NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard Basics
Notebook Software Basics

Overview:

The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a touch-sensitive display, about the size of a standard whiteboard. Hooked up to a computer and projector, the interactive whiteboard is like a giant computer screen that students and teachers simply touch to operate. Using their finger or a pen as a mouse, teachers and students can access and control any computer application, file or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs. They can also write over applications in digital ink, then save their work for future study and review. 
  • How can this technology be used in a learning environment:
  • Taking notes in digital ink
  • Saving notes for review via e-mail, the Web or print
  • Viewing websites as a group
  • Demonstrating or using software at the front of a room without being locked behind a computer
  • Creating digital lesson activities
  • Using presentation tools built into the interactive whiteboard software to enhance learning materials
  • Showcasing student presentations

Desired Situation:

Teachers are always looking for ways to motivate students, to capture student’s attention and get them to participate in classroom activities.  Technology can be a terrific aid to teachers if they know how to use the technology and feel comfortable with it.  The SMART Board, manufactured by SMART Technologies, is now being used in many classrooms.  Improving student engagement and motivation during class can aid in a student's ability to retain and recall information.  Learning with interactive whiteboards (Smart Board) in the classroom enables effective student retention and review in the following ways:

  • Lessons are more memorable because students are more engaged and motivated.   Students are able to focus more on the learning moment rather than on worrying about capturing everything through note taking.

  • Several different learning styles are accommodated when learning is delivered with an interactive whiteboard, improving the chances of student retention during class. The Smart Board enables visual learners to see their own writing and objects of their own creation.  The interactive whiteboard also helps kinesthetic or tactile learners reinforce learning through exercises involving touch, movement and space.

  • Notes generated on a Smart Board can be printed or e-mailed for distribution after class, ensuring the student has good review material to support information retention.

 The SMART Board™ Use of technology by teachers is essential to successfully enhancing student learning.  Providing training to teachers on the basic functions and features of Notebook software and how to use the SMART Board will be necessary if the technology is to be used. A strong professional development program is a key factor in the adoption of any new technology.

Current Situation:

Due to lack of educational funding, many school districts are being faced with budget cuts.   The luxury of having a technology coordinator and trainer is not available in many schools districts.  Technology grants have made it possible for many schools to purchase SMART Boards, but funding is not available for training teachers how to use it.   Smart Technologies website (http://www.smarttech.com/education/tips.asp) does provide many teaching tips and some on-line training sessions, however teachers are not aware of this resource and really don’t know where to begin.   A quick survey (See Illustration A below) of teachers who have a SMART Board in their classroom at Lorain Admiral King School, Lorain, Ohio indicates that a training program on how to use the SMART Board is needed.

Illustration A

No. of SMART Boards in School Building

12

No. of  Teachers that have access to the SMART Board

20

No. of Teachers using the Board on a regular basis (daily-weekly)

1

No. of Teachers indicating an interest in receiving training on how to use the Board.

15

The one teacher using the Smart Board was using the board as a computer  projection screen  and not as an interactive device.

There are approximately 1,500 students at Lorain Admiral King High School.  Students in  four sophomore English classes (120 students) were asked if they knew what a Smart Board  was and if they  had observed or participated in a class where the teacher used this technology.

No. of Students who knew what a Smart Board was

60
No. of students who had observed or participated  in a class using this technology

28
No. of students who did not know what a Smart Board was

32

 Gap:

Teachers that have access to the Smart Board have not received any training on how to use it and consequently do not use it because they do not know how or where to begin..  There is a lack of knowledge and skills in how to use the SMART Board in their classrooms.    Many teachers have no idea on how this technology can be used to enhance their instruction and generate enthusiasm and make learning an enjoyable process. 

Motivation/Incentives:

Improving student success by improving instruction should be the goal of every teacher.  Teachers care about their students and want them to have success.  Technology, such as the SMART Board can be used to make lessons more memorable because students will become more engaged and motivated.

 Instructional Goals:

The intended audience for this instruction is:

  • New users of SMART Boards
  • Anyone who want to learn how the SMART Board works
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to use Notebook software

The goals for this instruction include:

  • How to set up the SMART Board
  • How to orient your SMART Board
  • Learn the basic operation of the SMART Board and Notebook software
  • How to Capture and Print Annotations using the SMART Board and Notebook software
  • How to use PowerPoint with your SMART Board
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By Joan Yarsa
ITEC57403--Spring, 2005