What are SMART Boards?

 

SMART Board is the brand name of an interactive whiteboard manufactured by SMART Technologies, Inc.

 

 

What is an interactive whiteboard?

 

Interactive whiteboards are devices that allow a user to interact with an image projected onto a surface that resembles a traditional whiteboard, as if it were a computer screen.

 

 

How does a SMART Board work?

 

The three necessary components of a SMART BOARD are the interactive whiteboard, a computer and a projector. These three objects are connected via wireless technology, or USB cables. The projector projects the images on the computer screen onto the interactive whiteboard. This allows a user to interact with the board as if it were a computer. With the newest versions of the SMART board, the images on the board are sensitive to touch, as well as with special tools that the SMART board comes equipped with.

 

 

SMART Board tools

 

SMART Boards come equipped with a pen tray at the bottom of the board, much like on a traditional whiteboard. Four electronic “pens” can be found there, each a different color The board recognizes when a particular pin is missing from the tray, and will show any “marks” made onto that screen with that color. This means: Don’t lose your pens! The tray also comes equipped with an “eraser” that functions as such, as well as two buttons, one acting as the “right click” allowing actions such as “cut and paste” and another button that allows access to a QWERTY keyboard, for typing.

 

 

Software Applications 

 

The SMART board comes equipped with educational software. Any application that can be used with a Windows operating system can be used with a SMART board. In an educational setting, some are more effective when teaching than others. Multitudes of additional software can be found online that is tailored specifically to teaching and learning utilizing an interactive whiteboard.

 

 

Classroom Applications

 

The SMART Board can be used for

 

Digital Storytelling

Showing streamed or downoaded videos

Using online map and satellite imagery to teach geography

Displaying artwork or online museum presentations

Viewing and analyzing physical education activities

Teaching students how to conduct research on the internet

Working collaboratively on writing and editing excercises, math lessons and science experiments

Instructing the class on computer skills

 

Teachers can also use software on smartboards to create lesson plans. In the words of California middle school teacher Sue Holland:

 

 "I used to sit with the old plan book and write, 'I'm going to do this and this.' But with the Smart Board, you get to design your lesson plans using their tools. You can be as creative as you want to be.”...Holland has done just that. “I can insert links to the Internet, or go right to a streaming video on the Web,” she explains. “During a lesson, if a student asks, 'What about this?' I can say, 'Let's take a look' and go online to view it, instead of just talking about it. Eighty percent of us are visual learners -- I do all my lessons now as Smart Board lessons, which is cool." (Cruickshank, 2009)

 

Cost of a SMART Board

SMART Board $1200 - $3000

LCD Projector $750 - $3000

PC or Mac $750 - $4000

 

SMART Board in action (videos)

 

SMART Board touch technology demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91VxJ9YYITc

 

SMART Board in action in an early childhood classroom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOhb4n4ADbM

 

Kindergarteners in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRCFT0g5_uo

 

Interactive whiteboard in action with a special needs child (ActivBoard): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhE8mx1RyWI

 

 

Helpful SMART Board links

 

SMART Technology's site for educators: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-us/

 

SMART "getting started" lesson for educators: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Teachers+Hub/Getting+started/

 

SMART Board state standards link:

: http://www.education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+Activities/Standards+Search+US.htm

 

SMART Educator resources: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/

 

 

Links for games and activities

 

Teachers Love SMART Board is a blog where teachers share new information and lesson plans: http://www.teacherslovesmartboards.com/smart_board_lesson_plans/

 

SMART created lesson plans for K-3: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+Activities/Browse+Notebook/United+States/Elementary/K-3/?sort=

 

SMART Classroom resources for Elementary grades: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Classroom+resources/Elementary/

 

 

Good up-to-date site with links to programs for K-3 learners: http://www.juliethompson.com/SMART.html

 

 

Another site with links to programs for primary grades: http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/smartboard/smartboard.htm

 

 

Other brands of interactive whiteboards

 

As of 2008, 6 out of 10 classrooms used an interactive whiteboard used a SMART Board (SMART, 2009). This means you might be using a different brand once you are in the classroom. Some other manufacturers of interactive whiteboards include:

 

ActivBoard: http://www.prometheanworld.com/

 

eBeam: http://www.e-beam.com/

 

Mimio: http://www.mimio.com/index.asp

 

Webster/eno: http://www.polyvision.com/NAHome/tabid/36/Default.aspx

 

 

DIY: Make your own interactive whiteboard. Take that, budget constraints!

 

A video demonstrating how to make your own interactive whiteboard utilizing a computer, projector, laser pointer and wii remote.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ

 

SMART Boards.pptx

 

References:

 

Cruickshank, D. (2009). A clean slate: interactive whiteboard makes lessons snazzy. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/clean-slate-interactive-whiteboard-makes-lessons-snazzy

 

Denisova, A. (2009, September 4). Minneapolis Tech Innovations Examiner Add to favorites Examiner Bio SMART Board: The wave of the future or another way for    schools and businesses to waste their money?. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/x-6530-Minneapolis-Tech-Innovations-Examiner~y2009m9d4-SMART-Board--The-wave-of-the-future-or-another-way-for-schools-and-businesses-to-waste-their-money

 

SMART Technologies ULC. (2009). Retrieved from http://smarttech.com/     

 

Wiki by Kirstin Epting with research help from Erika Villerius