SMART Board
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
Overview
SMART Board interactive whiteboards are a SMART Technologies product. According to the SMART Technologies "Company Profile" web page, the first SMART Board was introduced in 1991. Although there are other interactive whiteboards out on the market (PolyVision’s Whiteboard, InterWrite SchoolBoards, Promethean’s Activboard, Hitachi’s StarBoard FX Series, Panasonic PanaBoard, and Luidia’s eBeam to name a few), the SMART Board has become one of the leading interactive whiteboards for the K-12 school environment.
SMART Boards combine the functionality of a whiteboard, a computer, and projector into one. This works by connecting a computer to a digital projector which then projects the computer screen onto the SMART Board. According to the SMART Technologies' web site, the SMART Board can be connected to the computer through a USB connection or wireless connection hardware. Using SMART Board software, the computer can then be controlled through the SMART Boards’ touch-sensitive display using the SMART Boards’ digital ink pens and erasers or the user’s fingers to surf the web, run educational software, write and edit notes, select and move objects around, create graphics, and control computer applications as well as write over applications such as still video and audio. Work done on the screen can then be saved, edited, and shared. SMART Boards are a great tool for creating effective presentations and eliciting audience participation.
Details
SMART Board Components According to the SMART Technologies' web site, SMART Boards have a hard-coated polyester surface that is tear-proof and excellent for projection. This surface is made up of two sheets of material separated by a small gap of air. Pressing on this surface closes the gap of air at a certain location, creating a contact point. This contact point's coordinates are then sent to and registered by the computer. The SMART Board surface is compatible with dry-erase markers and can be cleaned with whiteboard cleaner.
(For more information on how interactive whiteboards work, see the “Interactive whiteboard” entry on Wikipedia. Another good resource to is the University of Hull's REVIEW Project's "The Good Guide to Interactive Whiteboards" document).
Each SMART Board is equipped with a SMART Pen Tray that holds digital pens and an eraser. The SMART Pen Tray detects when a pen or the eraser is picked up. The Pen Tray also has a Right-click button, a Help button, and On-screen Keyboard button, which puts a keyboard on the screen. The SMART Pen Tray also holds an Expansion slot, which allows users to install hardware upgrades to the SMART Board.
SMART Board Software
The SMART Board also comes with SMART Board software. SMART Board software consist of Notebook whiteboarding software and SMART Board Tools. The Notebook software provides numerous digital images, templates, interactive and educational material, and advanced drawing tools. The SMART Board can also be used with other SMART products such as the SENTEO student response system.
SMART Board Accessories
Other accessories include wireless connection hardware and speakers, projector mounts, hard cases, carrying cases, table stands, cabinets, and floor stand. For more information on SMART Board accessories, visit the SMART Technologies web site. The accessories for the SMART Board 600 series can be found on their web site here.
SMART Board Models
SMART Boards are available using front projection, rear projection, or flat panel display technology:
Front Projection – uses your existing projector and computer
Rear Projection – uses an integrated projector; can be mobile or permanent
Flat Panel Display – fits over your existing plasma display or LCD screen
For more information on this and to find out more about the specifications of SMART Board models, visit the “SMART BoardTM interactive whiteboard” web page here.
Cost of SMART Boards
The price for SMART Boards vary depending on the model and other hardware and software requirements. Pricing can be obtained through their web site here. Currently, the warranty on the SMART Boards is two years, but can be upgraded to five years on product registration.
Using SMART Boards within the School Environment
SMART Boards have many uses in a K-12 school environment. Below are some examples of ways SMART Boards can be used to support teaching and learning:
- SMART Boards can be used to deliver effective presentations and to allow teachers to prepare the content of their presentations and lessons ahead of time on their computers. E.g., Teachers can show PowerPoint presentations or educational DVDs and CD-ROMs on a large screen as well as use the SMART Board to capture images and write over what is being presented on the screen.
- SMART Boards allow teachers to present information visually. E.g., A elementary teacher can use photographs and graphics to teach younger children the alphabet and vocabulary or a math teacher could use virtual tools such as a virtual protractor to present information.
- SMART Boards allow teachers to project worksheets, lesson notes, sheet music, etc. on the screen so that students can follow along on the SMART Board instead of in textbooks or on paper handouts. E.g., A music teacher could project musical notes on the SMART Board for students to follow.
- SMART Boards can be used to collaborate as a class. E.g., a class can brainstorm ideas or solve a math problem together.
- SMART Boards can record, capture, highlight and review notes from a classroom discussion.
