Interactive Whiteboards in Education -- great tool or just cool?

Our school received an interactive whiteboard (or IWB) at the end of last year. One of our 5th grade teachers spearheaded the use of this new technology (new to our school, anyway), and I was very thankful she did, because that is one less thing I needed to worry about this summer. However, as I would like to use this tool occasionally in my computer lab, and teachers are bound to come to me when they have questions or problems, I figured that I still need to broaden my knowledge of IWBs and how they can be used in the classroom. Therefore, I have put together a short list of websites to use as resources as we embark on this new adventure. I will add to the list as I find new sites that are useful.

• SMART Technology
• Scholastic.com's SMART lessons
• Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom (this site has an extensive list of links to resources)
• Interactive Whiteboard Resources (another list of links)

These are a starting point. But will the IWB be used often enough and be effective enough to justify the expense? Starting out with one IWB was probably a good idea, so we can get a feel for how well teachers will take to using this new tool in their classroom. Some teachers, like the one I mentioned earlier, are comfortable using technology in the classroom, and will use it a lot. Other teachers are not as comfortable, and I predict will probably not use the IWB at all. And after the novelty wears off, will the IWB still be used regularly, or will it end up in a closet somewhere? I hope that the IWB will be a positive addition to our collection of technology tools, for a number of reasons. First, I don't like to see money wasted (even if it is PTO funds), and IWBs are not cheap (nor are the projectors needed to use with them). Second, I hope it gets teachers more interested in integrating technology into their curriculum, albeit in a superficial way, so that it might open the door for use of other technology as well. Finally, if it gets students more engaged in the lessons, they are more likely to be more successful in school - and isn't that the most important reason of all?

Netbook or Notebook?

Technology is becoming more mobile and compact every day. Is this a good thing? If we have the same capabilities in a smaller, more compact device, then I suppose it is. But is smaller always better? Let's take a look at the "netbook" (or "mini"), a laptop computer that is much smaller and lighter than a traditional notebook computer.

Netbooks have a 9" or 10" screen, as opposed to a 15-17" screen, and the keyboard is approximately 92% the size of a normal keyboard. Hard drive space is comparable to that of most notebooks, and netbooks access the Internet wirelessly. They are thinner and lighter than most notebook computers, making them extremely portable. In addition, netbooks are less expensive than most notebooks -- starting around $249.

Sounds ideal, doesn't it? So, what do notebooks have that netbooks don't? Most notably, there is no optical (CD/DVD) drive in a netbook. So, in order to install software you have purchased on CD, you will need to connect an external drive to the netbook. Want to burn pictures to a CD? Same thing. For those of us over the age of 40, viewing a 10" screen could be a challenge. Notebook computers routinely come with 2 GB RAM, whereas the netbook usually has only 1 GB.

The netbook is great for web-based applications, but what about using it for other tasks, such as photo editing, video editing, extensive word processing, spreadsheets, etc.? I have never actually used a netbook, so this is not a rhetorical question. If you have used a netbook, please let me know what you like/dislike about it, and make additional comparisons to a traditional laptop. If you have used both, which do you prefer, and why? If you could only buy one or the other, which one do you buy, and why? All comments, observations, and suggestions are welcome...please share your experience &/or expertise!

PC vs. Mac in Schools

We've all seen them...the Mac ads on TV tauting the simplicity of the Mac over the PC, and the Windows ads that demonstrate the affordability of the PC over the Mac. (Personally, I love the Mac ads...never fast-forward through those on TiVo!) But should slick advertising be the reason you buy one type of computer or another?

I just read an article titled, "The Mac vs. PC Debate has Never Been Clearer," and it got me thinking about the reasons school districts choose one over the other. Years ago, when the district I work for rolled out new computer labs in all of its schools (there were only 3 schools at the time), a questionnaire was sent out to parents in the district, asking them which platform they would prefer to see in their child's school. The majority of the votes were for Windows PCs. This is not surprising, as approximately 90% of households with computers have PCs instead of Macs. The percentage might even have been higher back in 1997, when the survey was done. Back then, Macs were primarily found in schools and businesses that dealt with a great deal of graphics. Do we now regret the decision that was made 12 years ago? Let's compare the pros and cons of each.

Windows: Most homes that have PCs have Windows PCs, so students are already familiar with its interface. Software used at school would have the same "feel" as software used at home, and might even be the same software used at home (MS Office, for example). Students and teachers can work on projects at home and at school, because they have the same platform in both locations. Teachers have PCs at home, so they would be more comfortable using the computers with students as well. Windows PCs cost less than Macs, and there is no shortage of "cheap parts" available to repair and maintain them. School technology budgets can buy more hardware and stretch those tax dollars more easily. However, Windows PCs are susceptible to viruses, so extra money and manhours must be spent preventing or removing them. Newer versions of software may not run on older operating systems, and vice versa, so upgrading the OS and/or the software requires additional cost/manpower. Windows also needs to have updates and "service packs" installed regularly -- another time-consuming process.

Mac: Macs do not get viruses (or so I've been told). Because Macs are favored in school settings, there is quite a selection of educational software available. Macs are especially suited for applications related to graphics and video production -- another selling point for schools. Not a huge choice of models to choose from, so the process of purchasing computers is simpler. Apple does not come out with a new OS every two years, so the computers and software in the schools don't become obsolete as quickly. However, Macs cost more per machine than PCs. Students don't have prior experience with the Mac OS before coming to school, so some students may struggle a bit with basic tasks -- at least at first. Teachers may not be familiar with the Mac, so they might be reluctant to do a project with their students in the computer lab, and won't know what to do if something goes wrong. Students (and teachers) cannot take their projects home to work on, because they don't have a Mac.

I'm sure I have not included all of the pros/cons to both platforms here; feel free to add more in your comments. Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. And, of course, there is "brand loyalty" -- both platforms have their devotees that will defend their choice of computer to the end.

So, is one platform better suited for education than another? In this age of web-based applications, is the platform we use relevant anymore? Should the decision be based solely on monetary cost? What about cost of support (money and time)? I would love to hear your opinions on this, whether you prefer Macs or PCs. What does your school use? If you had a choice, would you stick with what you have, or switch, and why? What do you see as the pros/cons of each? Please share your thoughts -- I'm looking forward to hearing from you!