Easy+and+Interactive

Smartboard Tools & Resources Presented by Jeremy Brumfield Data & Instruction Specialist, Rutherford Elementary School/5th Grade Teacher, Lawnton Elementary

 High-Tech Teacher Newsletter Article So you know a little bit about the Smartboard and you are acquainted with the basics and obvious options. But like any good friend, your Smartboard has hidden qualities just waiting to be discovered. As educators we all understand that learning begins with attention, and since attention is derived from active engagement this article is dedicated to identifying and explaining easy to use and highly engaging learning accessories found in your Smartboard Gallery’s Lesson Activity Toolkit, under the heading //Interactive and Multimedia Resources.// Before you begin exploring the Lesson Activity Toolkit, there are a few things you will notice. Under the //Interactive and Multimedia// you will find activity and game templates that will allow you to enter your own questions and content. If you want to understand how the template works, select the resource or drag it to a blank Notebook page and click on the question mark icon. A brief description will provide you with more information. As the templates are available in different colors, you will see the name of the color before the name of the template (i.e. //Blue- Anagram).// Besides templates you will also find individual tools that can be used alone. Naturally I will highlight a few of my favorites, give them a try!

** Activity Templates ** The Activity Toolkit provides you with templates and resources that can be adapted to fit almost any lesson or skill. Think back to two or three that you found interesting and ask yourself how you can incorporate these templates into your lesson. Would your students find them engaging? Would they improve student attention and learning? If you answered yes to these questions, you are ready to give the Lesson Activity Toolkit a try. Ready to Use Resources Our Central Dauphin Moodle contains many great Smartboard resources, under the "Elementary Curriculm and Technology Resource Moodle": []
 * // Anagram //** – ** This game template allows you to enter up to five questions and corresponding answers, along with the option to use a timer at a fast, medium, or slow speed. The game presents one answer at a time in a jumbled order. Students can guess the answer, rearranging the letters or numbers on their own, or they can choose the “clue” button which will provide them with the question or clue. This game template lends itself to spelling, vocabulary, and even math.
 * // Category Sort- // An easy form to use, the category sort allows you the option of creating two or three groups of information. You can enter up to 16 words or numbers for students to classify. The template includes a “solve” option, which shows correct and incorrect answers at the completion of the activity.
 * // Hotspot- // Often unappreciated, this template allows students to point out specific locations on a map, coordinate grid, human body, Venn Diagram, or a custom setting. In the custom setting you can overlay an illustration of your own choice. Most users see the preset map right away and do not realize that you with one click you can change the background of the activity. As the teacher you click on a location and type a label, when students play the game they have to point to the specified area on the illustration.
 * // Keyword Match- // This is a simple matching activity. As the teacher you enter the keyword and corresponding details, which students will match. The activity includes “check” and “solve” options to provide feedback. A little known option is that under “edit”, you can highlight the terms //word// and //description// and change them as you see fit. This activity lends itself to vocabulary, historical dates, concepts and examples, and even math questions and solutions.
 * // Multiple Choice // – Like any multiple-choice test, this template allows a teacher to enter 10 questions with four answer responses. Students choose the correct answer and receive immediate feedback. A green checkmark indicates the answer is correct, a red X shows a mistake.
 * // Word Biz // and //Word Guess-// These activities both relate to identifying a word (or number) based on a given clue. Teachers have the ability to enter 10 pairs of clues and words, as well as the option to choose the background of //Word Guess// to a soccer, basketball, or tomato splat theme. With each letter the student types, the template will show a hit or miss.
 * // Sentence Arrange- // This activity allows students to rearrange up to 8 sentences, with a “solve” option. Uses could include timeline order, sequencing events, directions or instructions, numbers or expressions in order from least to greatest, etc.
 * // Note Reveal – // A super simple template that allows teachers to enter up to five lines of texts. This is easy to use to present questions or problems for students to select randomly. You could also use Note Reveal to assign concepts for students to choose and describe.
 * Individual Tools **
 * // Dice Keyword //** – ** Besides the ability to randomly spend numbers on other Dice interactive, the Dice Keyword allows you to enter short words or phrases. Students can spin the Die to randomly choose a word to define or use.
 * // Firecracker- // This multi-media resource counts down to an explosion. You can change the time by highlighter the number 10 and entering however many seconds you need. This is a great tool to use for turn-and-talks or think-pair-share activities. Display a question or problem, set the firecracker to count down the time.
 * // Info Button- // A quick tool for teachers to enter notes, reminders, or clues. The question mark icon provides the text when pushed, and can be incorporated with other Notebook uses.
 * // Random Number Generator, Random Letter Generator, Random Word Generator- // Three easy resources that can be included on Notebook pages and used in a variety of ways.
 * // Vote Tool- // The Vote Tool can be included on any Notebook page to keep a count or tally.

[|http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0] [|http://www.scholastic.com/smarttech/index.htm#teachers] []