Issue 7: February, 2008
 

New Tutorials Site

I'm launching a new tutorial site.  This is a section of my website that has text-based tutorials on everything from using free video conferencing (Skype) to STARBoard cheat sheets.  Check out my website and click on Software Tutorials in the right panel navigation.

SMART Board Lesson Plans

For those of you who teach in a room with a SMART Board (ECTR 212, 213, 217 & 218, soon to be ECTR 214) you may want to check out Smart Technologies website for lesson plans.  All of the lesson plans are based on PreK-12 curriculum and are available to be searched by grade or state standard.  Also, most of the lessons are interactive so it gives you a starting point to begin using the SmartBoard without having to do all the creation legwork yourself.

While at first glance you may think "This won't help me in my class" this is still a valuable tool to any of your students.  Using these lessons to help interactively teach a math lesson will show your students how they can use it in their own classrooms.  SMART Boards are gaining massive support in South Carolina schools, especially Charleston County, so it's very possible that your students will encounter one of these in their school if not in their room. 

I recommend that you check it out yourself.  Remember, even if you have the SMART Board software loaded on your office computer (available for free download) not all interactive lessons my work without being connected to a SMART Board.

Future Installation:

We are currently looking for funding to install a SMART Board in ECTR 214 and in the curriculum lab.  I'll keep you posted on this.