SMART Airline Slate

The SMART Airline Slate An exciting alternative to a wall mounted or frame mounted SMARTboard is the SMART Airline Slate. This is a handheld little A4 sized SMARTboard which you use with a pen or special mouse. Costs around £250.
	What is this equipment ?The SMART Airline Slate - has no cables and comes with SMARTboard software, Bluetooth USB connection and driver software. It is about A4 size, very lightweight and yet with a very robust feel to it. The battery-free tethered pen lets you control any software application, write notes and highlight information in digital ink, as well as use the EDPAX maths software (see below). All you need is :- a projector attached to a Windows XP computer system, a white screen or board (not interactive), (or white wall!). It can be 'passed around' pupils in the class who can interact with the image projected onto a wall or other white surface.  The unit is battery powered lasting about 23 hours if charged fully for 8 hours.There is more information at http://www.innovativetechnology.co.uk/?page=product&product=302 http://www.steljes.co.uk/Education/SMARTTechnologies/AirLiner+™.htm   Contact Christine Tait SBC HQ if you need pricing details and who may get a reduced price for you.
Other Visualisers may be cheaper,but they require the software to be installed on every individual machine . The SMART equipment can be moved from class to class easily with no need for additional network support time. This should be a consideration when purchasing.	SMART Document Camera – Visualiser  The beauty of the SMART document camera is its ease of connection. It is genuinely USB 'plug and play' and there is no need for additional software to be installed. However, you DO NEED TO HAVE SMART Notebook Version 10 It has proved an instant success with the pupils and teacher of P4 at St Peter’s Primary school, and is very easy to use. Pupil’s work, and 3 dimensional objects for Maths teaching were all easily viewed by everyone in the class. Details are at http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Document+Camera/Features.htm Contact L Marroni if you wish to borrow a SMART Document Camera/Visualiser for a trial period “Notebook software integration Use the SMART Document Camera to project images and video onto a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and capture them using Notebook collaborative learning software. With the latest version, Notebook software 10, you can control the camera through a built-in menu and add images directly to a Notebook page.”

Interactive Whiteboard

SMARTBoard 560 Touch Sensitive Board recommended for Primary Education and  Additional Needs Settings

What is this equipment ? The SMARTBoard is manufactured by Smart Technologies Inc. The SMARTBoard 560 (shown here) measures 60 inches (diagonal) which makes it ideal for classrooms. This is the only board which is touch sensitive.  A low-reflective surface ensures optimum visibility of the projected lesson from anywhere in the classroom, without distracting hotspots or glare. A touch-sensitive surface means that a teacher or pupil can use either their finger or a SMART stylus to control and interact with computer software, depending on preference. Four different coloured styluses provide quick and natural access to different colours of electronic ink, making the SMARTBoard very easy to learn to use. A bundled serial cable and USB cable ensure compatibility with all types of classroom computer or laptop Where can I see this ? Langlee CPD  Centre, as well as several primary schools in SBC. Possible suppliers, costs There are a number of suppliers :-  RM, and Scotsys are major suppliers to Scottish Education. Click on the above links to view their pages. Boards are available in three sizes, measured diagonally. The medium sized board illustrated on the left is the most suitable for normal classroom use. It can be wall mounted, or used with a floor stand. Prices quoted are usually just for the board, the stand is extra. Enquiries Christine Tait (SBC HQ) will have current pricing on boards from a number of suppliers. Please do not proceed with a purchase without contacting her. It is strongly recommended to attach the SMARTboard to one of your existing RM Network machines. This has immense benefits - pupils are seeing a familiar desktop, they have internet access, and all the Network resources to hand. However, there are many good reasons for attaching it to a laptop, especially one which is attached to the network and with all the network facilities and internet.

