you were to add technology to your lessons the students would be able to do so much more. By adding technology to the assignment you can expand the possibilities to research the subject at hand. Doing this allows you to look deeper into the topic without the limits of a book. If the teacher was to assign a project, but call it a book report, the average student would not be motivated to begin. Yet, if the teacher was to assign a project and call it a multiple resource report, the students wouldn't have such anxiety doing the project because the student doesn't feel restricted in the ways they are able to obtain information. The addition of technology to current assignments is a definite way to hook the students’ interest.
There are more uses for a Smartboard or similar technology than writing on it as if it were a dry erase or chalk board; they can be used just as any other projector for watching videos, and they can be used for anything that can be done on the computer, as they can function simply as an "extra computer monitor" with the built in touch-screen functionality.In our classrooms, rather than just reviewing on a dry erase board, a few of our teachers make a "Jeopardy" board, based on the game show of the same name, on the Smartboard, and we play "Jeopardy" with the categories substituted with vocabulary and other key terms and concepts, which helps us study in a more engrossing and engaging way.
It is not secret that doing work straight from a textbook is not the most entertaining of tasks that one could do in a classroom. It is boring to the point that many students will simply refuse the work and instead slack off or goof around. Incorporating computers and other technology or getting up to go to an interactive board, like a SmartBoard, is a much more hands on and enjoyable approach to learning. Now, if you put exciting and entertaining pieces of technology in the classroom, such as a Smart Board similar, students will find themselves attracted to its technological shine and interactivity, as will most adults.
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