Instructional Use of the Smartboard

Technology Reflection Assignment

Description/Experience
The seminar demonstrated smartboards and there uses in the classroom. I found out that smart boards can be used for any subject and all ages. We were shown several educational games that the whole class can take part in. We were also introduced to different sites that have educational games, read aloud and many other things that can be used on the smartboard. I think it is a very wonderful and unique way to introduce lessons to children and get them involved in a fun way.

Application

• Learners: Second grade students.
• Learning outcomes: At the end of this lesson students will know what long and short vowels sound like. They will be able to decide whether it is a short or long vowel sound in a word.
• Assessment: I would assess the students by observing them play the picture match short vowel and long vowel sounds game. I would be able to determine if it effective by seeing if the students understand the different sounds that long and short vowels make, I would know if they understand because they will have to match the picture with the right sound.

• This lesson would begin with me introducing the students to the short/long vowel sounds picture match game as well as the smartboard they would be using to play this game. Students will already be familiar with the smartboard but I will just review how to use it with the game.
• I would then use the smartboard to show them an example of a long vowel and a short vowel and we will discuss each.
• Following my example, I will ask them a few questions to see if they understand the difference.
• After explaining long and short vowel sounds and the game I will demonstrate how the game works.
• Then I would have each student come up to the smart board one at a time to match one word with the correct sound.
• After each student receives a turn we will review and reflect on the game. Discussing how the game went.

Reflection

--Pedagogical-Content:

• My strategies give demonstrations; provide visual aids and hands on opportunities as well as providing a fun educational game for children to explore the different vowel sounds. I believe this would help my students comprehend the material because for it is a fun and more unique way to demonstrate and let them practice the vowel sounds. All students learn in different ways and I feel like this particular game will be good for all learners because the students can not only see it but they can also hear it and repetition is involved. It is also a hands-on activity and somewhat of a competition which often motivates students.
• Some students may not have a very good vocabulary or understand vowel sounds. People from all over, all ages, pronounce things differently so depending on exactly where the student is from and the type of language they hear they may pronounce things differently, making it hard to decide if it is a long or short vowel sound. I am sure most of the students will be on different levels with this particular content so some students may breeze right through this while others may struggle. Some students may not enjoy going in front of the class and choosing an answer, they may be scared or embarrassed of getting the wrong answer but I think for the most part students will enjoy the activity since it is a game.

--Technological-Pedagogical:

• The smartboard would serve as a visual aid and provide a hands-on educational game for the students to practice their vowel sounds. It would support the way I would be teaching this activity by reinforcing what I have already introduced them to.  It is also repetitive because after each match it reads the words and emphasizes the vowel sounds clearly so that the students can hear the difference. Also since each student would go up one at a time while the one student is doing the activity at the smartboard the other students will be watching, hearing and learning too.
• I would need to keep my students engaged in the activity even when it is not their turn to go up to the smartboard. In order to do so I would call on them randomly to go up to the board and I would divide the class up into teams so that they are encouraging each other and they are more likely to pay attention even when it is not their turn so they can see who is winning.
  
  

--Technological Pedagogical Content:

• The smartboard would enhance the way the content is represented in my activity because it is more engaging than just practicing on the chalkboard or on worksheets. Instead it provides a visual aid and allows the children to play a hands-on game that allows them to practice the material they have already been introduced to. It provides a lot of repetition hopefully making it really stick in the students’ mind.
• Without this technology the students would not be able to play a hands-on game that can provide visual aid, repetition and be as engaging as I believe it is. There are several other things that the students could do to learn and practice the vowel sounds such as other fun games and even simply using the smartboard as a whiteboard by writing different words and grouping them under the correct vowel sound.