Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Session 2 Resources: SmartNotebook Basics Online Training

Hardware: SmartBoard, Projector, Camera
Software: SmartNotebook 10

From SmartNotebook, Online Training-most videos are two minutes and very to the point.

Getting Started

A summary of what’s new in SMART Notebook 10. View each tutorial individually, or watch the entire 30-minute overview.

Basics

Overview of the Notebook software interface, writing in Notebook software and converting handwriting to typed text.

The Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0

The recently updated Lesson Activity Toolkit is a Gallery collection of customizable tools and templates, including activities, games and graphics, and tools that you can use to create professional-looking, interactive and engaging lessons.


Lesson Planning and Delivery

Learn how to create lesson material with Notebook software. Add interactive elements to get students involved.

From my training with the Oklahoma State Department of Education, below is a template with the top ten tools. Copy the page into your own presentation and run with it: SmartNotebook 10 Tutorial File including the ten tools for SmartNotebook, opens with the SmartNotebook program. An excellent template/first tool for your SmartToolbox
(Test Post)

Session 2 Schedule: SmartBoard Part 1

Seven Essential SmartBoard Skills will begin Wednesday in Mrs. Berry's Room.  I will post the file, but you wont be able to open it if you have not loaded the SmartNotebook Program.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Session 1 Notes: Hardware Basics

Gaining an understanding of Hardware Basics is key when you are preparing to use technology.  Sometimes I find there is a complete misconception about what a piece of hardware is capable of doing or not doing.For the purpose of this master teacher class, our biggest subject is really the SmartBoard itself, and the rest of technology use falls into place around this tool we have available to us.

One of the most basic questions I hear on hardware:  "Do I need an Infocus for the Smartboard to work?"

The answer to this question is Yes.  The smartboard is basically a really big mouse, and honestly not any smarter than a mouse either. It is a large blank touchpad, like you find on laptaps.  It does not generate a picture on its' own.

How does it work?  In a nutshell:  There is a large white sheet, then a pocket or layer of air cushion, over a large array of pressure sensitive plates.  When you touch the white sheet, the SmartBoard reports the XY coordinate to the computer, moving the cursor accordingly.  To get the most out of your SmartBoard, you really need to think of it as a mouse on steroids that takes up a good portion of your room and is quite captivating to your students.  Your goal as a teacher is to use software to build or find software applications for this giant mouse on steroids that harnesses that attention in a productive way.  But that comes later, first lets understand the hardware requirements to just get it set up so we can then play with it and come up with ideas on how to use it in a later session.

So this SmartBoard (think Really Big Mouse) is just a pointing device to guide and activate activity on your computer, and if it is not plugged into a computer that is working properly it is nothing but an ornament. 

To use a SmartBoard in the classroom requires a Technology Triangle.  You need three things:
  • Projector (Think Infocus if you must, I prefer Toshiba)
  • Interactive White Board (SmartBoard or Promethean are popular, but homemade WiiBoards work great too).
  • A computer, which can be the teacher's tower or a laptop as part of a media cart.

What gets connected to what?
SmartBoard    <=USB Cable= >   PC   <= Monitor Cable =  Projector
The Smartboard plugs into the pc just like a mouse, using a USB cable.  The other end of the USB cable then plugs into a dongle located on the lower right of the board, and the cable is about 10 feet long.  The PC also needs to be connected to the Projector, typically by using the monitor out port from the pc and the Computer In port on the projector.


Turning that mouse on steroids into an educational tool is really not that hard, but first get used to it as a really big mouse.  Use it, enjoy it.  The kids will love it.  Next Week's Post:  How to Use the SmartBoard.

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Session 1-Setting the Stage

Session 1 covers Chapter 1: Preparing to Use Technology, an overview of our knowledge on the subject we are embarking on. The first section of the book continues to Chapter 2: Hardware Basics and Chapter 3: Software Basics, both touch on equipment needs for basic implementation of technology, as well as adaptive technologies.

Most of the questions by participants steered the spirit of the discussion to SmartBoard hardware. Hardware CMS has available that will be covered for our course this spring's Master Teacher Professional Development includes
  • CPS, also known as 'clickers,' require a blue receiver, a cable and adapter, and the remotes. Must be used with a projector or a tv and Avery Key (patches pc into a tv).
  • Projectors, generally called Infocus machines.
  • Make your own Psuedo-Elmo--cool things to do with projectors is to make your own by patching a digital camera or camcorder into the Video Input. Requires two $3 cable to video adapters for a regular tv cable line. I will post a video on how this works in the next week or so! Works without a pc, does not interact with SmartBoard but is an excellent way to do demos, dissections, modeling worksheet or note taking activity.
  • SmartBoard, which is only useful if you have a projector and a pc. But boy is it useful!
  • Slam Ins response systems, which were recently donated by the PTSA and are available for check out.
The class here at CMS will focus on utilizing the tools we have available to us, and supplemental material will be copied focusing on user manuals for the equipment we have at our disposal. The planning for upcoming sessions established SmartBoards as the main goal, so the next meeting will be held in Berry's room, N04, on Wednesday. At this time, Berry and Nichol's rooms will be configured with CPS units ans tested, while Berry's room will be set up with a SmartBoard and used by all participants. The meeting April 7 will be in the East Wing. to set up the rooms down there with SmartBoards and CPS units, and train on Slam Ins.


http://web.utk.edu/~bobannon/preparing/student_materials.shtml
Has all the powerpoints summarizing the information presented in the chapters.