Using the SmartBoard!

A number of teachers may not be aware of the benefits of using a Smart Board in the classroom as a teaching tool. While the traditional white board already has everyone’s attention, the electronic device is a new technology that is slowly gaining popularity due to its interactive power.

The digital screen allows images from the computer to be displayed on a board. It can also be modified on the screen itself, using a pen or a highlighting tool. Its touch screen feature allows teachers to run programs directly from the screen simply by tapping the application with her finger and even makes scrolling easy.

Smart Boards are becoming an essential component of every classroom. Some reasons for this trend is that:

• It can accommodate different learning styles:
• Tactical learners can use the screen and learn by touching and marking at the board
• Audio learners can have a discussion
• Visual learners can observe the teaching on the board.
• It is neater and does not have the cleanliness hassle and is therefore easier to maintain.

Most teachers understand the “why” but struggle with the “how”. Here are some ideas on how you can use Smart Boards.

• Use it as a tool for note-taking. Students can come and write important points on the board. Alternately,  you can  appoint a student to type out notes on the computer while you talk, so that the other students can view and take them down.

• Brainstorming in the classroom can be fun with a Smart Board. You can not only put together text/ ideas but also images, diagrams or videos.

• Classroom games can be played with ease on the board. Board games in particular can be played on the board itself.

• All forms of media– videos, photographs, graphs, maps, illustrations, games, etc. – can be used on the board, making it incredibly dynamic in nature. This expands the range of content that you can use for teaching or presenting new information.

A lot of new software is available for free on the internet that can be easily integrated. There are many forums and websites that aim  to help teachers by providing Smart Board ideas and activities. Explore these for more ideas.

The Smart Board is tomorrow’s technology and is bound to change the look of classrooms forever. Using smart boards in your classroom can help you stay ahead with technology that could make the education process simpler and perhaps even more productive.

Tutorials 

Here are some tutorials about using SMART Notebook Interactive Activities in the classroom.

• Activity Builder: Learn how to quickly create interactive activities using SMART Notebook's new Activity Builder feature. This video will quickly show you how to create these activities on your own.

TimeLapseTube

Published on Jul 5, 2012

• Magic Tunnel: the Magic Tunnel effect is an interactive solution to everyday lesson activities. Using grouping and layering objects, you can create the illusion of dragging your question through a magic tunnel, revealing the answer on the other side.

U5iT

Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012

• Erase to Reveal: Using this activity you can hide objects on a SMART Notebook page by coloring over the object with the Pen tool that is the same color as your SMART Notebook page. You can reveal the hidden object by using the Eraser tool and dragging it across the objet. 

cpsits1

Published on Apr 20, 2012

• Balloon Pop Activity: This interactive took can be used to temporally hide objects on a SMART Notebook page. You will place the balloon over an object you wish to hide. Press the ballon to pop it, revealing the hidden object underneath. 

Spenser Hayes

Published on Jul 20, 2013