Prompt #9

I choose issue #13, whiteboards.  I agree with the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom completely if they are used correctly.  I agree that they can be overused and that students still need up close and personal technology as well.  Teachers should not use them as an overall solution to using technology in the classroom, but as a tool to aid in gaining student attention.  Teachers are still the most important part of the classroom experience as the no side points out.  However, I think when used correctly interactive whiteboards are extremely beneficial.  I saw a Junior High math teacher once use one to record the screen notes along with another device to record audio so that students could review the entire lesson later on.  I found this extremely beneficial because classes go so fast some times that students might miss something the first time around.  The teacher I observed did not use this as the main source of learning, but as a helpful tool to guide the experience.  I saw students become interested and focused on learning when they were able, as a class, to use technology in their learning.  They were more responsive than when they were just using worksheets or textbooks.  The students also had personal Mac laptops which they could use to look up information and problems when needed.  Worksheets were on the laptops as well.  Instead of telling them to use a dictionary, the teacher would tell them to use their computers.  This allowed for the personal interaction with technology the no side argued, and still gives them the benefits of an interactive white board like the yes side wanted.  In conclusion, I am strongly in favor of the interactive white boards.