Goodbye chalk, schools buying interactive white boards

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Just marvelous! - 2009-10-18 19:09:06

What happens WHEN it breaks? Is there a backup chalkboard? I hope so.
This reminds me of our Space Program. We spent many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars developing a pen that would write in zero gravity. This pen pumped ink to the tip under any conditions and air pressure. Flippin' ingenious!
The Russians used a pencil.
Food for thought.

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Emmaline Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Terrible

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Jeff - 2009-10-16 20:44:57

I'm not saying I dont agree with you to an extent but laptops for every high school student (maybe the responsibility of the parent in a public school system) and state of the art science labs and lower teacher to student ratios to 5:1... maybe thats a bit more than what I was saying. I do think these boards are great for the cost especially because they are interactive. How long have we been using chalk boards in schools? Maybe, it's time for an upgrade. I'm not sure nor am I saying this change or addition is the only way to go but it's also not a bad way to go either. Also, I dont think it's a new technology when it's been in use for eight years elsewhere.

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Ann S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Jeff - 2009-10-16 18:37:22

I agree with you and I agree with M Donnell I have worked with these boards there are pretty cool. But there needs to be a happy medium. Like each school gets 5 to start or something cause we all know here will be something beter next year

And for all the bad karma people, lighten up my previous post were jokes. Take a chill pill.

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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Jeff - 2009-10-16 11:36:55

These boards are not equipment that is in addition to existing equipment. Rather, it replaces other equipment. You should see a demonstration of what these boards can do. I honestly believe you would be impressed.

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M. Donnell - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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when does it end? - 2009-10-16 10:12:16

Our kids are worth it? Sorry, but even as a parent I simply do not buy that justification for adding yet more expenses to an already massive and constantly growing school budget. Where does it end? Someone can always think of some new technology or resource that might improve student performance by some marginal amount. Why not a laptop for every high school student? Why not hire more teachers until the class sizes are down to five students? What about state-of-the-art science labs? Someone has to be the adult here and recognize when we have hit the point of diminishing returns. Secondary education is about imparting factual and skill-based building blocks. Trade, college and graduate schools are about enhancing those skills with the latest methods and technology. Our supply of funds is not endless. Given, however, that those funds already far exceed what countries who out-perform us allocate to their secondary students, perhaps we need to stop looking to technology and money as a panacea and take a more critical, introspective look at how to fundamentally improve our system. My fear is that too many self-interests have developed in our educational system for that to happen.

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Jeff S. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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parents and valuing education - 2009-10-15 21:59:27

Jeff - the Chinese culture deems a proper education a must. Here in the States a good deal of parents view it as babysitting. That's why the Chinese excel.
Robin - so true. A SMART board is nothing without parentS who value education, pass that expectation to their children and provide consequence when the expectation is not met.

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T. Jackson - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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smartboards - 2009-10-15 20:15:49

Aren't our children worth the money... or the extra added efforts of their teachers to learn the new technology? Education should be a number one priority; god knows people in un-named positions spend more money for unnecessary things than these smartboards could possibly cost.

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Ann S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Smart boards - 2009-10-15 16:46:34

A good teacher is able to teach with less than a stick while writng in the sand. It is simply a tool. How did anyone in a one room schoolhouse ever learn anything? It was the quality of instruction and the knowledge that one MUST behave one's self or suffer the rath of the parents at home. Notice that parents is indeed plural.

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Robin S. - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Smart for Canada! - 2009-10-15 15:13:14

Headquarters in Alberta and manufactured in Ontario! Good think they could put a couple sales offices in DC and NYC. Thanks Canada!

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S. Abbott - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Look - 2009-10-15 12:03:07

at the picture, every child in the laser beam, their hair turns strawberry blonde, I see lawsuits in the future.

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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you - 2009-10-15 11:17:48

know chalk dust is killing the polar bears, Al Gore says so!!

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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why are they needed? - 2009-10-15 11:02:44

Aren't the Chinese and a host of other countries kicking our secondary educational system's butt with regular chalk boards, paperback books that do not include expensive graphics, and schools that do not incorporate expensive architectural features? Maybe we need to focus more on teachers, reward the good ones, weed out (rather than simply transfer) the underperforming ones, and cut back on expensive positions reserved for non-teaching curriculum designers and testing experts. After all of that, THEN we can talk about SMART boards.

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Jeff S. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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Underfunded - 2009-10-15 10:34:59

I believe the SMART are a require teaching tool. Maybe the school board, should look at the extra administrators and non teaching positions that take up needed revenue to pay for what is really needed.

