Blog Entry 7--Smart Boards

This year I am very lucky to be in a brand new school building with all new "stuff." Everyone finally has a Smart Board, and there is more than one computer lab (a huge upgrade from our old school). I was so excited to learn that I would be going to a Smart Board training during preplanning, but when I got there, I learned that it would only be a little over an hour long. I had used a Smart Board years ago, but I had never used one in a classroom setting; I certainly didn't know how to best utilize it and benefit my students. I went to the meeting, and as I suspected, I left feeling overwhelmed and a little lost. Since I am the English department head and I'm working on an instructional technology degree, my colleagues always come to me for technology help. Unfortunately, this time I was not able to be very helpful. I was able to muddle through what I understood from the meeting, but basically, we all had to take time to play with the Smart Board. That is time we really didn't have during preplanning. Fortunately, I found out that our RESA is having a Smart Board training at the end of October, so I guess it's better late than never. I have already been told that when I get back I will rely what I learned to the rest of the faculty which is fine with me, but I probably won't do as good a job as the person who teaches me. This situation stems from the fact none of our technology staff was hired to be an instructional technology specialist. They all perform installation and maintenance duties. In the past, I might could have persuaded our administration that we needed an instructional technology specialist, but now with budget cuts, I don't think that will happen. In the current economy, we all need to be prepared to teach others what we know about utilizing technology in the classroom whether we are technically getting paid for it or not.