More Smart boards

At LPCI!

By: Sean Power

Toronto ON- On January 21^st 2010, Lawrence Park CI finally received two more Smartboards to be used in the classrooms to enhance the learning environment for the students. Lawrence Park already has three Smartboards from the 600 series, and now has a total of five with the inclusion of the two from the 600i series that were recently purchased by the TDSB.

          The classic blackboard and chalk are being replaced, fast, especially at Lawrence Park, where bigger and better Smart boards have arrived. The TDSB says they are “moving forward” by purchasing Smartboards for all schools. With research showing how this new and interactive way of learning can increase a student’s ability to absorb information, schools everywhere are looking to upgrade.

          Still skeptical of the new technology? Do not be. Smartboards have received countless awards for the service it provides. Smart boards have many benefits for being in a classroom; they increase engagement in the learning process, increase support for visual learners, have the ability to show recorded lessons with interactive components, hold the ability to show information in large formats and much, much more.

          The three Smart boards Lawrence Park already have, require multiple connections to a projector, computer and require lots of software to be installed. With the new Smart boards from the 600i series (referred to as series 3), most

of these complications are eliminated. This is because the new 600i series boards include attached overhead projectors. Not only that, but it includes a list of upgrades from the older series, including:

·   Wide-screen options

·   Network-enabled projector

·   Improved lamp life

·   Improved damage resistance

·   Improved installation

·   Improved theft resistance

·   Best image quality

·   Multiposition boom

          However, many students say they haven’t seen the Smart boards being used in classrooms. With many teachers not knowing how to fully incorporate Smart boards into their lesson plans, some students from Mr. Skelton’s Web Design Class (IDC4U2) have taken the responsibility of helping the teachers to make full use of this new technology. With teachers receiving lessons from some of these students, it’s hopeful that the students of LP won’t have to hear the scratching of a chalkboard anymore.