Similkameen Elementary Secondary School in British Columbia recently received an upgrade to its classroom technology by replacing blackboards in seven classrooms with Smart Boards, Keremeos Review reports.
Smart Boards are interactive whiteboards that use touch technology for user input, similar to PC input devices, such as a mouse or keyboard. An overhead projector connected to a computer is used to display video output onto the the whiteboard that acts as a large touchscreen.
According to Keremeos, Similakameen Elementary teacher Rick Johnson brought the technology to the school last year when he requested one for his classroom.
“I taught a class in England with one several years ago,” Johnson told Keremeos, “and when I arrived here, I told Principal [Marcus] Toneatto about them. I find it hard to teach without one.”
Educators have found that using interactive technology, such as a Smart Board, a classroom laptop or a
DLP projector, creates a learning environment where students are more engaged and eager to participate in lessons.
Similkameen Elementary currently has Smart Boards installed in seven classrooms and plans to add two more in the near future, Keremeos reports.
