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SMARTBoards

Introduction
Teachers are always looking for the most effective ways to teach their students. Children these days are very engaged in their technology and most use some type of technology everyday whether it is a computer, phone, TV, iPad, or gaming system. Due to this, teachers have been looking at technology to incorporate in their classrooms in order to enhance learning. Over the last several decades, technology has improved and has started being incorporated more and more in the classrooms. One of these technologies is the SMARTBoard, also known as an interactive #|whiteboard (IWB). These SMARTBoards can be used from #|elementary education to all of the subjects in #|secondary education. Throughout this wiki we will discuss what SMARTBoards are, their history, issues with them, advantages and disadvantages of them, and the future direction of these SMARTBoards.

Definition
The SMARTBoard is a type of interactive whiteboard that was first made by SMART Technologies and now is made by them and other companies. The SMARTBoard is a #|digital whiteboard that is linked to a computer system. The #|smart board combines the typical whiteboard of a classroom with a computer and #|projector. These SMARTBoards can be written on by using digital plastic pens and this information can be saved and stored. The user is also able to use all the capabilities that the computer has on these SMARTBoards. Below is a #|short video that shows some basic ways that the SMARTBoard can be used in the classroom.

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History
The first SMARTBoard was introduced in 1991 by SMART Technologies, a Canadian company located in Alberta, Canada. SMART Technology has produced many updated versions of their SMARTBoards since their first one in 1991. Now there are other companies that sell smart boards but SMART Technologies is by far the leader in smart boards (Archer, 2011). The SMARTBoards in 1991 were front projection models and became #|rear projection models the following year in 1992. The SMARTBoards like you see today are mounted on the walls and this became possible in 1997. All of the SMARTBoards up until 2001 provided the user with the basic capabilities. In 2001, the new SMARTBoards allowed the user to record and play audio and #|videos right off of the internet. SMARTBoards became flat screen in 2003. SMARTBoards are now being used by businesses, the military, and #|school. In 2007, SMART Technologies sold their millionth SMARTBoard.

Advantages
There are many advantages to having a SMARTBoard in the classroom. First, the SMARTBoard can be used with all children no matter their age or abilities. Children as young as kindergarden and as old as high #|school, can use the SMARTBoard as a fun way to enhance their learning. Students with disabilities can also use SMARTBoards because by writing with their finger instead of trying to hold a #|white board marker. SMARTBoards are a great way to make everyone feel included and be engaged in the teacher’s lesson. Next, SMARTBoards make the classroom more student-centered by promoting interactive learning and group collaboration. There are many great programs that work with SMARTBoards that can increase student’s knowledge by interaction. The colored markers make it easy to highlight points and circle things on the board which students can use also. Lastly, because of how large SMARTBoards are, they command the student attention in the classroom. This helps teachers to enhance their #|lessons and include #|interactive multimedia with their students.

Disadvantages
There are also a few disadvantages to SMARTBoards. First, SMARTBoards can be very expensive. There costs can range anywhere from $1,500 up to $5,000 depending on the type and other equipment to buy. On top of the high price, if something would break on the SMARTBoard, or even if #|the light bulb goes out, this can add hidden high costs that most people don’t think about. When looking at the options of an installed SMARTBoard versus one that is portable to move from class to class, these each have their own disadvantages. If the SMARTBoard is mounted onto the wall in the classroom, this usually takes up space where the white board used to be, limiting teaching space. If the SMARTBoard is portable, the teacher must recalibrate the screen before each lesson where the board will be used. Next, most teachers aren’t trained properly on how to use the SMARTBoard. This means that schools may spend lots of money to purchase this technology and then the teachers are unable to use it with their students. Lastly, SMARTBoards only allow for one student at a time can use the board. This can cause students to become disengaged if the same students are the ones that get called up to use the board. Teachers must make sure their lessons are interactive for all the students in their classrooms.

Future Direction
Now a days, we are so depended on technology. Each generation seems to be getting smarter when it comes to technology and how it’s used. We need to keep up with the times and continue to grow in our abilities to use these materials. Children will need to be challenged more and teachers will need to continue to find new and better ways of teaching all of their students. The future of SMARTBoards will be vast. There is an endless amount of possibilities that the SMARTBoards has to offer and what children will and can learn on this marvelous machine. New software programs will come out that will make the SMARTBoard do more activities, show different aspects of learning and might even one day, replace a good majority of the traditional teacher, teaching in the classroom.

Conclusion
Schools are ever changing. In the last few years schools have made amazing strides in introducing the latest technology and incorporating it into teacher’s everyday use. Not only does this introduce children to new ways of learning, but helps those visual learners who may have struggled with traditional teaching. According to ABC News, “…school used to be about memorizing data and formulas for the singular purpose of pushing that knowledge back on tests. However, having watched an engaged, creative faculty work with a wondrous device, the SMARTBoard from SMART Technologies… it's possible that classroom teaching may have transitioned into an entirely different ball game, motivated by curiosity, rather than just fear of a "C.".” Teachings are not just about the know-how and using it at that moment any more. The smart board enables teachers to teach lessons and show students where they would use this information in the future with a more hands on, exciting approach. Technology will continue to bombard us in our everyday life, but we as educators need to keep up with the times and grow with technology just like our students are being forced too.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">References
<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">ABC News. (2008, February 11). SmartBoard Changes Classroom. Retrieved October 9, 2013 from []

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Archer, B. (n.d.). What Is a Smartboard?. In wiseGEEK. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from []

(n.d.). In Inver Grove Heights Community School. Retrieved October 11, 2013, from http://www.invergrove.k12.mn.us/sites/9d5394ad-57cd-4a32-bccc-65885bcedcda/uploads/smartboard1.gif

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Morningtonhouse. (2008, November 9). Interactive Whiteboard #|Teacher Training [Video file]. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[]

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The History of Smart Board Technology (n.d.). In GTEACH. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from []

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">SMART Technologies. (2013, June 26). In SMART Interactive Solutions for Education, Business, and Government. Retrieved October 9, 2013, from <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> http://www.smarttech.com/