Tech Tools for Smart Boards

Below you'll find a series of information on the benefits of Interactive Whiteboards for the foreign language classroom, as well as a series of resources and links.

Technology Tools Resource File: Interactive Whiteboards in the Foreign Language Classroom


I have chosen to compile a series of resources on Interactive Whiteboards in the Foreign Language Classroom. I chose this resource because of the successful implementation and use I saw of an interactive whiteboard in an Elementary Foreign Language Classroom I observed during a classroom practicum. The interactive whiteboard provided opportunities for student involvement and differentiation of instruction that would be more difficult in a traditional classroom setting. In my own teaching experience, I was able to briefly use an interactive whiteboard in my instruction and found that the students’ level of engagement was higher during its use. Interactive whiteboards can be an excellent tool in the foreign language classroom in a variety of ways.
Foreign language teachers can integrate the whiteboard with foreign language multimedia to deliver and differentiate foreign language content. For example, playing recorded conversations in the target language over projection speakers can help students with phonetic difficulties, and viewing an actual celebration of a Quinceañera or a parade observing “El Día de los Muertos” can relay the significance of these cultural events more than reading an informative article and answering a series of questions. The interactive whiteboard can also be an effective tool in increasing student involvement in the classroom setting. Many interactive whiteboards come with components where the students can interact with the boards individually or in collaborative groups. With this increased student the interaction, the role of the teacher changes to that of facilitator of independent learning instead of sole deliverer or content. Both the national and State Curriculum standards list the integration of technology as an important tool in foreign language instruction, and the use of an interactive whiteboard can provide opportunities for both teacher and student to develop a higher level of technological proficiency.
In gathering research on the use of interactive whiteboards in the foreign language classroom, I was disappointed to discover that while there are resources available to foreign language teachers who currently use interactive whiteboards in their classrooms, informative articles on their use was limited. The three articles below are a series of studies done on the use of interactive whiteboards in the foreign language classroom.

Gerard, F., Greene, M., & Widener, J. (1999). Using SMART Board in Foreign Language Classes. San Antonio, TX: Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 432 278). Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http://www.eric.ed.gov/

This descriptive study evaluated the effectiveness of SMART boards in the secondary foreign language classroom setting. Benefits identified from the use of the SMART Board included enhanced presentation of linguistic and cultural elements of instruction, greater student interaction and engagement by having students use the SMART Board, and use of higher level cognitive skills with the use of the smart board and other forms of technology to create multimedia presentations versus traditional written reports. For example, teachers are able to maintain the classroom setting through the use of a SMART Board with direct classroom interaction while facing the class, instead of having to withdraw from the learning environment to write on a traditional chalkboard. The highlighting feature on the SMART board is also an effective tool in increasing target language interaction in the classroom. Teachers can highlight a word or sentence, and students can communicate in the target language without the use of monotonous and irrelevant oral prompts. Drawbacks of using the SMART board included technical issues when the board is not connected properly and malfunctions with the supplemental hardware. Gerard et al conclude that the benefits of using a SMART board outweigh the drawbacks for enhancing instruction in the secondary foreign language classroom.

Glover, D., Miller, D., Averis, D., & Door, V. (2007). The evolution of an effective pedagogy for teachers using the interactive whiteboard in mathematics and modern languages: an empirical analysis from the secondary sector. Learning, Media, & Technology, 32(1), 5-20. doi:10.1080/17439880601141146. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from Academic Search Database

This study of fifty mathematics and foreign language teachers who had interactive whiteboards in their classroom was done to determine the effectiveness of whiteboards in enhancing instruction and student learning. Factors examined in the study included lesson structure, classroom management, and effective teaching as a result of the whiteboard. The findings of the study indicate having an interactive whiteboard in the classroom does not always ensure enhanced student learning and effective instruction. The most effective teachers were those who made use of the interactive whiteboard a seamless part of their daily instruction, instead of a novelty to be used on certain occasions. In classrooms where the interactive whiteboard was used less frequently, there was a sense of stagnation in the classroom setting, and a more didactic approach in instruction. Glover et al conclude that adequate training on effective interactive whiteboard use and meaningful instruction on the part of the teacher are still crucial to the interactive whiteboard being a successful technological tool in providing instruction.

Gray, C., Pilkington, R., Hagger-Vaughan, L., & Tomkins, S. (2007). Integrating ICT into Classroom Practice in Modern Foreign Language Teaching in England: Making Room for Teachers' Voices. European Journal of Teacher Education, 30(4), 407-429. Retrieved from ERIC database.


This article is a qualitative study of three foreign language teachers in the United Kingdom who have been given interactive whiteboards to use in their classroom as part of a government initiative to use technology to enhance student learning. According to Gray et al, the benefits of the whiteboards included improved classroom management and more engaging lessons. Drawbacks to the usage of white boards were inadequate white board training, and lack of materials in their specific content area. Collaborative planning by the teachers to create their own materials was one of the solutions given to the problem of lack of adequate resources as well as the time spent gathering materials. The findings of the study suggest with adequate materials and training, the interactive white board will be a welcome tool in the foreign language classroom.
Resources and Web links for Interactive Whiteboard Use:


http://www.prometheanplanet.com/server.php?show=nav.1137

This is the official website for teachers who have Promethean Interactive Whiteboards. Teachers can search through their academic content and find lesson plans, games, web quests, and a variety of other activities developed especially for use with the Interactive Whiteboard. As a direct link from the Promethean website, no additional software or plug ins are required for use.

http://www.teachersdiscovery-foreignlanguage.com/template.asp?content=search_display.asp&SKW=spp%2Cprtech&CAT=730


Teachers Discovery has for many years been the gold standard for foreign language teachers in providing educational tools that enhance the foreign language classroom. The resources provided in the link are a series of digital flashcards, games, interactive maps, and oral fluency software designed specifically to be used with an interactive whiteboard to bring meaningful foreign language instruction into the 21st century. In addition to providing software, and digital resources, Teachers Discovery also has a series of digital lessons and appropriate links specifically for foreign language teachers with Interactive Whiteboards available for download. Once downloaded, the links automatically update themselves periodically over a year to ensure the most accurate and up to date information is available for foreign language teachers and students.
http://smartboardrevolution.ning.com/group/worldlanguagesteachers/forum

This is an online forum of foreign language teachers who have Interactive Whiteboards in their classes. From this site teachers can exchange lesson plans and activities, as well as provide support for teachers who may be hesitant to embrace this technological tool in their instruction. Teachers can review their own lessons and provide tips on trouble shooting in the case of technical difficulties.
http://ismartboard.com/
This is a website created by teachers who have interactive whiteboards in their classroom as a lesson and activity exchange. The lessons are divided by content and grade level. The foreign language lessons are adaptable to a variety of grade levels and can be used with an interactive whiteboard, or a computer that is connected to an LCD projector.