Best Practices

• Smart Board Resources

• Sharing the Smart Board

There are many great Smart Board resources you can use to help you implement all of the features of the Smart Board.  We have created a resource with Smart Board information at http://www.amphi.com/departments/technology/whiteboard/.  All of the links in this article can be found on this website. As you find additional resources, please tell me about them and we will add them to this website so it is a dynamic tool.

Smart Notebook software is the program you can use to create lessons for your classroom.  You can load the Smart Notebook software on any computer to create lessons – you do NOT need a Smart Board connected to the computer.  So, you can design lessons at home or on any computer.  You can download the software from http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Support/Downloads/default.htm.  This site also has the Smart Concepts program which is available for free if you have a Smart Board.  This program is a concept mapping software similar to Inspiration that takes advantage of the Smart Board features.  There are several other free math, spelling and music programs you can download from http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Software+Resources/Free+software+applications/. 

Interactive web sites are perfect for use with the Smart Board.  One of my favorites is Sheppard Software at http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm.  This site provides some excellent geography, vocabulary and chemistry activities. If you teach in grades K-3, there is a great site with web pages that are perfect for the Smart Board.  Check out http://www.juliethompson.com/SMART.html.  In addition, the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has excellent interactive activities for teaching math concepts at http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html.

Professional Development is the key to making the best use of the Smart Board.  Smart Technologies has some great 2 minute tutorials at http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp and some excellent handouts with practice exercises at http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/material.asp.  In addition, they offer free online training.  The class schedule can be found at http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/online/index.asp.  I found all of these resources very beneficial as I was learning to use all of the features of the Smart Board and Smart Notebook software.  In addition, you can sign up for a free monthly newsletter at http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Community/Newsletter/Subscribe.htm. Finally, we are offering 3 Smart Board Basics classes and 2 classes on Smart Notebook software.