Smartboard software
The following is merely a personal commentary and in no way an endorsement of any product in favour of another.
With the interactive whiteboard getting into more and more classrooms, I’m asked more and more for IWB training. I’m not really a fan of the Interactive Whiteboard itself but some of the software that goes with IWBs is very good for creating engaging resources . Nevertheless, to create even higher-quality resources for a rich learning experience that reaches more learners it is sometimes necessary to use other tools as well. Whatever the reason, here I am training people in Smart software. It’s a good starting point.
And the more I see the enthusiasm for developing engaging classroom resources, the happier I am with the IWB software. I’ve never subscribed to the panacea that IWBs were heralded as, since the same learning objectives can often be achieved with a projector and a laptop (or even better a tablet). It’s the pedagogy that makes the difference to learning situations; a good teacher without a whiteboard will be more effective than a mediocre teacher with one any time.
However a good teacher who sees the benefits that ICT can bring to a lesson by way of engaging resources and activities, made relevant to the environment in which learners live, can make a lesson come alive. Effective use of a whiteboard doesn’t mean using it to replace paper resources but to use it to the full in ways that can’t necessarily be done through other means. Preparation is key in both content and technique, so that the features of the software are made to work harder for the teacher and the learners. The actual whiteboard hardware plays only a small part in the enhancement and it really should be asked whetherit is a cost-effective part.
However, the use of annotated video is a lot easier with a whiteboard. Even with a projector and tablet PC it’s difficult to annotate video. Smart software allows you to do this as long as you’re connected to a Smartboard, and it outputs the annotated frame to the notebook part of the software for later analysis. All things considered, it is quite nice to have a flichart notebook of collected resources for instant annotation in a lesson expecially if they can be added to on-the-fly.
A big benefit (only benefit maybe - I’m not converted yet 
) of the IWB is that it can be a huge motivator for a member of staff to develop their skills with the use of ICT in lessons. This might be a “hook” to getthem to enrich learning experiences in the classroom by using the multiple media available. Teachers might worry that there is “too much to learn” (I’ve heard it, believe me) but isn’t that what evolution of practice is about? From years ago, I remember my mother duplicating handwritten worksheets with a Banda machine (mmm - those fumes!) but we’ve moved on from there haven’t we? Isn’t it time now to make the leap from the photocopier to the screen, and then the web? Time will tell.
Morning session
Working with teachers who are receptive to new ideas and practices is great. This session was on using the IWB in ICT classrooms, and although we tried to stick to the Smart software only, it was too tempting to look at how we could build engaging resources with other software, and then use it with the Smartboard. After looking at the basic funtionality of the SmartSoftware we got into using Audacity to create soundtracks, then using DubIt to add that soundtrack to a video that could then be used on the Smartboard. Some great ideas emerged from this session as to how this might be used to build lesson resources, and we all left thesession buzzing.
Afternoon session
Modern Languages has got to be one of the most important places where quickfire resources are used most to stimulate response. Electronic methods such as powerpoint and IWB software must help to comile a compendium of resources, but you really don’t want pupils powerpointed to death. In this session we explored Smart again, but this time it was the old version and I’d forgotten just how limited version 8 is compared to 9.1. That covered, we moved on to use of powerpoint, particularly adding sound, action buttons for navigation, outline view for rapid content development. Then (too late in teh session really) we went to Hot Potatoes for a foray into quiz/activity development. I suspect this might be a focus for future sessions, such was the interest it generated.
This is a great school to work in. The professionalism of the staff is evident everywhere you turn, as is the care and diligence that they put into their work. From my point of view as consultant it is very fulfilling to see staff so enthused by only a small amount of training, and the ideas for development that they take away to their classrooms.