The SMART Board can be a powerful instructional tool when used with good presentation techniques. There are some basic elements of presentations that work well for lessons using a SMART Board. These guides are found in good presentations regardless of the medium used.
The first tip is probably the most obvious: think about the lesson you are going to teach. Know what the goal or objective is that you have in mind. This will keep the attention on your main purpose, whether it is to introduce a new concept, modeling or reviewing a process, providing additional practice, giving an extension activity, or review. It is easy to get sidetracked when looking for resources to include or planning to incorporate pieces you already have into your SMART Notebook file. Keep the objective of the lesson in mind while creating your file.
Each page of your file should have only one idea. Keep it simple, clear, and visually appealing. Use only one font throughout the entire lesson. Do not distract the learner with too much - less is more. Visuals and interactive pieces should be relevant and meaningful. Animations, if used, should emphasize rather than distract. Learning should happen through the manipulation of objects in the file, not automatic animation that does not allow for student interaction.
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nclude a conclusion page to your lesson. Tie all the pieces back to your goal or objective. Check for questions or misunderstandings. These opportunities are great for the flexibility of the SMART Board as you can easily add additional pages and content to clarify points from the lesson. If you have access to a SMART Response system you are able to include question pages into the content to check for understanding as you progress through the lesson.
Have some fun with your topic. Create pages that engage and capture student attention. Move around the classroom, invite participation, and encourage students to interact with the lesson. Model how it works, use the rotate feature for clock hands, protractors, and labels. Make a fact or fiction page with red “X’s” or green checks to mark answers. A matching activity from the Tool kit can be reset for additional practice (it can be reset several times before it repeats). Even when enjoying a lesson it is important to tie the learning back to your main purpose.
Lastly, don’t reinvent the wheel! There are many excellent resource sites available that give you permission to download lessons and modify them for your use. Take time to carefully preview the lessons, practice moving the objects, and making sure the links work and are applicable to your students. Personalizing a downloaded lesson for your students ensures that they are actively involved and that you are enthusiast and excited about the lesson.
The SMART Board and Notebook software are great tools for teaching and engaging students. Utilizing their capabilities along with good teaching strategies will appeal to most students. Technology is a big part of our student’s lives and these tools will help teachers connect with their students as well as guide them to become more actively involved in their education.
Jane Nesdill currently teaches 7th grade Language Arts at Gililland Middle School and helps support teachers as they learn to use their SMART Boards.
Creative Commons images from Flickr users Virtual Learning Center, Kathy Cassidy, Mr J. Jay, and teachernz.
