15. Interview Transcript Shawn Robinson Q: What is your role as an IT specialist for Lexington County School District? A: I install software, correct general software and hardware problems. I also keep the vocational director up-to-date on current trends in educational technology and make suggestions for its use. Q: Why did you suggest the use of the multimedia projector for the business classes in 2000? A: The teachers in that department do a lot of teacher and student presentations. This projector allows the teacher to connect it to a computer and project those presentations onto projector screen. Q: How much did the projectors cost? A: I’m not sure of the actual cost because schools get discounts but I would guess they were retailing at about $1500 at that time. However, I’m sure cost has come done quite a bit. Q: What factors do you think have driven the cost down? A: Well, simply because they have become more commonplace and a lot of business and educational entities are using whiteboards. .
16. S Robinson interview, continued Q: That takes me to my next question. I understand that the English, Science, and Business department at the high school are now using whiteboards. What made the district decide to purchase those and what technology did it obsolete? A: Let me first explain that we still have projectors within the high school but the ones that were bought for the business department years ago have been removed when they got their whiteboards. Their multimedia projectors will be moved to the middle schools. Q: Ok, I understand that the elementary and middle schools get a lot of the “hand me downs “ from the high school..is this true? A: Yes, this is true. They do. Q: Ok, now what about the second part of my previous question? What made the district decide to install interactive whiteboards in the English, Science, and Business departments? A: Well, there were some whiteboards scattered already throughout the school but they weren’t being used effectively (teachers had no formal training). This is a new age and time for our children. I think they learn best when they can be actively involved in their education. The interactive smartboards allow them to do this and gives the teacher a more hands on teaching ability that was not possible with the multimedia projectors. For example, they can write on the board using digital ink. That is a really cool feature.
17. S Robinson Interview, continued Ms. Smith: Thank you so much Mrs. Robinson for agreeing to the interview and giving me some insight into the emergence of the interactive whiteboard and the obsolescence of the multimedia projector. Mrs. Robinson: You’re welcome. Thank you for asking me. Hope you get an A in your class. Ms. Smith: Thank you Mrs. Robinson. This concludes our interview.
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19. R Johnson Interview Johnson: Thank you, Ms. Johnson for agreeing for me to conduct this interview. Smith: No problem, Ms. Smith Q: I understand that your school district has recently installed interactive smartboards-Is that correct? A: Yes, we do have smartboards. Q: What media did it replace? A: The multimedia projectors Q: Tell me, what was your impression when your department first received the smartboards? A: Excited, nbut looking forward to the interactive software Q: Had you had any previous training prior to its installation? A: No, and I was very nervous but some of my students were familiar with it. Q: Has the district now provided you with training? A: yes, they have. Q: What is your favorite feature of the smartboard? A: Importing videos into the classroom activities and digital ink for presentations Q: Do you allow your students to use the smartboard for presentations? A: Yes, in fact they showed me some shortcuts.
20. R Johnson Interview, continued Q: Which media do you prefer using? The projector or the smartboard? Why? A: I prefer using the smartboards because of the interactive activities Q: What if the district took all of your smarboards and gave you your projector back. How would you feel? A: I hope that never happens but if it did, we as teachers we are flexible and will adjust but I’d prefer the smartboard. Smith: Thank you, again, Mrs. Johnson, for your time and I hope you have a good school year. Johnson: Thank you very much.
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