How are you using your classroom smartboard?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julie Baird on December 4, 2008 at 3:34am

I think one of the arguments you can state is if you had a SmartBoard permanently installed, you would be able to do better lessons. It sounds right now that you are using it only as a glorified whiteboard when no one else has it checked out. If you knew it was yours all the time, you could really do a lot more with preparing your lessons so that students are more engaged. I personally can't use most of the fabulous items in the Activity Tool Kit on the fly.

There should also be evidence of how often you use it. I know when we were getting our first 2 SmartBoards, the tech guy put one in my room because 1) he knew I would use it and 2) he knew I would play with it until I figured out how to use it to it's full potential (I'm still learning) and 3) I would train others how to use it. Maybe these reasons are also arguments you can present.

Good luck. I hope you get one soon. I know that it has revolutionized the way I teach. I would not want to give it up.

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Permalink Reply by Mims on December 4, 2008 at 7:40pm

Thanks Julie. :) At first, I felt offended when I read that you felt I was "using it as a glorified whiteboard." But you're right, I am. I am sure there is so much more I can do with it! What is an Activity Took Kit, is that the Gallery? So much to learn... Oh by the way, at our meeting today, another teacher told my principa; he should give it to me. :)

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Permalink Reply by Julie Baird on December 5, 2008 at 3:17am

Hi Mims,
When I went back and reread my post, I can see how stating that you using it as a glorified whiteboard is insulting. I didn't mean it that way. Sorry for that. I think most teachers new to a SmartBoard use it that way until they get comfortable with that and then look to see what else it can do.

There is an Activity Tool Kit that you need to download from Smarttech. It has a lot of flash programs and cool stuff to liven up your lessons and make them more interactive for students.

There is a lot to learn with SmartBoards. When you get your own (not if) I recommend signing up for Smartboard blogs and podcasts. That's how I've learned most of what I know about the SmartBoard. Also check to see if there is any SmartBoard training in your area. Our state has regional educational service centers and they usually have several SmartBoard session throughout the year. At the session I attended there were some elementary teachers there who had a SmartBoard for about 8 months already. At the first break I asked them if they were bored since the rest of us were brand new to the SmartBoard. One of the teachers emphatically said, "Oh, no. I've learned a lot already. I didn't know I could do half of the things our presenter showed us."

Good luck. Let us know when you get your board.

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Permalink Reply by Edwin on December 22, 2008 at 5:07am

You guys oughta try the Game Show Wizard for your smartboard. It's the best I've found in a loooong search. www.pathoslearning.com

Cheers!

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Polly on December 28, 2008 at 8:06pm

I have a smartboard in my kindergarten class. I addition to the great lessons from smarttech I have made many interactive lessons. The board acts as a second teacher while I am working with small groups. Since my 5 year olds do not keyboard, it is the only tool they can use to publish their writing to our class website.

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Permalink Reply by Allyson Bartley on January 9, 2009 at 5:48pm

What a great Maths game! Can you recommend other sites for me to browse through to get a few more games from. The ones you use a lot for the interactive whiteboard would be great. Thanks!!

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Permalink Reply by Karen Merkow on January 13, 2009 at 1:07pm

Hi, I just posted a blog about this. Help! http://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blogs/smart-boards

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Permalink Reply by Angela Ellis on January 17, 2009 at 9:23am

Hey,

I agree with you I want that Smart Board. I want to write a grant to get one. Have you thought about that? If you get any information on how to write a grant for that can you share??

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Permalink Reply by Rhonda Leduc on March 17, 2009 at 1:24pm

Hello I have just found out that I will be receiving a Smartboard for my grade 4/5 classroom shortly. I am very excited about this news and am wondering if you can help me use my time most economically in learning how to use this new tool to its maximum use. Can you tell me the best ways I should go about learning how to incorporate the Smartboard into my teaching. I want to be able to get it up and running with as little stress as possible. I am the first one in my school and one of the few in my district to receive one. I am not afraid of technology and am excited about the possibilities.
The first question I have concerns behaviour management. As an example, I found a great mapping activity which involved moving provinces around on the board...I can see all 26 faces wanting to have a turn at the activity. How would this look in your classroom? Thanks! Rhonda

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Permalink Reply by Julie Baird on March 21, 2009 at 3:42am

Hi Rhonda, Congrats on getting a SmartBoard. It will change your teaching if you use it as intended.

When I first got my SmartBoard I knew the kids had to play with it before I could use it for learning. On the first day I showed my students how to write their names, how to convert their names to text, how to drag their names to make it bigger, how to rotate their names and how to change the font and color. I "made" every kid come up to the board to write on it and manipulate what they wrote. Having them play with it first helped a lot. Students need to get used to the technology.

Fortunately my students don't usually fight over who gets to move items on the SmartBoard. They are good at taking turns. I tell them one person at a time, and those students in waiting need to be on the side so they aren't blocking the view for others. Occasionally I'll have a few students stand by the walls to wait their turn but usually they sit in their seats and as soon as one person is done at the board someone else will jump up. If this looks chaotic in your classroom you can use a system for who goes next. When I need to randomly call on kids I have a stack of index cards with a name on each card. I simply shuffle the cards. Except for the first day, I never force a kid to go to the board if they don't want to.

I use the SmartBoard for attendance. I teach in a high school and have 5 classes a day. I created a page with the student names on the left side. As students enter the room, they drag their name to the right side. There are labels at the top that read "Who's missing?" (on the left side) and "Who's here?" (on the right side). This helps me see at a glance if someone is gone but it also allows every student the opportunity to touch the board every day.

For resources to help you learn how to use your board, I recommend the following:
Teachers Love SmartBoards (a blog with lots of videos for training) by Jim Hollis
Teaching with Smartboard by 2 high school math teachers from Naperville. This is a podcast and the examples are usually math related but I always find tips or tricks on how to do get more out of the notebook software.

In addition, hands on training where you can actually play with a SmartBoard is good. Before I got mine I was able to go to a SmartBoard training session at our area educational resource center. I think most states have these. Talk to your librarian. He or she should know if your state has a regional educational center with training sessions. The session that I went to had mostly teachers who recently received or were soon getting a SmartBoard but there were 3 teachers there who had one for almost a year. I asked them if the training was boring for them and they emphatically said "no." They said that there were a lot of aspects to the SmartBoard software that they were unaware of.

Lastly the SmartTech website has 2 minute tutorials on using the software. There are also lesson plans and notebook files that you can download and see what others do with the software. You are allowed to download the current software and use it for 30 days. Once you get your SmartBoard you'll need the serial number to register your software. You'll then be able to have a valid copy of the notebook software on your home computer as well as your school computer. I often prepare my lessons at home and take the files to school.

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Permalink Reply by Aida on May 25, 2009 at 11:39am

If you have a smartboard, make sure to install the program called notebook 10. With this program you can have access to 100s of interactive lesson activities, and educational games. You can also customize each interactive lesson based upon your needs. I hope this was helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Darren on July 11, 2009 at 8:47am

Rich,

I use www.bubbabrain.com with smartboards. Bubbabrain is a website that allows teachers to create interactive review games for their students.

Check out http://www.bubbabrain.com

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