A lot has changed in the classroom over the many years the
United States has offered public education. Perhaps no change is
as obvious as that occurring in technology. Typing on a computer
has replaced the emphasis on writing by hand. The Internet has
added a new layer of connectivity to classroom lessons. And the
traditional chalkboard has morphed a bit as well. Today,
interactive whiteboards (IWB) are all the range. But how
beneficial are they really? This is a topic covered in this
Education Week article In the article, mostly anecdotal evidence
and explanation is given one way or another. It does explain
that some studies have linked technology and better grades, but
it also makes the statement that any progress depends on the
teacher. One of those teachers talked about in the article is
Sandra Simoneaux, a 3rd and 4th grade teacher at Parker
Elementary School in Oakland, Calif. She said an interactive
whiteboard can give her “immediate insight” into how well
students are learning. If she asks a question,