The Smartboard - Maybe a little too smart...

Teachers can now bring dinosaurs back to life. We're living the dream. We can show the seed and growth of a tree in a matter of seconds, we can draw graffiti on the Mona Lisa, and all in front of our classroom. This is all thanks to the Smartboard, software every teacher has access to with a wealth of resources to help the teaching process. Smartboard takes away the need for the 'Big Books,' for planning advanced practical examples with all those niggling variables, and consolidates all your resource needs into one, easy-to-manage package.


Before this technological colossus plants his plug-like feet in our classroom, there are a few issues we have to prepare for. Accessibility is a big issue - just like your TV on a Saturday morning, it can be struck by the evils of glare, so make sure your feng shui is up to scratch. Have it somewhere the whole class can see it, touch it, and read the text. Another good idea - have a backup plan, in case the board outsmarts you. Little joke there. Don't rely solely on the Smartboard, there are many other resources you have to hand that can keep the little nippers occupied should things go awry.

Coming from a chap with self esteem issues, the obvious question arises - "What's he got that I haven't?" Well, he can help develop discussion points easily, thanks to his application to the whole class, he touches on all areas of VAK (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic) learning, coincidentally proving effective for children with disabilities or speakers of other languages, he's stimulating, motivating, engaging, all issues that are viewable on my divorce papers. Seriously though, resources like this do point to questioning the role of the teacher. But while Jimmy Smartboard sits up on the wall there with his multi-functional, emotionless grin, we teachers are there to push our children in making the most of it, learning what they can, and coming up with improvements. Your time will come, Smartie-pants/board.