Journal 2

Do We Really Use Technology Effectively?

All of us have the chance of observing the use of technological tools in our practicum schools. These tools include over head projectors, computers and recently there are a lot of smart boards available in most of the private schools. At Eyüboğlu Schools, there is a smart board in every class. All of the teachers make use of these smart boards in their classes. However, there is one point I am curious about: Do they really use the smart board technology effectively?

Before answering this question, let’s look at some advantages of having a smart board in the classroom. Smart boards are great for demonstrations, they can appeal to learners with different learning strategies, they can maximize the use of computer technology in the classroom ( if there is only one computer), they are interactive and they allow for the use of multimedia resources and internet with a whole class. After reading all of these advantages, one can easily dream of a perfect classroom environment created by the touch of a smart board. However, this is not the case.

In most of the lessons I have observed until now, the smart board, unfortunately, has been used as a substitute for the classical black board we are familiar with. The teachers, instead of taking the advantage of having these tools in the classroom, just use them for taking notes with their electronic pens or for showing PowerPoint slide shows in order to cover the grammar subjects.

What could have been done instead? I have a few suggestions for activities with the smart board. First of all, it is possible to play a lot of online games prepared for online learners- the teachers can make use of such games and activities. There is a big array of electronic sources from which the teacher can choose to present through the smart board as well. Also, smart boards enable some links to be made between the subject material and technology- thus allowing the learners to see how they can use their own technological resources at home for learning purposes.

Overall, I believe that before smart board technology is presented in schools, the teachers should be given an orientation on how to use it most effectively. This way, it would be possible to ensure that technology is in fact used purposefully at schools- not as a substitute for non- technological tools.