DCMO SMARTBoard Users

New Location for This Blog

2009-09-14T12:43:00.003-04:00

I've been wondering for months why no one seems to be checking or commenting on my blog entries. Now that I've been re-assigned from S-E to Downsville and Walton, I've found out why. It appears that Blogger is blocked by most of the filters in our component districts. To remedy this situation I've begun a new blog on the DCMO BOCES web site, which, hopefully is not blocked.

So if you are visiting this blog as a result of attending one of my summer SMARTBoard workshops, click the heading for this blog entry or point your browser to the following address.

http://www.dcmoboces.com/webpages/trutan

SMARTBoard Software Updates

2009-09-04T08:38:00.002-04:00

If you've been off for the summer, you most likely will notice that your SMARTBoard software will notify you that there is an updated version of the SMART Notebook and SMARTBoard Driver software for you to download.

I've noticed a few things in the update that you should be aware of.

1. The "Essentials for Educators" gallery now has a new name, it is now simply called the "Gallery Essentials"

2. The "Lesson Activity Toolkit" gallery has been upgraded to 2.0

3. Some of the icons in the floating toolbar have changed, the pen tools now show a line behind the pen icons indicating the color of the pen and there is no longer a pop-out menu for each pen to indicate which color you want to choose, instead there is a "cog" icon you can click which pulls up a window showing the properties panel that you now use to choose the properties for the pen.

Summer and Fall '09 SMARTBoard Training Sessions

2009-06-17T13:45:00.002-04:00

Here are the dates for SMARTBoard training sessions for the summer and fall of 2009
All the following training sessions are single day workshops from 8:30 - 3:00 and will be held at the Support Services Center at the Norwich BOCES Campus.

SMARTBoard Level 1 - an introduction to using the SMARTBoard and the SMART Notebook Software
July 13, 27, 28
August 10, 11
September 21
October 6

SMARTBoard Level 2 - more features of the SMART Notebook software, including techniques for making your own interactive lessons.
July 29, 30
August 12, 13
October 5

We will also be offering the following SMARTBoard workshops for the major curriculum areas. These workshops will be primarily "make & take" sessions in which participants will create lessons and share them with the class.
SMARTBoards in the Math Classroom (w/ Nan Gizowski) September 25
SMARTBoards in the ELA Classroom (w/ Lori Ostrander) November 3
SMARTBoards for LOTE December 4
SMARTBoards for Science December 15
SMARTBoards for Social Studies December 18

Spelling and Vocabulary Games for SMARTBoard

2009-05-15T10:30:00.002-04:00

The Merriam Webster people have a super web site with lots of interactive learning activities (a.k.a. games) that work GREAT with a SMARTboard.
Check it out at
http://www.wordcentral.com/games.html

Great Site for Math Teachers Using SMARTBoards

2009-05-15T10:15:00.001-04:00

Check out http://www.mathvids.com/
for math videos created using SMARTboards

If anyone finds this useful, please leave a comment!!!
-Todd

Neat Site

2009-02-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

Here's a link to a page from the Oswego City School District that allows you to create your own online interactive activities. These are great for use with a SMARTBoard as well. Be sure you read the directions carefully because it's not always obvious how to set up and use these activities.

I'd be glad to hear from anyone who finds this site useful!

http://www.oswego.org/staff/cchamber/techno/games.htm

Planning for Summer 2009

2009-02-02T15:02:00.002-05:00

It looks as if this coming summer will be another "Summer of SMARTBoard Training". This summer we will be scheduling both level 1 and level 2 training sessions, then in the fall we'll look at offering more training sessions focused on specific curriculum areas.

I'm also wondering if people would be interested in forming a "SMARTBoard Users' Group". A group like this would meet 3 or 4 times a year as a way to share ideas and techniques. If you or anyone in your district would be interested in joining this group, drop me an email.

