Misawa's Airman Leadership School innovates SMART-ly

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 35th Force Support Squadron is now using new SMART Boards purchased with innovation funds for Airman Leadership School at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

SMART Boards, developed by SMART technologies as an interactive whiteboard with a touch screen, were first introduced in 1991. They’re a sophisticated replacement for traditional overhead projectors.

“Our classes were in the stone age with the equipment used in the past,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Hamilton, a 35th Force Support Squadron ALS instructor. “Teachers used marker boards, projectors and projection screens. Notes for students were written on whiteboards, but now with its digital format, can be saved and distributed to students.”

The boards are like giant tablets and can be connected to computers wirelessly or through cables.

Students enjoyed the new equipment and expressed appreciation for better access to old notes, claimed Hamilton.

“The new board has been a great innovation purchase for the classroom because our instructors can show us graphs and pictures,” said Senior Airman Dylan Sheneman, a 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management journeyman. “I’m a visual learner so being able to perceive those pictures and graphs helps me learn the curriculum.”