Interactive white boards are a technological tool that is changing how instruction takes place in many classrooms around the world. The interactive white board is basically a computer, a projector and the whiteboard itself. The whiteboard screen is touch sensitive and you can run any computer application by touching the screen. Special tools allow you to write on the screen and capture your drawings or notes to make them available to your students. Interactive whiteboards are often referred to by their brand names such as SMART board, ActivBoard, eBeam, Mimio and Webster to name a few. I happen to have a SMART board in my classroom.
TRUE CONFESSIONS
As I have said before, I have a SMART board, but have not utilized it much this year. I have tried a few things but more often than not I have just used the board as a screen. Shame on me!! As I began to research the SMART board I was amazed at all the possibilities. There is an enormous amount of information and literally thousands of lesson plan ideas available for the SMART board I was somewhat overwhelmed by it all!
THE SMART BOARD FOR THIS DUMMY:
For my tutorial I decided I would include what would be helpful to me-what do I need to know to get started?
The basics of the SMART board . I have assumed that you know how to hook up the SMART board. If you don’t, visit this site.
The following will show you how to write on the board and some other really cool tools. Each video is only 2 minutes long-quick and dirty! This will save you countless hours of reading the manual. Believe me, I read the manual.
Notebook Software is what comes with your SMART board. Here are the basics, and I mean basics of this program.
Next: I use a number of Power Point presentations in my class. Here’s how I can enhance my Power Point presentations, using the SMART board?
There are literally, and I mean literally thousands of already prepared lessons available for the SMART board. Here’s how you get to those:
Now, let’s review. This video is longer (about 8 minutes) feel free to skip it if you like, but this guy is a bit more engaging and it’s always good to review.
Finally here are some cool tips and tricks. There are countless ways to use this technology. I am starting with these.
What Do My Students Need to Know?
My students are usually light years ahead of me when it comes to technology. Many have had opportunity to use the SMART board in other classes. But, there should probably be some guidelines that we should all follow.
The following would be their introduction to the use of the SMART board in my classroom. I would use the power point in SMART board mode so we could write on it and save and change things, etc.
This year I will be working SMARTer!!
For more information on Interactive White Boards see the following sites:
http://smarttech.com/edredirect
http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm
http://www.bristolvaschools.org/mwarren/SBActivities.htm
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/interactive.aspx
http://rmtc.fsdb.k12.fl.us/tutorials/whiteboards.html
All I can say is wow! I just got a smart board installed and thought I knew quite a bit about what a smart board can do. I had no idea of all the things that it can do. After watching your videos, I will be trying some of these things tomorrow morning! Great post. Thanks for choosing that one. You really knew a lot about it.
ReplyDeleteKris...even from Ecuador you still rock these blogs. haha!! Well, I am SO very glad you did a tutorial on the SmartBoard. I have been a little hesitant to get started on mine. I think I needed a little shove. I just started summer school and my SmartBoard has been staring at me almost begging to be used correctly and not just as a screen. I am sure my kids will love being able to interact using the colored pens, writing on a screen, moving things around, and generally just being up front showing their fabulous skills.
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying yourself with your grandbabies.