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Unit 3 - SmartBoard - More Than Just a Glorified White Board

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SmartBoard

Return to Course home page: Fearless Integration Of Technology In The Elementary Classroom

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Making the most of this incredibly versatile classroom tool

Unit 3: Objectives

Am I getting the most out of my Smartboard? It is not an uncommon phenomenon to learn just enough about something (technology, software, processes) to "get the job done". Yet, we are often left feeling that we are only scratching the surface; but find that more pressing demand on our time prevent us from delving any deeper than we must.

In this unit, we will:

  • Share what we already know about Smartboards
  • Explore other possibilities and uses for Smartboards
  • Identify sources and resources for tutorials, training, and professional development
  • Find, download and adapt existing and/or template lessons created in SmartNotebook software

Lesson 1: Back To Basics

First, some background. Smartboards are a name brand of a technology tool commonly known asInteractive White Boards. There are a few other brands out there, (Smartboard by SMART Technologies and Promethean seem to be used in schools, with Smartboards appearing to be the most popular) therefore, this lesson will focus on Smartboards and the associated hardware and Internet resources available.


Activity A - Brainstorming

List as many uses as you can think of that you have used your Smartboard for. For each different use, think of how specifically you have used it.

Consider:

  • Did you use it to replace an existing technology? (i.e. in place of a chalkboard or dry-erase white board?)
  • In what ways did using the Smartboard make the tasks easier and more efficient?
  • Have there been any times where you have used your Smartboard in an innovative, creative way that was not a 'replacement' for another tool?

Go to the class blog for this unit and share some of your thoughts and ideas. Read and comment on others’ comments as well. https://sites.google.com/site/techintheclassrooms/class-discussion-home-page


Lesson 2: The Daunting Made Simple

SMARTTech Logo

"Wow! I didn't realize I could do that!" This lesson will be considered successful if, after this exploration, you feel compelled to exclaim that statement.

Activity A - Training

Go to the following website and peruse the different options available for training.

Activity B - creating a user account

Now that you have seen some of the potential resources, let's get on board!

  • If you haven't already, create an account so you have access to the resources. There is no charge and most of the resources are free.
  • Once you have an account, sign in and continue to look at some of the professional development and training available.

(If you have any issues creating an account or logging in, do not hesitate to contact the instructor: jmweber@albany.edu or contact fellow course participants)

Activity C - Identifying sources

Find and investigate two training options available on the SMART Technologies Training and Professional Development Resources site that interest you. Go to the Unit 3 – Lesson 2 class blog and share the training you found interesting, and why.

As other colleagues post, review and comment on their choices. Note if there are any that selected the same options you did. This may be an opportunity to work together taking this training. https://sites.google.com/site/techintheclassrooms/class-discussion-home-page


Lesson 3 - Using SmartNotebook

What exactly is SmartNotebook? Although the Smartboard is a great way to share anything you have on the computer with the entire room, not all programs have the capabilities to foster collaboration and interactive lessons or demonstrations. SmartNotebook is a software application that was created to make the most of the SmartBoard interactive whiteboard. It is similar to PowerPoint or other presentation software in as much as it provides a linear slide-by-slide display of information. It includes with it many animated images and interactives such as timers and clocks, and random word or number generators. It also comes with a plethora of clipart.

In this lesson, we will explore what others have created using Smartnotebook for classroom lessons, and then, using SmartNotebook, we will create a simple presentation and search, modify and create a dynamic and interactive lesson for ourselves.

Activity A - Investigate SmartNotebook

Go to this website and scroll down to find "Browse our free resources"

http://www.smarttech.com/Home+Page/Resources/Training

Notice how many PDF, FLASH and video tutorial sources you have at your fingertips!

Look also at the "Creating Engaging Lessons" section (Ctrl-F to search, or scroll)

Choose one source from each section that interests you, and then (before investigating it) report to the discussion for this lesson and, if no one in the course has chosen the two you chose, list them as the sources you will learn about and summarize for the group. If another member of the course has already selected one you have chosen, you will need to return and choose another to investigate & summarize.

Once you have investigated, write up a summary and post it to the discussion group. Look at at least two to three other posted summaries and reflect/respond about how you might be able to use this tool in your lessons.

https://sites.google.com/site/techintheclassrooms/class-discussion-home-page

Related reflection:

Of the three options provided (PDF document, Flash Presentation or video) what is your preference for a tutorial? Do you think there are students in your classroom that have similar preferences? When you are choosing instructional materials, have you ever considered using online tutorials to supplement instruction? How might your lessons or instruction change if you incorporated some tutorials?

Activity B - Create a Simple Presentation

  • Choose one of the tools or features that either you summarized or another in the discussion group summarized and use it in a simple presentation.
  • Open the program SmartNotebook. Choose "Create New". Incorporate the tool or feature, format the page to your liking (bacground color, font style/color/size etc. Save it and when you name it, please use your first name, last initial, an underscore, and the name of the tool you are demonstrating (i.e. jeanneW_EraseToReveal)
  • (NOTE: try not to include any blank spaces in the name of your file -a good habit to get into because spaces confuse computers and websites, often inserting odd characters in such as $%20 and you might want to upload your future files to share)

Lesson 4 - Don’t Reinvent The Wheel

Using Smart Exchange

What exactly is a SmartExchange? It is a sanctioned sharing site for SmartNotbook lessons created by others.

You may find that it is more productive to download and adapt existing lessons & presentations, versus creating new.

Activity A - Searching Productively

Go to the following website: http://exchange.smarttech.com

Notice you options:

Smart Exchange
  • Search All Resources
  • Browse by:
  • Subject(s)
  • Grade(s)
  • File Type
  • Top Downloads

Determine your criteria and perform a search. Look at a few lessons and bookmark any that you might want to return to later.

Note: Under "File Type" you may find some that are for "SmartTables". SmartTables are interactive tables that allow for access from all 4 sides of the table, so some of the content may be sideways or upside down.

Activity B - Modifying an Existing Lesson

Select and download one lesson and modify it to support the students in your actual or hypothetical classroom. Write a summary of the lesson and include some of the more prevalent learning standards that are addressed. Post your summary and the modified lesson to the appropriate class discussion. Read some of the other summaries and comment.

https://sites.google.com/site/techintheclassrooms/class-discussion-home-page


Unit 3 - Conclusion

Independent reflection

Trusting yourself, trusting your students. What else is missing? It is great to become reasonably proficient in new technologies, however, do you resist attempting untested activities with the Smartboard because you fear your students will think less of you if you struggle a bit? How much do you trust your students to come up with their own ideas of how the Smartboard could be used to aide in their learning? We will come back to these thoughts later in the course.

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