Links to SMART Board Resources
For more information on how SMART Boards can be used in the K-12 environment, see the lesson activities on the SMART Technologies Notebook software lesson activities web page as well as their Educator Resources web page. Various lesson activities using the SMART Board have also been posted by schools and teachers online.
Training for SMART Boards
Training for SMART Boards is available through SMART Technologies in-person as well as on their online Training Centre web page. Also visit the "SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast" page on B. Hazzard Professional Development for Busy Educators (pdtogo.com) website.
Further Questions
What makes the SMART board one of the top interactive whiteboard of choice among K-12 schools? Are there any drawbacks to SMART boards? I couldn't find many reviews comparing interactive whiteboards, but this one from the ACITT (The Association for ICT in Education) It's not new (Autumn 2001), but it looks at the Promethean ACTIV Board, The SMART Board (SMART Board 580 72), the Numonics - Diamond 10, and the SMART Board. The reviewer praises SMART Board for its easy-to-use, intuitive, and simple design; its accurate handwriting recognition capabilities; and its "tactile aspect". In terms of drawbacks, the reviewer mentions that it was slower than on solid boards, that sometimes resting your wrist on the board sends the wrong signals, and that compared to other boards, it was more vulnerable.
On this 2006 discussion thread on the Becta (British Educational Communications and Technology Agency) web site, people recommend SMART for their software.
In any case, anyone thinking of purchasing an interactive whiteboard should do their research in order to find one that fits their particular needs. This "Speaking of Electric Whiteboards" article on Education World gives tips on what to consider when looking to purchase an interactive whiteboard.
What is the percentage of schools in Canada and the United States already using interactive whiteboards like the SMART Board in their schools? I couldn't find an answer to this question, so if anyone else can, please chime in.
Has any research been done on the effectiveness of using interactive whiteboards in classrooms?
Yes. A couple that I found on the web were the 2000 "Interactive Whiteboard Evaluation" article by Anna Smith on the MirandaNet web site based in the UK and "Evaluation of Interactive Whiteboards" by Dr. Henrik Hansson based in the the City of Stockholm. There is also "Interactive whiteboards: boon or bandwagon? A critical review of the literature" by Heather J. Smith, Steve Higgins, Kate Wall, and Jen Miller in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning(Apr2005, Vol. 21 Issue 2, p91-101) which reviews the literature regarding the introduction of interactive whiteboards in education. I'm sure there are others.
How long do SMART Boards generally last?
I found a 2005 document from SMART Technologies that addressed this: SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard -- Built to Last from the President and Co-CEO of SMART Technologies, Inc., Nancy Knowlton.
Are there any grants available to allow schools that would not generally be able to buy SMART Boards to do so?
This "SMARTer Kids Grants for SMART Products" on the Smarter Kids Foundation web site states that these grants "have been replaced by an education pricing program from SMART Technologies Inc. for all accredited, not-for-profit education institutions." Other institutions also offer other technology grants.
References / Resources / Related Links
“A Schoolwide Installation of Whiteboards.” Media & Methods 41.5 (2005): 36.
Baker, Jean. “Smart Board in the Music Classroom.” Music Educators Journal 93.5 (2007) 18-19.
Felix, Kathie. “IN THE SPOTLIGHT.” MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 12.6 (2005): 41.
Kean, Gary. “Chalkboard of the future makes classroom learning more interesting.” The Western Star 10 Apr. 2007.
“Interactive whiteboard.” Wikipedia. 15 Jul. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_whiteboard.
Ourada, Mary Ellen. “What would you not want to teach without?” Teacher Magazine 18 .5 (2007): 18.
Rob Faulkner. “SO LONG CHALK, BLACKBOARDS GO HIGH-TECH; THEY LINK CLASSROOMS TO THE WORLD.” The Hamilton Spectator 21 Dec. 2006.
“SMART Board interactive whiteboard.” Wikipedia. 13 Jul. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_board.
SMART Technologies. 2007. SMART Technologies Inc. http://smarttech.com
Starkman, Neal. “The Wonders of Interactive WHITEBOARDS.” T H E Journal 33.10 (2006): 36-38.
Tellman, Tenille. “Teachers learning about Smart Boards.” Medicine Hat News. 24 Oct. 2006: A4.
"The Good Guide to Interactive Whiteboards." The REVIEW Project. 2004. University of Hull. Last accessed 27 Jul 2007 http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/fileadmin/docs/curriculum/staff_dev/learning_journey/documents/ag_smartboards.pdf.
Villano, Matt. “PICTURE THIS!,” T H E Journal 33.16 (2006): 16-20.
“Whiteboards.” Technology & Learning 27.4 (2006): 35.
