Section 3Session 3b: Practical skills and equipment

Activity: Using an interactive whiteboard – Smartboard

Aim: / To develop your skills in using interactive whiteboards and to explore how they can be used in teaching and learning.
Objectives: / By the end of the session you will have:
  • developed your skills and confidence in using an interactive whiteboard
  • identified some features of Smart Notebook
  • explored the uses of an interactive whiteboard in teaching and learning.

Resources: / You will need:
  • a computer or laptop with the Smart Notebook software loaded
  • a data projector
  • a Smartboard
  • internet.

Time allocated: / Up to 30 minutes

Task:

Online: Find out more about interactive whiteboards using the information located on SDELC>Common Modules>The Tools of e-learning>HardwareUsing anInteractive Whiteboard

Offline:Find out more about interactive whiteboards using the information located in Section 6, ‘Exploring Equipment’

Use Smart Note Book

This task introduces some features of Smart Notebook, software with a great deal of potential for teaching and learning. You can download the software and create resources without being connected to a Smartboard.

The word ‘click’ is used throughout this step-by-step guide. When working on the whiteboard, ‘click’ means a quick finger-tap. For those who have difficulty double-clicking/tapping, the configuration can be amended to suit other requirements.

  1. Open Smart Notebook on the laptop or computer.
  • You will have one blank page. SAVE this page.
  • Make sure you have clicked on the Page Sorter tab at the side and that Auto-hide (located at the bottom of the page) is unchecked. You will now be able to see all of your pages. Check Auto-hide when/if you wish to hide them.

Page one

  1. Select Insert > Picture/Template > From Gallery, or simply click on the Gallery tab at the side of the screen.
  2. Select Education > + Geography > + Flags.
  3. Either double-click on a flag or Select a flag and click on the drop-down menu at the top right of the image. Select Insert in Notebook.
  4. Start typing the name of the country represented by this flag. There is no need to create a text-box because one will be automatically created as you begin to type. A Fonts toolbar will appear. Select the appropriate size, colour and style for your text.
  5. When you have finished typing, click outside the box and only the text will appear on the page. To edit your text, double-click on the word to bring up the Fonts toolbar.
  6. To re-position the text on the page, hover over the word until you can see some crossed arrows, then click on the word and drag it to the required position.
  7. Single-click on a word and a drop-down menu will appear at the top right side of the board. Investigate the options. You can Delete from this menu or by clicking on the delete icon on the top toolbar.
  8. Create a page of flags and the names of the countries represented. Mix up the names to create a drag-and-drop matching exercise.

Create a new page

  1. Click on the New Page icon on the top toolbar (or select Insert > New Page).

Page two

  1. Select the Gallery by clicking on the Gallery tab at the side of the screen. Education will probably be open because you used this to find the flags. Select + Mathematics >Currency > Euro.
  2. Double-click on each of the coins. Now, insert a second set by simply dragging from the Gallery and positioning on your page. Finally, double-click on the front side of the Euro notes. These will appear, layered, at the top left corner of your page. Leave them there for now.
  3. Insert a new page by clicking on the Insert Blank Page icon on the toolbar.
  4. Give this page a background colour. Select Format and Background Colour.
  5. Take a pen from the tray and handwrite the words ‘Euro notes’ using the pen or by keeping the pen away from the pen tray and using your finger.
  6. Return the pen to the tray, then, using the Select tool, click on the written text. A box will appear around your handwriting. The green spot allows you to rotate this object and the white spot allows you to re-size it. The drop-down menu will display a list of typed text alternatives based upon the software’s recognition of your handwriting. Select the alternative closest to the words you wrote and click. The handwriting will turn into typed text.
  7. To edit the typed text, double-click on the words. The Fonts toolbar will appear. When you have finished editing, click away from the text. You can now drag the words to wherever you wish to place them on the page.
  8. Insert another new page and give this a different background colour. Write the words ‘Euro Coins’. Use the eraser to rub out your words. Return the eraser to the tray and before you write anything else, change the pen settings. Select Pen > Customise. Write ‘Euro Coins’ again. Turn this into typed text and position on the page.
  9. Click on the Page Sorter tab at the side of the page. You should now see the four pages you have created displayed.
  10. Select page two. Click and drag the notes from page two onto page three in the slide sorter view.
  11. Click on page three to view the notes you have moved across.
  12. Put these notes in order with lowest denomination first. Layer them so that you can see the left side of each note, bearing the number of Euros. You will need to re-order the notes. To do this, select the drop-down menu at the corner of the image and choose Order > Bring to Front.
  13. Insert another page. Select Gallery and Cashier from the Euro file. Note: this is a background picture and is locked into the background.
  14. Select English and Language Arts from Gallery > Story Telling > Expressions. The first five are page templates; select one of the speech bubbles that follow and double-click to insert it onto your page. Position the bubble and write into it ‘One Euro 76, please.’ or type and drag the text into the bubble. (Remember that you can rotate the bubble using the green spot). You may have to re-size the text or bubble.
  15. Select both the speech bubble and the text, right click on the drop-down menu at the corner and Group the two items together.
  16. Return to page two. Drag the appropriate coins from page two to page four. Click on page four to check that the correct amount has been paid.
  17. When you have finished, save your work and close Smart Notebook.

Smart Board Tools

The software has a toolbar which contains some useful tools.

  • Open the Smart toolbar and explore the functions recorder, onscreen keyboard, the magnifier, the screen shade and spotlight.

E-Guides training programme 2006 – 20071