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.

How To Set Up A SmartBoard from AdamBellow on Vimeo.

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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