So far, I have learned about the SMART board Toolkit and different things I can do with it. I have also seen how I can easily bring in technology to my class. I had a graph on my SMART board that the students needed to fill out based on their information they got from their science experiment. I was able to model how to create the graph with my information. The modeling helped students understand how to do it. I have also created a “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” game on the SMART board. Using this game as a science review, helped students review in an interactive way. Next week, I am receiving training on SMART boards and will bring that back to my staff on Tuesday. I will continue to work towards using technology each week and continue to grow professionally. A new goal I want to set is bringing in different types of technology, like more Web 2.0 tools. Also, I have noticed that I keep my website up-to-date, but maybe one or two families visit the site. I want to update my website because I have families using it, so I need to find ways to get families going to the site more often. To help me reach these goals, I want to hear what other teachers do to have families use the website. I feel that the staff at our school does not have many families visiting the websites. They might be too simple and e-mail is easier for many of them. I need ideas on that.
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SMART boards are an excellent tool to have in the classroom if utilized correctly. All too often I see teachers simply using them as a glorified whiteboard and I cringe because I have seen firsthand how beneficial they can be to student learning. I too use mine to model a variety of skills to students, review content in an interactive way, and engage students using a variety of Web 2.0 tools. The students love playing Jeopardy on the SMART board, and it has really helped in keeping them engaged and focused. I don't know what type of software you use with your SMART board, but our district uses Active Inspire for our Promethean boards, and there is a resource site with thousands of pre-created flip charts to help with virtually any content area (prometheanplanet.com). If you use Active Inspire I would encourage you to check this site out, and if not I am sure that whatever program you use has a similar resource collection you could utilize. It sounds like you are off to a great start in utilizing this tool in your classroom and I hope that it will continue to be beneficial to the students as well.
ReplyDeleteOne of the appraoches we use to help parents use our online website is to introduce it at Open House in the beginning of the year. We set up a projector to a computer and walk through the steps giving parents a quick visual that takes only 3-5 minutes tops. We also hand out a quick reference of directions to getting to the site.
ReplyDeleteYou could also attempt this at conferences. I tell my parents about the site and offer to walk them through it if they would like. It is harmless and has been successful for me so far.
The SMART board Toolkit is an excellent technology to incorporate in your daily instruction. Students embrace the interactivity and love the novelty but gain the content substance. It is great that you created a “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and trust me the morre you create the more you will fall in love with the technology because you will discover new things that you can do. I am considering developing a classroom website but I want my site to stand out like those found on CNN and I not quite their yet.
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