Smart Technologies: Useful Prototype or Flashy Powerpoint

One of the most recent technologies that we have touched upon in the technology course in Stockton is the SmartBoard hardware and software. This technology has become prevalent in a significant portion of classrooms across the country that have the technology budget that allows for it. The technology has replaced the projection technology that had previously replaced the transparency projectors that most students before the turn of the century had become accustomed to. While projection is just the basic function of this continually evolving technology, it is perhaps the most often used in the classroom on the SmartBoards and the technology similar to it (i.e. Promethean Boards). The pitch behind the hardware and software is the fact that the board can be used for more than just projection. The SmartBoards function similar to other technology with touch screen technology. The board allows the instructor and students to interact with what is onscreen, whether it be by marking up the screen with provided "pens," moving and interacting with objects simply by touching the screen, or by extended multimedia interaction. Below is a demo video for the technology for those who might be unfamiliar with it:

I'm not sure if "magical" is right, but it is fun...

However, despite the novelty of this technology, there seems to be a significant amount of shortcomings. Perhaps the most significant of all is the fact that the software, though similar to Microsoft PowerPoint, is absurdly complex and requires a significant amount of time to be dedicated just to learning how the technology works. The question then becomes: Who honestly has the time to learn to utilize something so complicated with so seemingly little payout? As I took time to learn the software, quite a long time, I came to see that not only is it strikingly similar to that of PowerPoint, but the features are sometimes more limited and frustrating than PowerPoint. While the physical interaction with the board is a great aspect for the kinesthetic learners in the classroom, the instructor has to ensure that the object that are not to be moved are firmly locked in place, with no exceptions. Forgot to lock something? It's definitely going to get touched, moved, and possibly edited. In addition to this, the technology seems to geared toward the younger classrooms instead of the older ones. The interaction, the animation, the colors, etc. seem to be something that is more focused on the early stages of learning rather than the later stages that require higher levels of thinking. Perhaps the last, and most important aspect, is that it is seemingly difficult to be certain of is whether or not the technology is actually facilitating learning and not just providing entertainment for the children in the absence of actual learning.

Learning or playing? Hmmm...

Perhaps when I have more interaction with the technology in an academic setting, there will be more answers than through simple speculation.