This technology can solve some of the problems teachers face in the classroom. Fortunately, there are many pre-made lessons on practically any topic created by fellow teachers and uploaded to the SMART Board website that are available for download. Of course, teachers do not always have time to create their own lessons from scratch. SMART Notebook allows the teacher to create lessons involving matching games, adding labels to diagrams, quickly graphing math problems, and much more. This program takes presentations beyond simple slide shows and makes them interactive, which helps keep students engaged. SMART Boards can certainly be used without the SMART Notebook software, but then it is basically just a giant touch screen in the classroom.
#Free smartboard software for teachers software#
The SMART Board software program called SMART Notebook is what really helps make SMART Boards a great educational tool. This allows the teacher to put up a question, such as 'name a predator,' and the students can type in a variety of responses, which appear on the board. While clickers were somewhat limited in how students could respond, the app allows students to even type in words for their answers. Newer boards allow students to interact using smart phones, iPods, and iPads through a downloadable app.
The data is collected and displayed in real time.
Older SMART Boards used clickers, wireless handheld devices that can be connected to it so students can answer quiz questions and polls. Both the wireless mouse and the write-on tablet are great tools because they allow the teacher to circulate the room, which is essential for good classroom management, while still interacting with the screen at the front of the classroom.
A wireless keyboard and mouse can be used with it, but a write-on tablet can be purchased that allows you to interact with the tablet and have everything appear on the projected screen in front of you. This means two students could be solving a math problem at the same time on the board or labeling a diagram together easily.īesides just the board itself, there are many add-ons available. The upgraded SMART Board 800 and newer models are equipped with multi-touch technology, which allow up to four students to collaborate using the board by responding to multiple touches at the same time. Older versions of the SMART Board only worked with one point of contact on the board, so multiple people could not be touching the board at the same time. Special pens are included in a SMART Board to make writing in different colors quick and easy. It is similar to how you would use a tablet or iPad. The projector displays what is open on the computer and, rather than using a mouse or keyboard (although you can use those also), the SMART Board is a touch screen, which allows you to manipulate anything on the screen using your fingers. The SMART Board is connected to a computer and works with a projector. At its simplest, an interactive whiteboard allows you to project an image and 'interact' with it by writing on it or moving it around. The first step to using technology properly is to understand what it is and what it can do for your classroom.Ī SMART Board is one brand of interactive whiteboard.
However, using technology in the classroom can enhance a teacher's lesson if it is used properly. Simply updating technology in a classroom does not solve everything you still need to be a good teacher. Comments range from, 'So that's why we aren't getting raises next year, they are investing in machines instead of teachers!' to 'This is fantastic! This new technology will solve all my teaching problems!' Fellow teachers immediately begin to whisper to each other. Your principal had called a special meeting after school to announce that the school would be adding SMART Boards to the classrooms.