SMARTBoard Tip – Round the World

SMARTboardsPublished on1 Comment on SMARTBoard Tip – Round the World

So you have scribbled and annotated all over a numberline, in a maths lesson, and now want some children to come and work on the board on another example. How can you quickly get rid of all of those scribbles.

This is a tip to erase all of your annotations quickly. (Not just in maths!)

Download Video: Posted by tbarrett at TeacherTube.com.

I hope it proves a useful tip. Don’t forget to take a look at the shared Google presentation on IWB tips (now up to 10) – if you have one to add just email me and I will include you as a collaborator.

A Milestone for Me – Thankyou.

Blogging, My classPublished on4 Comments on A Milestone for Me – Thankyou.

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to you the readers of this blog for helping me reach an  important milestone. Over 10,000 unique visitors to this blog since I added my stat counter about a year ago. I know that may seem a pittance compared to stats for other spaces you have churning away in your RSS reader, but for me it is a real achievement.

This blog has been the single most important professional development choice I have taken. My appreciation for this space has changed since I began writing in the late summer of 2006 (wow that was only last year!) I now consider it to be an integral part of my career and a central point for who I am as a reflective teacher.

It is a personal resource, a classroom history, a technical and pedagogical guide, a sounding board, a conversation, a growing network, a billboard signpost for who I am as a teacher and it still remains a wonderful, reflective space for me to explore my ideas and experiences of ICT in my classroom.

I now begin to understand the power of the personal learning network that has emerged from fellow professionals I have encountered, as a result of this space. I am still keen for this network to grow and hope you can continue supporting my reflections, through your comments and conversations.

One thing that still amazes me is that out of those 10,000 different people I have not met a single one. Skype video does not count. If you can’t see their legs you have not met them! So my challenge in the next year is to meet more of you face to face.

Big thanks to Noel Jenkins and John Johnston for starting me out on this road, those were the first blogs I ever read.

IWB tips up and running!

IWB, SMARTboardsPublished on1 Comment on IWB tips up and running!

Great to see a few people have already added to the Google presentation about sharing tips and techniques you have found successful with the IWB. Please continue to add to it, we are on #6 today already! I would love to see 50 different tips before Christmas!

Here is a video I have made tonight called “The Double Tap” which supports tip number 6.
Download Video: Posted by tbarrett at TeacherTube.com.
Hope you find it useful, and feel inspired to add your own pearls of wisdom, just let me know your email and I will add you as a collaborator.

One idea, one slide, one image

Google Docs, IWB, SMARTboardsPublished on9 Comments on One idea, one slide, one image

142455033 49ce50a89b mSharing is good. I have started a simple Google presentation to allow IWB users to share a simple idea that has proved successful in the classroom. I would like this presentation to grow and grow as more and more people contribute their ideas. We can then all use this resource to help provide professional development for colleagues in our schools, districts, local authorities…

The premise is simple – you have one slide to explain one idea, in addition you have one image to help illustrate (if you wish). Let your ideas be for any group of teachers or children, from beginners to advanced users of the IWB – don’t be constricted by the IWB type, just as long as it’s a useful idea – I am sure we will all find a way to do it! Write about a simple tip or a longer project – you choose. Contribute one or contribute ten! I have made a start – the process is easy.

  1. Go to the presentation and take a look at was has been contributed. If you would like to be added as a collaborator send me an email (thomasgeorgebarrett [at] googlemail [dot] com – or use the contact tab at the top of this page) I will invite you in as a collaborator.
  2. Add your one slide, one idea and one image.
  3. Change the presentation title slide to match the number of ideas.

It will have a humble beginning – currently the presentation is called:

“One Interesting Way to use your Interactive Whiteboard”

Please help me change the title and create a supportive document that provides valuable, road tested ideas and tips for IWB users, new and old. I am sure we will all learn something.

Image: ‘Sharing‘ www.flickr.com/photos/33128961@N00/142455033

100th SMARTBoard Lesson Podcast

SMARTboardsPublished on1 Comment on 100th SMARTBoard Lesson Podcast

I have just finished talking to Ben and Joan from the SMARTBoard Lesson Podcast as they have been recording a round table discussion for their 100th show. Joining us was Chris Betcher from Sydney, Australia.

We discussed a few questions about SMARTBoards in schools:

1) Is there a SMARTBoard/iwb pedagogy?

2) Does SMARTBoard/iwb uncover or amplify other pedagogies? What does it show and when?

3) What does effective SMARTBoard/iwb usage look like?

4) What is the next step for SMARTBoard/iwb usage for: a beginning user, an intermediate user, an advanced user? (Also what makes a beginning user, an intermediate user, and an advanced user?)

It was excellent to talk with fellow educators regarding the use of IWBs in the classroom and to share our varied experiences.

If you have never listened to the show I would highly recommend it as there is always something to take away. Congraulations Ben and Joan for 100 shows!