Finding Smartboard Activities

Any interactive website has Smart potential, but here are f ew resources I have found very useful:

http://exchange.smarttech.com/index.html is a searchable, very organized index of good quality SmartNotebook lessons...You can specify subject and grade level, as well as preview the screens

http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm is an index or list with a brief description of the type of IWB activities you may find at that site.  A few of the links are dead, but overall it seems ok to me.

SmartBoard uses

Today at 3:15 we will be covering SmartBoard uses, and we will tour the SmartExchange where there are thousands of projects stored for browsing and download. 

This is a make-up/voluntary meeting, and is open to all who are interested, not just those who have participated in my Master Teacher Spring project.

Mrs. Nichols has brought chicken salad, and I have chips and queso.  Looking forward to getting together with you all.  Have a great day!

Buzz-in system Slam Ins

Slam-ins are a simple buzzer system (a misnomer, since it only makes noise if you want it to make noise) for quiz bowls or academic meets/reviews.  Most buzzer systems are used only by a school's academic team, but Slam-In is designed to be used by all the teachers in a school - for engaging content review, for pop quizzes, for "quiz nights", and anything else you can imagine.  I have used them on numerous occasions to invigorate and engage students, mixing all levels of questions together to keep all students interested.

The Slam-In system is available for check out from N01.  The system comes in a clear plastic suitcase, which contains:

1 Blue Thumbdrive with the Software

1 USB Cable to connect the Remote Receiver

1 Remote Receiver, about the size of a deck of cards

1 Host Remote, pictured left

10 Slammers, with 9V Batteries reversed

To set up the system:

First, connect the remote receiver to the USB cable, then connect the USB cable to your pc.

Next, insert the thumbdrive and view the files on the drive.  Run the Slam In program.

The initial SlamIn window will be your set up screen.  Use this setup screen to set your number of teams.  Will you have ten teams, or two teams with five members each?  You decide how to divide the slammers.  Each tab for teams allows you to specify the team name.  I usually put the student(s) names as the team name. 

I will video how to set it up. And post it next week.

Please review the product's website, http://slammersystems.com

SmartBoards and Slam-Ins

Yesterday's Master Teacher session in Mrs. Batten's room focused on Smartboard review and expansion, as well as an introduction to Slam-Ins.

I will post a synopsis and study guide on those after I get my gradebook caught up. Thank you to Mrs. Nichols for the cookies!

Next Meeting will be ALL about CPS units. If you have a Thumbdrive and wish to establish your classes and quizzes to be portable (work at home, et cetera) please bring your thumb drive to the class. I will finish the CDs today (Thursday) and send them out.

Why we need to learn technology...

Last week's lesson went great...Although there were challenges with enough pcs and space to get everyone to play with the technology, I think it went very well.  I know that learning new things can be hard, and I just wanted to tell you I admire all of your for joining me in this quest for the skills and practice we are building this spring with the classes you are participating in here at CMS.  Remember, if you are out of your comfort zone but pushing yourself to learn more--this is what we ask our kids to do.  You are never too inexperienced, too old, too busy or too stuck in your ways...teachers love to find new things, and I know you guys can do this even though it may be something that is so totally different from your previous realm of experiences (read "way out of your comfor zone").  You can do it, and I am here to help you start (or continue) on your path.  Please, if you find yourself frustrated do not give up...that's what we would ask our kids to do... 

Session 3 Planning

The next training session will be April 14 at 3:15 in Mrs. Batten's room in the East wing. We will start with a review of projector and SmartBoard basics, then move on to SmartBoard Intermediate skills.

Looking for a volunteer to bring refreshments or we can order pizza/breadstix (Mary says she loves these, as do I if I can handle the heartburn).

Session 2 Notes: Projector and SmartBoard Basics

Session 2 was held Wednesday, March 30th, at Mrs. Berry's room. Many thanks to Patricia Miller who brought some awesome snacks. We went over projector use and SmartBoard Basics.

Using a projector in class is often a teachers' first step toward tech savy.  When you have a projector, you have an inexhaustible buddy..paired with one or two other items and you are well on your way to a tech-savvy approach. It is the second most important piece of equipment in a classroom, after the pc or laptop.



Let's have a look at the back of a typical projector. There are lots of holes to plug lots of things into, and it can be a bit confusing. Two colors are most important:  Blue and Gold, yes, like the sausage from the FFA.

Blue ports are generally where the computer monitor port goes--if there are two. Yellow, round single prong plugs are perfect for a camcorder or digital camera, which when combined with a desk lamp give you a home made "elmo" or document camera. And dont forget the power source cable, three-prong typical looking power cord, this is missing from the graphic at left.  Sometimes the powercable attaches at the side instead of from the back.  

A projector can be used for alot of things, not just death by powerpoint.  Just because you have a projector does not mean you should show an endless stream of powerpoint slides or neverending graphics.  Mix it up, if you have alot of still photos to share, at least keep the pace upbeat.  Make sure your slides are not too wordy, and that you aren't reading it verbatim.  Check out this funny video to learn more....



Later!

How to use todaysmeet.com

Wow, so cool! I just stumbled upon yet another awesome tool to use in my lab, called todaysmeet.com!!! How exciting... I can create an online chat very easily and simply, and can use this to share links and guide webbrowsing. Check out the video from teachertube.com that I found while browsing for new tools and embedded below.

This is SUPER simple, can't wait to see if the filters block it at school or not. I can see how this would be so useful in guiding the students to links and getting everyone on the same page without having to cut and paste a link to 280 different log ins, plus the kids can then offer feedback about what link they found interesting and discuss the assignment live in the chat room.

How or Where can you use this? Any online activity in the Library, when you have the mobile or stationary labs...or as homework/study groups! Great, huh?

Update:

The school filter's didn't block it...but it was a bit disappointing in the experiment for the first run...within 2 minutes one of the students was harrassing the other students with negative statements and what I call "digital diarrhea" ...just polluting with the same annoying put-down post 20 times, while another student took advantage of my being busy with the new experiment and went to a website I have specifically forbidden.  I will revise my plan and try again with more specific guidelines.