More SMARTBoard Training Sessions

2008-11-10T11:00:00.004-05:00

Here is the list of SMARTBoard training sessions we have scheduled for the winter/spring semester.
These trainings are very popular so you will want to sign up early!
SMARTBoards in the Family & Consumer Science Classroom - January 13, 2009

SMARTBoards in the Foreign Language Classroom - January 15, 2009

Level 1 Training for SMARTBoard Users, an Introduction - January 16, 2009 or February 10, 2009 or March 13, 2009

Level 2 Training for SMARTBoard Users, Creating Interactive Lessons - January 30, 2009 or February 24, 2009 or March 25, 2009 or April 24, 2009

All these training sessions will take place from 8:30 - 3:30 at the BOCES Support Services Building in Norwich.

Follow-up SMARTBoard Training Sessions

2008-09-15T15:25:00.003-04:00

We have scheduled a number of SMARTBoard workshops for the fall that you may be interested in. Each of these workshops has been designed as a follow-up to the introductory training. As you will notice by the workshop titles, each one is geared toward a specific curriculum.
All of the following workshops will be held at the Norwich BOCES campus and run from
8:30 am - 3:30 pm.

SMARTBoards for Soc. St. - Nov. 6
SMARTBoards for Science - Nov. 7
SMARTBoards for ELA - Nov. 18
SMARTBoards for Math - Nov. 20
SMARTBoards for Phys. Ed. - Dec. 2
SMARTBoards for Music - Dec. 6

We will be scheduling more curriculum specific SMARTBoard workshops in the Spring for Foreign Languages and Home and Carrers, as well as some "Level 2" sessions for those who have had the introductory training and want to learn more about creating interactive lessons with the Notebook program.

SMARTNotebook 10 Update

2008-09-10T11:48:00.003-04:00

Since the end of the summer training sessions, SMART has released an update to the NoteBook 10 software. If you installed the original version then you should be getting a notification from the SMARTNotebook updater program that the update is available. If not you can still visit the SMARTTech web site to download the most recent version.

By the way, I'm still looking for people who are willing to be contributers to this blog. Just send me an email and I'll make sure you are put on the contributers list.

The Summer SMARTBoard presentation

2008-07-03T17:07:00.005-04:00

To those who have taken the summer Intro to SMARTBoard workshop in Bainbridge this summer, Welcome!
I have provided a link to the notebook file that I used for the course, just click the link in the right-hand column to down load it. Please let me know if you have any trouble getting or opening the file. Remember, you will need Notebook Version 10 to open this file!

Remember that if you are interested in being a contributer to this blog, just drop me a line and I'll get you added to the contributers list!

SMART Notebook Version 10

2008-06-05T10:59:00.002-04:00

SMART has recently updated the SMART Notebook program to version 10. There are some great new features and we will be covering them at our summer SMARTBoard workshops. Note that if you want to download the newest version of the Notebook program, you will need a serial number from a SMARTBoard, an Airliner or a Sympodium in order to register the software. Otherwise the program will disable itself after 30 days.

Summer SMARTBoard Training

2008-05-16T14:47:00.002-04:00

It's now official. This year will be the Summer of SMARTBoard Training. We have 8, (count 'em 8) separate introductory training sessions for SMARTBoards. Then in the fall we have more training sessions geared toward using SMARTBoards in the curriculum areas. More info can be found in the BOCES Professional Development Catalog that is just now being distributed to districts.
The training dates we have scheduled for the summer are as follows, also please note that these training sessions are all being held at the Bainbridge- Guilford Middle/High School.
July 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 29, 30 & 31
Contact BOCES Instructional Support Services if you wish to enroll in any of these training sessions.

Getting Started with SMARTBoards

2008-04-08T19:40:00.000-04:00

Many school districts in the DCMO BOCES region are investing in SMARTBoard interactive whiteboards for use in their classrooms.

We here at BOCES Instructional Support Services are here to help you get started with this new and exciting piece of technology.

Please use this blog to share ideas, ask questions, suggest solutions, make inquiries, share successes, express frustrations and well, you get the idea :)

We are planning lots of introductory training sessions for the summer and some more specific curriculum based sessions for the fall. More information will be available in the Summer/Fall edition of the Staff Development Catalog.