New screens in Screen: cutting edge ‘smart boards’ installed
THREE new state of the art smart boards were installed in Screen National School last Thursday.
Principal Fiona Wickham said the school had taken the decision to replace three interactive whiteboards at the school with the cutting edge smart boards when the whiteboards stopped working.
‘Three of our old whiteboards had basically stopped working and there was no point in repairing them as it would costly and it is becoming obsolete technology. We had received a grant of €5,000 under the IT grants for school so we decided to see what other technology was out there.
‘The three smart boards cost €13,000 so we had to use other money we had fundraised to buy the boards but it was well worth it. These new boards are at the cutting edge of technology and will greatly benefit the students and teachers as well as enhancing the whole learning process.
‘We got iPads last year in the school and now with these boards the students can do all their work on iPads which are linked to the smart boards. The children can then cast their work onto the boards.
‘The screens of the smart boards are fully interactive touch-screens so there’s no need for stylus’ or pens. When you arrive into school in the morning and switch on the boards they connect automatically to the Wifi. There’s no need to spend time in the morning setting things up and linking computers to it.
‘The three boards also come with their own software so there are plenty of programmes on it to cover all aspects of teaching. The smart boards are very large and the picture quality is fantastic. With the whiteboards we had to close the blinds so the children could see them properly but with these they are so good that there is no need to touch the blinds.
‘These boards are so much quicker than the whiteboards and there is no need for projectors. To replace a bulb on some of the projectors can cost €1,000 so to eliminate the need for them is great.’
With a student body of 147 pupils Fiona said it is hoped to share the three smart boards with two classrooms so that all the children will benefit from the technology. She said the school is a Digital School of Distinction and these new smart boards are in keeping with the school’s efforts to keep abreast of technology. The school also boasts a very active Facebook and Twitter account which is @screenturtles.
‘They will provide invaluable to the school and to be honest without the grant we simply wouldn’t have been able to afford these boards. The children and teachers are loving the benefits they bring and because they have only been installed we are still only scratching the surface regarding its capabilities.
‘All the lessons can be taught through the smart boards and most of the curriculum schemes have interactive elements so they will be invaluable. They will also cut out the need for some books and workbooks.’
Fiona said that while some of the larger and newer schools are already benefiting from the new technology Screen National School is one of the first schools of its size in Wexford to install the technology. ‘We’re delighted to have been able to get these boards with the help of our Board of Management, our parent body and the essential IT grant from the Department of Education’, said Fiona.