Smart Board
How does a Smart Board work?
A smart board is an interactive whiteboard with a touch screen. The
Smart Board system includes the interactive whiteboard, a computer, a projector,
and some whiteboard software, for instance Smart Notebook and a toolkit of
plastic pens and an eraser.
The software program Smart Notes is installed in the computers (there
are other software programs as well, but I use Smart Notes in this text as it
is the software used at my workplace) making it possible to use the all the functions,
such as writing and erasing text at the Smart Board. When you remove a pen tool
from the pen tray, an optical sensor recognizes it´s absence, as the technology
is in the pen tray (not in the pen tool as one could believe).
The basic technology in the Smart Board is based on communication
between the computer and the projector, making the computer screen shown on the
whiteboard. As the projector interacts with the computer, all computer programs
and functions can be used with the Smart Board. This makes it possible to, for
instance, write text, use the calculator, draw charts, use internet and open up
maps with information etc. on the computer that is shown in real time on the
whiteboard.
The Smart Board also got a “freeze” button making for freezing the
projected display and still be able to use the regular display on the computer.
This button makes it possible to show only what you want the pupils to see and still
be able to, for instance, get more information, prepare a program and the like.
To get started you click at the power button on the remote control to
wake up the projector. A green light is shown at the projector when the
interaction between the computer and projector is ready to use. If you’re not
using the projector for a while it can be powered off on the remote control.
How the resource can be used
by teachers
At my workplace every classroom are equipped with Smart Boards and we use
them every day as a teaching method in almost every subject. Using Smart Board
is an easy way to integrate images, sounds, movies, internet and other computer
functions in the teaching. Lesson plans can be done on the computer, be used in
and changed during lesson and then be saved for continuing another time.
To give some examples from real life, we start every school day in Year
2 with a silent moment, laying back, listening to soft music and looking at quiescent
pictures at the smart board to calm down and make it easier to concentrate.
During December we used an interactive electronic advent calendar, where a
window in the advent calendar is opened every day until Christmas holiday. The
window hides a mission for the pupils to solve that is connected to either
Christmas traditions or some school subject, for instance to sing a Christmas
carol together, to so solve a riddle or do some mathematics together. Small
missions like this can be used now and then in specific subjects during the
school year to make repetition of tasks funnier, activate creativity and work
on group dynamics or to get some energy into the class when appearing sleepy.
For special occasions like the festival of Lucia or advent I hide special missions
in a traditional paper advent calendar in the classroom. The calendar can
include small gifts to the class as a whole, or a paper with a QR-code. When the
pupils scan the QR-code with a tablet connected to the computer and the smart
board, the QR-reader transforms the code into a message, picture or a video
visible for everybody at the smart board. The last day before Christmas we have
a Treasure Hunt where a mission solved is revealing the next one using
QR-codes. This game is much appreciated and can be varied to other occasions
and subjects, for instance doing sports. This text is severely biased to
Christmas, but that is closest in mind right now!
How the resource can be used
by pupils
My class has three tablets that can be connected to the computer and the
smart board when a new game or assignment is presented. Thus everyone gets the
same instructions and can help each other in small groups. The Smart Board is
often used by the pupils as a complementary to the books and is linked to the
subjects referred to in the book. As a new book is read every week, new
characters are introduced and to every character there is a linked crossword.
In order to get all children involved, they solve it together on the Smart Board.
As they help each other to figure out what the associated image pictures and take
turns to write at the smart board with the plastic pen, creativity, group work,
cohesion in the class as well as friendship and respect between the individuals
is stimulated which is helpful in the ordinary work.
Technology doesn’t always collaborate instantly – or at all – as one
might expect. It might be a good idea to have a plan B for occasional trouble,
like power failure or a non-working computer or projector. A scheduled Smart
Board interactive lesson should therefore easily be transformed into an
“old-school” lesson without technology use. I have had to rethink my prepared
lesson several times due to technology issues.
Another delicate area to pay attention to is texting with the pen. Using
the plastic pen on the Smart Board is quite different from writing on a paper.
The text is not likely to appear where you expect it on the whiteboard.
Therefore you probably need some practice using the pen tool before getting
into class.
I can see your motivation in your words
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