What the Teachers say.......
“We have purchased two SMART Interactive Boards this school year. We have found that they really enrich the learning experiences in the classrooms.The resources are colourful, appropriate and appeal very much to the children. While the boards are only as good as the teacher using them I have to say they are the best teaching aid and learning support to have ever come on the market. The response from the whole school community has been very enthusiastic and we look forward to reaping the rewards of greater interactive teaching and learning over the years.
I must also compliment Mr Stephen Linnane of Liosdoire Computers for his fantastic backup service, advice and support”
- Kieran O’Toole Principal, Baloonagh National School, Tralee
“Here in Adamstown Castle, we are thrilled with out new interactive white boards. These Smart boards have set us off in a new dimension with regards to the use of IT in the classroom. The World is brought into the classroom and the children are actively engaged with it across the curriculum. We are finding that these Smart Boards are an invaluable resource for ‘hands on’, activity based learning.”
- Tom Moriarty, Principal, Adamstown Castle, Educate Together National School
“Learning and Teaching in the 21st. Century, with kids of Generations Y and Z, is a challenge presented to teachers everyday in every classroom all over the world. Interactive Whiteboards have opened new doors and real-time ubiquitous avenues to explore local and global issues in an enhanced environment designed for meaningful learning.
Alone or as a community of learners, the interactive whiteboards afford all kids and teachers the tools to authentically explore teaching and learning at many and multiple levels of intelligences and cater for all exceptionalities”.
- Dr. Daithí Ó Murchú PhD Gaelscoil Ó Doghair Caislean Nua Thiar Co. Luimnigh
“As ICT Advisor to Mayo Education Centre since 1999, I looked at the possibilities for all innovative applications in Education. I purchased 2 Smart Boards in 1999 and have been promoting their use in education since then. I had looked at a number of other models but the software and support that came with the SmartBoards was intuitive, easily learned and applicable to all ages. There was a large resource base that could be adapted to an irish situation. Initially the 2 SmartBoards were used at the Mayo Education Centre for seminars and courses. This meant that as the ICT Advisor I gave demonstrations to a wide variety of teachers and inspectors on the potential use of the boards. This ranged from using the boards with Junior Infants teachers to speciality use with Physical Education teachers, coaches, Art teachers and music teachers.
In 2005 we purchased a third SmartBoard and decided to loan the older 2 boards to schools for 3-6month periods. This once again proved to be an innovative and practical was of introducing our teachers to the Smart material. Because of the success of this work we are continuing to loan the boards to schools and then run courses in those schools for neighbouring schools about the educational benefits of SmartBoards.
This Summer in particular teachers will be producing classroom material on Notepad. As with any Quality Tool of learning teachers need to be taught how to use the tool. Once this has happened, the tool (SmartBoard) in the hands of a confident and educated user enhances learning across a variety of learning situations and scenarios. SmartBoards have by our experience, qualified as a excellent tool of teaching and learning.”
- Art Ó Súilleabháin Director of Mayo Education Centre