In today’s classroom technology is of utter importance. One of the biggest issues facing technology in schools is cost. A great way to add technology and offset the cost is the Mimio system. The Mimio system is portable and can be moved from classroom to classroom with ease. The Mimio an integrative technology that turns the ordinary whiteboard into a touch-screen smartboard. “Buying technology isn’t efficient unless it’s going to be useful. And the things that will make it useful are its interactivity, intuitiveness, and ease of use,” (Weymer, 2015). Having been in classrooms that used the Mimio, I can personally attest to its ability to reach every student. It transforms learning into a fun and exciting adventure.
The Mimio system is a great way to ensure that all modalities of learning are being reached: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Students in today’s world are already entrenched in technology every day, bringing it .in to the classroom is necessary if we want to give our students the best opportunity for success. The system is extremely easy to use and requires nothing more than your computer, a projector, and the Mimio, which consists of a USB connector and a magnetic strip equipped with the “magic” pen (I love this name). Once you install the mimio software onto your computer, you are all set and ready to go.
I used this system as a teacher in my 6th grade world history class. I taught two classes of honors (students with scores of 4’s and 5’s) and three classes of regular (students with scores of 2-4’s). What I noticed in my classes with the lowest level students was that they became more interested in the material because they were allowed to experience it. One of the best lessons I gave was a pyramid building program. The students were so excited to be able to come up to the board to use the “magic” pen, they were ooohing and aaahhing, waving their hands, practically jumping out of their seats to try and navigate the ship through the Nile River.
One of the most difficult areas for any teacher to conquer is getting their students excited to be there. The Mimio helps with that. In my class, I would use the Mimio to take daily attendance. The board would show students names/pictures, the students would find their name and move it to the present section on the board using that wonderful “magic” pen. Afterward, they would go sit down in their seats (most of the time and usually with a little prompting). The students enjoyed coming to class and “playing” on the board before class started.
These are just a few examples of how incorporating technology into the classroom is a must have and not a luxury item. Students need to thrive in the classroom. The days of standing up and lecturing while students take notes are a thing of the past. “Teachers must learn to use technology and must allow it to change their present teaching paradigm. This is not an easy task because change can seem intimidating and threatening,” (Bitner and Bitner, 2002). As educators, we must acknowledge and embrace this. If we do not we will fail the up and coming learners we are entrusted to teach.
References
Bitner, N., & Bitner, J. O. E. (2002). Integrating technology into the classroom: Eight keys to success. Journal of technology and teacher education, 10(1), 95-100.
Weymer, J. (n.d.). Teachers Find Mimio Technologies Easy to Implement, Easy to Use, and Highly Effective as Instructional Tools. Retrieved from https://mimio.boxlight.com/