The Interactive Classroom

I think the SmartBoard provides a nice way to add a visual component to your lesson. Kids (people in general I think) are very visual and understand more when they can get an actual image rather than creating a mental image .

The interactivity will keep students excited, which will keep them engaged and thinking rather than daydreaming through your lesson.

I have had the opportunity to use the SmartBoard with my students and they are by far their favorite lessons. Often when they arrive at class they will ask "Are we going to use the SmartBoard today?". When I say not today there is a collective moan.

It does take the kids a while to get the hang of touching the SmartBoard with correct pressure. Some are too gentle and nothing happens, or some are too firm and all kinds of pop up menus appear. If that happens just gently tap anywhere on the screen and the pop ups will disappear.

I especially like that you can use an interactive website with the SmartBoard. Some very talented people have put together some wonderful websites that teach in a very engaing and fun way. The work is virtually done for you. For someone just starting out using the SmartBoard, that is the way I would start.

I'm curious to see if some of the other intaractive software we have (Encarta For Kids) works the same way with the SmartBoard, I imagine it will.

Clickers

This was my first experience with Clickers and the CPS software. I found the software to be fairly user friendly.

I think this technology will also keep kids engaged and limit the amount of daydreaming through a lesson.

Clickers provide a great way to review content covered, assess or evaluate knowledge.

I had the chance to import graphics and I felt that was fairly easy and again i really like adding a visual whenever possible.

I wonder if crowd control might be a problem though. With kids getting so excited you never know what might happen.

I wasn't too concerned about people calling out the answers, because there was still learning going on. However as an evaluation piece this could be a problem.

I liked the reports and study guides that were generated. What a great way to individualize instruction.