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Case Study 4

Zunal was the other WebQuest software package that I used for the mock WebQuest. I believe that both were relatively easy to navigate. Zunal allowed me to manage the content more efficiently because they have multiple pages outlined for the creation of the WebQuest. Wikiful limited the full WebQuest to only five pages for the free portion, whereas Zunal has six pages.

In terms of user friendliness, I believe that Zunal was better because Wikiful had moments where I would click on a link for the group WebQuest, and it would not load unless I manually hit the reload button on the page. Zunal had their pricing at 55 cents per month for a pro account and you are given a limit of 50 WebQuest pages. Over three years, they priced the package at an even $20. Wikiful had a few package deals at $5 for 2 wikis and 50 pages, $10 for 5 wikis and 100 pages, or you can do a custom package and receive pricing.

Overall, I believe that Zunal was a better program to use because it was easier to navigate and load content than Wikiful. Zunal was less stressful in my opinion. I did not need to spend an inadequate amount of time trying to figure out how to properly use Zunal, as opposed to Wikiful.

https://www.wikiful.com/@DariusJRoss/environmental-limiting-factors

Case Study 5

Over the past 30 years, it is obvious that technology has had a tremendous impact on education. Back in the year 2000, SmartBoards were just a figment of the imagination in some classrooms across the United States, although SmartBoards were invented in the early 1990s (What Is the History of the SMART Board?). Teachers were wishing that their dinosaur overheads were interactive with their students. Today, in the year 2018, not only are SmartBoards thriving with the connectivity of a computer and Internet, but there are also small overheads that connect to the SmartBoard. These are called Elbows, and they offer the same concept that overheads used years ago. They allow teachers to write material on paper from their desk and have it projected on a larger screen for students to see. Classroom technology has advanced so much that instructional software can be used in an instant to reinforce the subject matter being taught. For this case study, I would like to focus on the software of SmartBoards, and how they positively impact educational comprehension.

            The first time that I encountered a SmartBoard was my Sixth-grade year, which was 2008. I did not know what the software was, let alone what it did. My teacher at the time, Mr. Delk, allowed us to interact with the software by doing math problems to bellwork on the board, as well as classwork and homework. SmartBoards had a positive impact on my educational career because it allowed me to have the visual and kinesthetic learning that I needed to succeed in the classroom.

            From experience, I know how important it is for students to have instructional software, as well as teachers. Studies have shown that teachers notice the important benefits of the SmartBoard software. The most noticeable benefit for the software is that student engagement is higher with the use of such technology in the classroom. “These interactive boards provide an extraordinary opportunity for teachers to create a classroom environment where students with different learning styles can learn from each other” (Cox). The engagement provided with this software takes on all learning styles and allows social constructivism where students are learning from those around them and minimal guidance from the teacher.

            SmartBoards and other instructional software have propelled education into a world of tremendous opportunity. Students and teachers are given the chance to explore new concepts beyond the textbook to make education fun and insightful. Personally, I have seen the benefits in myself and students that I have taught in my practicum. Students glow when they see that technology is being utilized to teach. Thus, they are prepared to learn new things and explore new concepts. Educators are not oblivious to the fact that such software enhances student learning and allows for better success rates in the classroom. The challenge, however, is that some schools cannot afford the cost of using such classroom software, thus making it hard for teachers and students to reap the benefits of instructional software.

References

Cox, J. (n.d.). Technology in the Classroom: The Benefits of Smart Boards. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-benefits-smart-boards.

Technology can close achievement gaps, improve learning. (2014, September 19). Retrieved from https://ed.stanford.edu/news/technology-can-close-achievement-gaps-and-improve-learning-outcomes.

What Is the History of the SMART Board? (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://www.techwalla.com/articles/what-is-the-history-of-the-smart-board.

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