By Jesse Olivarez The Daily Oklahoman
Memorial High School teacher Martha Wissler knows her math after teaching the subject for 30 years. More problematic is teaching the subject using a SMARTboard a high-tech blending of a chalkboard and a projector. She knows how to use it but says it takes about two hours to produce an activity.
If I had to rate myself on a one to 10 scale one being I know what it looks like to 10 being Im an expert Id probably be a two or a three" she said.
Wissler is one of about 200 teachers in the Edmond School District trained to work on the classrooms aids.
To use a SMARTboard a teacher plugs a laptop into a projector that then shoots whatever is on the computers screen onto a special whiteboard. Touching anywhere on the whiteboard is equivalent to a left-mouse click.
Teachers can also type on the screen move objects around and draw pictures.
Wissler said the SMARTboard has made it easier because it involves the kids a little more. The only disadvantage I can think of is my lack of knowledge. Its so fast and there is so much you can learn and do its almost like youre playing catch-up all the time."
Other teachers agree the devices have made it easier to keep their students attention.
Shannon Toney a sixth-grade teacher at Cimarron Middle School said she has her students undivided attention when she used the device.
The kids love it I love it" she said. There is no better way to get your kids involved than to use your SMARTboard. They will fight to get a chance to touch your SMARTboard."
Lindsay Museousky an eighth-grade teacher at Cimarron Middle School figures the interactive nature of the SMARTboard is what keeps students mesmerized.
Its a lot more interesting to kids than standing up there with an overhead projector" she said. It catches their attention. Its a lot more colorful."
Wissler who was the 2009 Edmond teacher of the year said she uses the SMARTboards to introduce new concepts to her students. She said she has come up with games and other activities that will make the learning fun.
As with all classroom technology she said the biggest challenge is finding the right balance between using the technology to make things easier and learning things the old-fashioned way.
If I tried to teach them with a chalkboard and a piece of chalk it wouldnt be as real to them" she said.
It wouldnt be a part of their world. Why would we continue to do things as we did 30 years ago?"
Becky Teague the districts director of instructional technology said each school is given money to provide 5 percent of classrooms with new gadgets like the SMARTboard.
She said long-term plans call for every one of the districts classrooms to have a SMARTboard.