Software   Smart Notebook Software           HIGHLY Recommended

All whiteboards are delivered with software which allows the board to 'speak to' the computer to which it is attached.  In SBC this software must be installed by your Network Administrator before any use can be made of the board. Additional software (although it may be part of the above) is usually also provided which gives the user extra facilities and tools which will allow them to 'draw', 'write', 'import graphics', 'make hyperlinks'. This software is usually very specific to the type of board - for example, the SMARTboard comes with 'SMART Notebook' software to provide these tools and facilities. You should ask your NA to check that the 'Gallery' of clipart with the 'Notebook' software is functioning properly.  Currently SBC schools are using SMART version 9.584.  An upgrade to SMART version 10 will be carried out during session 2009 / 2010 for all SBC schools with SMART equipment. On the Smart tech website there are lots of training resources at http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/windows/trainingmaterials.asp The above set up will also allow you to use your favourite software such as Colour Magic, Textease, Word, Information Magic, Publisher, PowerPoint, Kidspiration, Insipration, etc, in an interactive way, as well as use many excellent interactive websites (particularly for maths), without the need to purchase additional software. Some suppliers, RM for example, will also provide additional curriculum software called  'Easiteach Studio'.  This framework programme is provided free with the board if you buy it from RM, but the additional items which use this framework, such as Easiteach Maths, Easiteach Language and Easiteach Science have to be purchased separately. Easiteach Studio has similar feel in many ways to 'Textease' - text and graphic formatting tools work in the same way.   Edpax have produced an immense suite of ready-made teaching SMART Notebook resources which are customised  to the entire set of Learning Outcomes in the Scottish 5-14 Maths curriculum. There is one CD for each of Levels A,B,C,D,E.  Each CD costs around £185 and can be obtained from  EDpax Ltd, A.I.Centre, 2 Cockburn Place, Riverside Business Park, Irvine, Ayrshire,KA11 5DA  Tel +44 (0)1294 316519  Fax +44 (0)1294 316553  www.edpax.com

Resources

Background  Information	Ms Word  Starter Paper on Interactive Whiteboards from Melrose Education Centre PDF  Getting the most from your Interactive Whiteboard (Primary) PDF  Getting the most from your Interactive Whiteboard (Secondary) PDF  An Introduction to Easiteach   NEW- Tutorial (big file - will take time to download!) from 'Easiteach'
Links	The BECTA site on 'Planning to buy and Interactive Whiteboard'  Introductory Background information can be found at :- Learning & Teaching Scotland website Useful help sheets on all aspects of using interactive whiteboards  from  ‘The Review Project’ .  These can be downloaded as word or .pdf files. This site also has a section on using Digital Video with an interactive whiteboard.  Kent NGfL website also has useful information on different types of boards, how to use them effectively and Health and Safety  A summary evaluation of the different types of whiteboards. BECTA ICT Advice Site contains a wealth of information Health and Safety for whiteboard and projector use from the BECTA website SMARTtech - materials for teachers,   Tutorial sheets for SMART Noteboook
Curriculum Materials  and Resources	You can REGISTER FREE with SMART Education.  Provide your name and email address then  access a wide range of SMART Notebook files to support the Primary Curriculum. (Check with your NA what the position is about downloading these files to your system.) All of the resources are are freely available but to download the files you must register with SMART Education. Kent Grid for Learning - Another site to find a range of items. This has  Early Years ideas and Health and Safety information   Interactive Whiteboard Resources   Northumberland Grid For Learning has a page if useful links at their 'Using Interactive Whiteboards' page http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/iwb/default.htm  PDF List of useful interactive whiteboard websites produced by Aberdeen City Council Education ICT teachers In Scottish Borders Council Schools there are materials in the  Curriculum Topic Bank, which is on every primary school network. CTB > Whiteboards Folder, contains lists of interactive websites, some activities, and Textease materials. CTB > Maths Folder, Lists of interactive Maths websites. Filename - Websites Maths IWB and Mental Maths  LTScotland selected sites for Maths Level A & B  (word document)

Teaching Ideas
As a first step, there is much that you can do if you simply have your network computer attached to a projector.  (ie no interactive board at all !). The image can be projected onto a non-reflective section of wall or paper. This facilitates class teaching for a variety of purposes whether instructional, discussion or sharing a view/use of a website resource.