So after some great suggestions from this blog and from some candid talk with Dr. Cunningham (the technology education professor) I think I am finally refining my initial thoughts. Here is my new refined idea. Take 2-4 honors or regular level biology classes. Each will be provide with a pre-quiz that assess their knowledge of a particular biology concept. Half of the classes will then be given lessons with SMART Board technology, incorporating movie maker and PowerPoint. I envision the lesson being problem based and students getting more and more information as the lessons go along. The other group will be taught by white board or a more traditional method (with the same info being covered) . After a set number of lessons the groups will be given a post quiz. The quiz will access the student knowledge comprehension and retention. This topic will require some extra work because I will need to put together the SMART board activity. However, it will be part of my educational technology independent study.
I think that this study will be especially helpful to teachers. I think that there is a lot of apprehension among older teachers about technology. Since I was taught to teach through technology it was easy for me to make the transition. If teachers can see solid results that SMART board increases retention and comprehension they will be more likely to give it a try. So I guess my next concern is what happens if it doesn’t work like I think it should? I think there is a lot of research out there that points to technology as a key to connecting students to content. So, I guess I’m just a little concerned about what my results will be.
4 comments:
Andy, this is a nice way to integrate your courses, and I think it will work. I believe you will have to be more clear about the teaching methodology you will use with the Smart Board. Is it the dynamic nature of the simulations there that are valuable? Is it the student involvement in interacting with the Smart Board media? You will need to be more focused than just overall use of Smart Board. How it is used is the key.
I am sure you could probably teach a few lessons at Reagan (or somewhere) and measure differences in achievement and/or attitude.
I concur with Dr. Mac regarding clarifying your teaching methods. Knowing that you are in the initial brainstorming phase, are both lessons going to be problem-based activities with one using SMART board and the other not but still active inquiry?
If your findings indicate that SMART board technology does not increase student learning, there may be other benefits such as increasing student attitudes toward learning science (as Dr. Mac suggested).
Your study may have you rethink the cost/benefit of technology. :)
Hey Andy, this sounds like a really cool idea. I'm still not too sure about what a Smart Board is capable of, since my high school didn't have them (!), but I do know that I have a much easier time explaining science concepts to students when I can use images/videos as teaching aids. I think you said that the Smart Board is capable of utilizing this kind of technology, so I definitely wouldn't be surprised if the students who used Smart Board end up understanding the concepts more thoroughly.
My only question would be the consistency of your teaching trials - I think a large part of the results will rely on teaching students the concepts the same way in every class, and I would imagine that you would automatically become more fluid as you teach more and more classes, which might affect the results. Just something to take into consideration! :)
Andy,
I think that the use of technology like SMART boards is a pretty interesting topic to look into research-wise. My past experience with technology such as this has been that either the teacher doesn't really know how to utilize the technology so that it aids in the learning process or that the teacher is so caught up and interested in the technology that they use it so much that it almost distracts from learning.
That being said, I think that with some consistency in use and a balanced approach from the instructor that SMART boards have the potential to be valuable teaching tools.
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