Teach Differently

This is a personal blog that I have used as a vehicle to share resources for educational professionals.  About 6 months ago, I accepted an Education Consultant position where I work with SMART a lot.  The transition was easy because the power of the SMART products.  Well, I want to stay true to the original mission of this blog and share great resources no matter what company, provider, etc…  This post if going to focus on the SMART Table and Sync and I want my reader to understand that these products have passed my tests and are not being blogged about simply because I work with SMART often.

Now that is out of the way, now the tools!  I recently learned via collaboration that the Gen 2 SMART Table(s) and software comes with the SMART Table Toolkit and Sync.  This is awsome!  What the syncing features allows for is interchangable displays.  For example, you can share the treachers SMART Board or computer display with the SMART Table users and vice versa.

Classroom Integration Ideas:  There are many I can think of, but the first that comes to mind is using this functionality to create a true learning community in the classroom.  What I envision is the students collaborating and solving problems on the SMART Tables, then the teacher, via SMART Sync, able to bring up any table  in the room for the students to demostrate their learning.  Rememeber, demonstration leads to true understanding!

*Note…You can’t get the software off of the SMART website, but instead you copy the software that comes with the Gen2 SMART Table and paste/load onto you teaching computer.

I always consult with the attendees prior to a professional development session to see what their needs and wants are.  I take that formative data and feedback into account when creating the customized sections of the professional development.  Below is an example Tagul Cloud based on the feedback received from  Northwestern College.  How can you use this in your classroom?  Formative and/or Summative data?

Just an FYI…all the SMART Professional Development sessions that I am offering through August are on the Tierney Brothers website at http://www.tierneybrothers.com/training/.  There are many great options, so stop by the website and check out the opportunities.  Also, let me know if there is a PD session you want me to add for the future.

While at WEMTA I ran into an education video provider, SAFARIMontage.  I did not take much to see that this option easily, in my mind, overtakes United Streaming and Learn360 as the best educational video solution.

I ran into a great list of resources for Art teachers to use with their IWB!

12 Art Resources for your IWB

I have started creating my portaportal to share technology integrations resources with teachers.  The focus of my shared resources is on SMART, Web 2.0, Case Studies, etc…

My portaportal

This short write up by Free Tech for Teachers introduces SMARTBoard users to resources that can help with successful implementation.

Do you Use an Interactive Whiteboard?

Try the SMART Recorder as an easy, free alternative to high priced screen capture tools. I fell in love with this after my first use. It was so easy and user friendly. Start, Stop, Save is all you need to do!

TPACK outlines the individual teacher compentencies/knowledges that are needed in the 21st century.  The image to the left also shows how a teacher can integrate all the “knowledges” to best meet the needs of all learners.

This slideshow comes courtesy  of Free Technology for Teachers