SmartBoards/Interactive Whiteboards

[The Innovative Educator]

Please share comments, thoughts, suggestions and ideas about enhancing teaching and learning with SmartBoards.

[John Natuzzi]

Any one out there having issues with smartboards that refuse to calibrate correctly. Several of mine will seemingly calibrate fine, but one or more corners of the board will always be out of alignment.

[Chris Burwell]

We have experienced this also. In every case,updating the software has helped. It seems to be happening more and more lately,but updating has worked for us.

[Jay Jorgensen]

I have the same issues but mine i believe has something to do with the problem that it came to me from another room in which a teacher didnt care for or use it and it came to me with large scratch on it. Any idea on how to deal with that?

[Keith Elgart]

hey - if anyone is having issues with their SB's - please call our helpdesk to get some support, some of the issues with the calibration may just require an easy firmware upgrade. 516-922-3508 is the number and just ask for the tech support team - or email [e-mail] and someone will touch base with you.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[Joe Pascarelli]

Besides the iTiL resources, the SMART Technologies site also has many good training materials to learn more about the smartboard. I find the iTil resources and SMART website valuable resources to use to learn more about the smartboard.

http://smarttech.com/

[Keith Elgart]

Here are some other sites to check out with lots of great resources...

http://community.teqsmart.org - lots of lessons, templates, and resources created by NYC teachers (hosted by my company - free registration)

http://blog.teqsmart.org - our blog, lots of good resources, funny discussions, and more useful info

http://exchange.smarttech.com - SMART's community website

http://education.smarttech.com - SMART"s education website with thousands of lessons and other resources

http://www.smartboards.typepad.com/ - Teachers Love SMART Boards blog by James Hollis - he keeps a great blog alive with lots of useful info for teachers using SMART Boards

[Christine Russo]

I use my smartboard everyday in my classroom. It is a great attention grabber for the students. I teach ELL students, and in the beginning of the year I would translate my aim's and do now's into their languages so it would create an easier transition into an English speaking classroom. As it became further and further into the school year I would slowly create all of my lessons in English. The smartboard also allows for great graphics and audio components to be used in the classroom.

[Kerry]

Teaching with smartboards is fun ofcourse. I have a great time using them and trying to think of creative things to do on them. HOWEVER, it is not always an easy thing to use if you have something to do spur of the moment.

I find that teachers (me included) stick post-it charts to them when they want to quickly show what they are talking about. And being that we have to keep things posted on our walls, the charts still have to be created anyway.

So SMART boards are GREAT... but they can not be used all the time.

I love the smartboard tools! LOVE to drag words around! LOVE how I can show kids how to find websites and use websites! LOTS TO LOVE!

[Keith Elgart]

Agreed - just because you have a SMART Board doesnt mean you HAVE to use it for everything. Especially with the classroom requirements that you have certain charts and other documents displayed on the wall in hard copies... can't go against that!

But, have you ever thought of opening Notebook software and just using it as a big white screen (pop it into fullscreen mode) so that you can use it as a space to write and capture? It's a simple and effective way to use it - even utilize the templates for lined paper so that it is a digital lined page...

[Keith Elgart]

Also - meant to say in simplest terms - it is about using the right tool at the right time. just because you have a tool accessible doesnt mean it needs to be used for everything all the time... just because you have a hammer, everything isnt a nail :-)

It's good to know that people are addressing that - I get discouraged when I see people 'complain' that a SMART Board can't do xxxxxx or yyyyyyy or zzzzzz. It isnt meant to do everything and it is best to use it when appropriate to the situation. I am glad to see Kerry say that she loves using it for many things, but cannot/does not use it for others.

[The Innovative Educator]

Interesting post on Classroom 2.0 called, "Are interactive whiteboards necessary?" Check it out and share your thoughts at the SMART Board / Interactive Whiteboard discussion group.

[Keith Elgart]

I believe there is still a need for a 'focal point' in a classroom - no matter how 'center-based' or 'project-based' there is still a need for bringing everyone together to discuss, explain, design, etc. Again, it is not the end all of instruction and the only tool to use, or that since you have one you have to use it all the time. But, there are very appropriate times to use them.

The one drawback I've seen with just a projector/laptop is that the teacher tends to sit at the computer, face in the screen, talking basically at their computer monitor. They tend to get stuck in their seat and dont make face-to-face connections in the classroom (if you are going to have everyone have to show up in one place, you may as well interact with them - if not, then just hold classes virtually :-) )...

We've seen schools choose to include an Airliner in the mix when they've gone without a 'full' SMART Board and that adds a level of flexibility to move around the room and still control the computer... we've actually had some big projects in NYC that have gone this route... in the end, however, the schools began to add SMART Boards to those rooms over time as well. It is great though to have the Airliner and SMART Board in the room (or multiple airliners)...