Smart Board Project

As I continue to work on my project I am begining to find things are coming along slightly better. While working on the preliminary phases of my project, everything was very basic and seemed to me to be below par compared to what could be done with the smart board technology. The more I am able to use the software, the more I am beginning to understand it which is helping me to make a better project. The only problem for me is I am still struggling to find an interactive way to teach the Bill of Rights and Branches of Government. I have some video links, and I am trying to incorporate some games, but I still feel like I need to find more ways to make it interactive for my students.

Thoughts on Smart Board project thus far...

As of last week, I have made a lot of progress on my Smart Board project. My topic is science for the elementary level. I am using three sub goals from ILS goal 12. With these goals in mind, I am attempting to create a science lesson that is both education and interactive. So far, so good. I am focusing on animals and their characteristics and life cycles/styles. I have used key groups such as mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. I am talking about thier eating habits, shelter, body types, and how they give birth. I forgot how interesting most of that stuff really is! I really think children would enjoy this lesson because it is filled with so many fun activities. I have quizzes, pictures, and sounds to enhance the learning experience. Personally, my favorite slide so far is the one called, "Can you hear the mammals?" It's very cute. Overall, I am having a good time learning my way around Smart Notebook. It is different than any other program I have ever worked with so, it can be confusing at times. But, like anything, I am exploring and giving it my best shot, which it's all about in the long run anyway!

SmartBoard Project

As I continue creating my Smartboard project, I am becoming more and more amazed at what SMART notebook is capable of. I had no idea that SMART notebook had so many interactive games, activities, and lessons. At first, the Smartboard project seemed very daunting to me because I was unfamiliar with SMART notebook and all that it is capable of. However, as I work on it more, I am realizing that anyone can incorporate the it into their lessons as long as they are familiar with how to use it.

One aspect of the SMART notebook that I particularly like is all of the interactive games available for teaching, reviewing, and assessing students. During my job search many districts want to know how I will use technology as a resource to teach students. Referencing this project as well as everything else I have learned so far in this course has helped me answer that question. Understanding how to use the technology to enhance student engagement is something school districts are now expecting of teachers and I think that that is why a course like this is so beneficial to us as pre-service teachers.