Smart Board, smart technology

Suzie Harrison

Hands were raised enthusiastically by the class of seventh-graders at

Thurston Middle School.

Almost every arm was in the air. They knew the answers about the

Amazon River and Basin, the Rio Grande, Pampas and other geographical

areas in South America.

Paul Matheson’s fourth-period social studies class had everyone

engaged and participating. His students were excited to be called on and

have an opportunity to go to the Smart Board.

“A Smart Board is an interactive controlled computer screen on a

traditional whiteboard. Instead of manipulating it with a mouse you use

your finger,” said Matheson.

You can use your finger as a mouse or write over things already on the

board, as well as different applications. The board is touch sensitive

with the Smart Board driver communicating with the whiteboard. It’s like

looking at your computer’s desktop, running a Windows operating system.

When a student is called on to put her answer on the Smart Board she

first orients the board. It then gives her instructions on where to push

to get the desired screen.

Another tap of her finger and a three dimensional rotating globe

appears. She is asked to focus in on the continent that they are

studying. She highlights the continent by drawing a square around it --

much like you would do in Photoshop.

This sections off the area and then she taps and drags the selection

to the middle of the board. Her topographical assimilated map of South

America changes size as she drags one of the tabs either to the top or to

the side.

Next she is asked to write Amazon River. She does this with her

fingertip. The other option is to use the class program compatible pens.

The word appears handwritten. If you tap on the center of the word it

then transforms into a typeface word.

The map was able to be moved to any position on the screen by pressing

on the image and dragging it.

Each student had 20 seconds to go to the map and highlight an area

they were discussing by rubbing their finger across the area. If the

answer was wrong it was no problem, just press on the highlighted area

again and your finger acts as an eraser.

Matheson asked a student to put Andes on the map, Atacama and Orinoco.

Spelling it out first then tapping the word so it has a typeface; and

then they were asked to drag the word to the right location.

With a tap the teacher made South America disappear and text took its

place on the whiteboard. The kids were learning how to differentiate

between facts and guesswork and had to circle the supposition and put

brackets around the factual text, using their finger, marking it on the

board.

This drill was also timed and gave all the kids the opportunity to go

to the Smart Board at least once. When a mistake was made it could be

erased, and Matheson kept the students flowing with positive feedback.

For fun Matheson showed a bit of a video of his 22-month-old daughter

on skis. The video was matched with sound, showing some of the Smart

Board’s other tricks. The software is set up to allow use with point and

click applications and its compatible with all major operating systems.

“We just got the Smart Board a couple of weeks ago. It’s a learning

process. It’s great for the students with maps, movies and photos,”

Matheson said.

Matheson said he envisions having a handful of Smart Boards at the

school in a few years and eventually having one in every classroom.

“The age of technology moves at lightening speed,” he said. “We’re

picking up new technology at a real rapid rate. It’s nice to have

something on the cutting edge, taking a step forward where other schools

aren’t at yet.”

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

She may be reached at 494-4321.