This nation cant afford to keep under educating our children, and expect them to complete against the rest of the world!

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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent

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Maintenance... - 2009-10-15 10:16:01

Oh joy!!! Another money pit... "Joining the 21st Century" will create yet another expense on the under funded Education system. Yes, a VERY cool idea... but is it really WORTH it?

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T. Adams - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Technology in the schools - 2009-10-14 15:19:40

Just a correction regarding funding for smartboards in the county.

The article states that "Most of that money has come from school system and grant funds, and part of it has come from parent and teacher groups convinced the boards can dramatically improve children's education."

I disagree with that assessment on how this equipment is funded. Unfortunately the school system does have enough funding available in the public schools to cover the costs of technology and there is not enough grant money available to help.

In fact our Elementary School PTA (public school) provided 100% of the funds to purchase 4 smart boards, 10 document cameras and 3 LCD projectors for the school. This year we are working hard to fund the final smart board to ensure each grade (K - 5)has one and will also purchase a set of Senteos for the Smart Boards.

Funding is so bad in our public schools that PTAs fund the cost of ink, toners and even the cost of purchasing mulch for the school in addition to a whole host of other basic needs that would be assumed to be covered by the states.

So ZERO funding from the state or in grants. 100% funding from our parents. Because we all want our kids to have access to leading technology in the classrooms today to allow them to compete against other countries tomorrow.

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Valerie Holland - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Smart Boards - 2009-10-13 10:11:59

Its about time we joined the 21st century. How can we expect our children's education to match up with the rest of the world, unless we stay abreast of technology?

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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent

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chalkboards - 2009-10-13 06:47:43

Whatever the complaints are, these SMART boards are a big step up from chalkboards. I only wish there was more information on how they work/what they can do. Seem cool to me...

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Brian Nurmi - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2009-10-12 21:06:09

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- Karma: Neutral

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Can only help. - 2009-10-12 10:47:54

Iam sure a few teachers would love to have the smart boards. They would be moving forward with technology and will not have to breathe in the chaulk dust anymore.

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A. Barham - crownsville, MD - Karma: Excellent

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Yesterday's Tech Today - 2009-10-12 08:33:31

Once again, Maryland public schools are rushing to be last. SmartBoards are here because they are cheaper than when they first appeared 8 years ago. For this same price per SmartBoard, they could have gotten tablet computers that would work with the existing LCD projectors. A good pair of athletic shoes should assist without interfering with the athlete's connection to the ground; likewise, technology n the classroom should assist the teacher without interfering with his/her connection to the material and students. Veteran teachers need to stay current an learn how to teach methods to newer teachers who are tech savvy but lack experience. Teaching and learning go hand in hand; if a teacher refuses to adapt, then they should retire or go work for Walmart.

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j. white - Severna PArk, MD - Karma: Neutral

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K-12 is behind the curve. - 2009-10-12 03:40:50

Anne Arundel Community College & Towson University and most other quality higher education institutions have Smart Classrooms.

It's time for k-12 to jump on board.

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John K. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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This is why students cannot learn! - 2009-10-11 13:22:56

being a teacher myself, I cannot even believe that someone would think that these were not a great tool. If "vetern" teachers as mentioned in Jeffrey's post, don't want to use them it is because they are outdated and need to be upgraded. We teachers need to keep up with the times, not keep up with what we are comfortable with. I have a Smart board and I cannot even imagine not teaching with one now. They are amazing and I applaud any Principal that is willing to incorporate them into all their classrooms. Time to roll with the punches and get teachers up to the par I know they are compatible of.

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Lindsay A. - , - Karma: Good

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Spend the money on something that w - 2009-10-11 08:35:02

The school system shouldn't worry about putting SMART boards in all classrooms. They are terrific teaching tools, but like with all technology, it's pointless to have if it won't be used.


This article confirms the first hand reports I've heard that many teachers who have access to the boards are either unwilling or unable to use them. Most of these teachers are probably veterans that have excelled at teaching without the need for a lot of computer technology. Multiple teaching styles should be encouraged, and the school system should simply save money by not purchasing SMART boards for teachers that want to teach with other methods. Teachers shouldn't be pushed to use them--it should be a voluntary tool.

I think it's important for teachers to have the ability to choose the teaching tools that they are most comfortable with. Like any technology, the current SMART boards will probably be out of date within a few years. The school system should purchase them only for teachers who are really interested, and wait to phase them in as needed, so that only the latest technology is purchased and the schools can avoid wasting money on technology that will gather dust or will soon reach EOL.

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Jeffrey Haines - Millersville, MD - Karma: Good