Ist InTro To The SMaRT BoarD!!

15th August 2007 (6th Class)

Today, Prof. is unable to join us for our class as she has something to attend to. However, we are very priviledged to have a special guest, Ms Fenny, whom Prof. has invited to impart to us her expertise in the area of using the Interactive White Board (IWB) or also known as the 'Smartboard'. Well, as for me, Ive come across the usage of the IWB several times but I've not truly been introduced to the usage and its many advantages especially in teaching young learners. Hence, I was very much motivated to pay full attention to the soft-spoken and knowledgeable Ms Fenny as she bring to our attention the many wonders that Smartboard can do that truly impressed me and Im sure for my other coursemates as well.

To start off the class, Ms Fenny introduced herself and briefly explained to us the basics that is needed of a Smartboard in order to function well. Basically, for an IWB to function, you need:

• a computer


• an Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) projector


• connection cables
  
• a whiteboard


• the IWB software

Important Things to note while handling the Smartboard:

• make sure that the pens are placed back in the correct positions according to the colour allocated after using them. This is to avoid confusion by the user on the different colours of the pen. The board is equipped with sensors to detect the particular colour of the pens as the colour is not determined by the pen itself.


• avoid using the two different colours of pen at the same time or using the pen and the eraser at the same time as this will cause confusion to the Smartboard.
  

Among the many wonders of a 'Smartboard' which cannot be done using a normal whiteboard are:

• Ability to convert or recognize handwritten words into the printed form just by clicking on the option 'Recognize'.
  
• Flexibility of font sizes- The letters just by dragging it at the corner of the box where the word is formed.
  
• Mobility of the position of the words- The words printed can be easily moved in location just by dragging it.
  
• Multiplication of words in infinity- The particular word typed can be multiplied just by clicking and dragging on the corner of the box formed.


• Group & Ungroup- This enables the pupils to form another new word by ungrouping the original word given. Example: the word 'plane' or 'pen' can be formed from the word 'Aeroplane'.


• Mobility and cloning- The images can be cloned at an infinity to allow teachers to display the concept of calculations in teaching Mathematics. Example: Pupils can clone the images of coins in the Malaysian Ringgit to add up to the amount of money specified by the teacher.


• Checking of answers- Pupils can check their answers after doing an activity by dragging the coloured patch of box to the particular area of the slides where the answers are 'hidden'.


• Adjustable- The IWB is user-friendly as it allows the user to adjust the height according to the suitability of the learners.


• Gallery Function- There are well-provided templates and images such as expressions which can be imported for use in the slides.


• World Map- The picture of a World map allows the teaching of 'Geography'' in relation to the locations of different countries in specific by using the world map.


• Pictures from the Internet- The IWB allows user to capture any online pictures from 'Google' Images to be imported into the gallery for usage.

These are among some of the many functions of an Interactive White Board (IWB) to be used in a classroom. We were told that there are many other interesting features of the smartboard which we could explore such as inserting video or flash files from the computer. However, due to the time limitation, these are the main features pointed out and taught by Ms Fenny.

After an hour of an introductory session to the Smartboard, it's the time for us to put in what we have gathered and learnt into practice. We were required to discuss in our groups to come up with one simple activity using the Smartboard. My group decided to design an activity on the topic of 'Colours' by having the pupils to drag and drop the correct colour into picture which shows the different parts of a bedroom with a boy in the centre of it. As for me, it is my first time trying to design an activity using the IWB features. It took us some time to 'try and error' the usage as taught by Ms Fenny a while ago. Things look pretty different when we are really hands-on
trying out the software as compared to just listening to the steps taken to use the IWB. Hence, it is a good first-start experience for me and my group as a whole. Each group then presented their activity to the class after the discussion. Please refer to my post on 'IWB Slideshow' for a clearer view of the activites through the pictures taken during the presentations as well as the demonstration of input from Ms Fenny.


Below are my reflections on the IWB activity:

1) Do you understand the basic knowledge of using Notebook function in SMART board? If yes, which part that you understand most. If not, why did you not understand?
Well, my answer to this question would be a 'partial Yes' as I believe that what I know are only some of the basic knowledge of the Notebook function using an IWB. Through the mere limited knowledge that I have, we manage to design some activity after much trials and exploring through the software. As we are still at our initial stage of learning the IWB, the basic knowledge that I am most aware of and understand is to unlock the images to allow us to drag and drop the particular image to the locations we desire. If we do not want the image to move about, we need to 'lock' it in its position.

2) Do you understand the basic knowledge to use gallery feature and attachment picture in SMARTboard incorporate for teaching English vocabulary for Standard 4 students?
Yes, I understand the basic usage of incorporating the gallery feature and attachment picture uisng the Smartboard to teach pupils on English Vocabulary. However, I believe that there is so much more room of improvement for me in this area of importing pictures and other features such as videos or flashfiles which I have yet to learn.


3) Do you find that SMART board is a useful tool to support in Teaching-Learning? If yes, why is it useful? If not, what is the problem?
Yes, absolutely! I feel that the Smart board is a useful teaching tool to be incorporated in the classroom teaching-learning as it offers many interactive activities which allows the pupils to take part either individually or even in groups. The colourful pictures and captivating background layout attracts the pupils' attention besides allowing them to learn more efficiently with 'No dust, No dirt and Time-efficient' as images can be cloned within seconds in a click. Besides, the IWB allows pupils to view flashfile which pupils enjoy most in the learning process as they are provided with concrete visual experiences. Another feature which helps children in their learning is that they are able to check their answers almost instantly. This would really help them to reassure their ability in completing the activity as they are given confirmations to their answers.


Generally, I am truly glad to have this opportunity offered by this course to be exposed to the usage of IWB and its many unique features to be incorporated in the classroom. In my opinion, this is indeed a precious piece of knowledge that we, as future educators of this highly technological era, would find it very useful in our vocation. However, a nagging thought kept me thinking "How far could we actually put this piece of knowledge into use if the schools that we are posted to do not possess such luxury of using the IWB as their teaching facility in the school?" I am wondering, "To what extend can we truly apply the usage of IWB as a wonderful teaching tool in majority of the real schools out there?" These are just a few thought bubbles that are formed in my process of learning to use the IWB for effective teaching-learning in the classroom. Hmm.. Seeking and fetching for cool ideas.. :)