Smart Board In Distance Education

Sultan Qaboos University College of Education Department of Instructional & Learning Technologies

Done by: Aaisha Al.badi (68701) Atiya Al.saadi (68717)

A) Definition of the smart board: The SMART BOARD is a interactive, electronic whiteboard which can enhance instruction and learning. Objectives of using SMART BOARD in distance education: • Deliver the curriculum in more interactive and interesting way. • Create two resources that include saving text and adding pages to SMART Notebook files. • Enhance the teaching/learning/training process. • Motivate the student at the distance. • Grab the student attention. • Engage different student learning style. • Increase the delivery quality of DE content. B) Features of smart board: • Touch-Sensitive Surface: Contact with the board is converted into mouse clicks or electronic ink. You can use your finger as a mouse or write notes on the durable, low-reflective surface. • SMART Pen Tray: Optical sensors automatically detect when a stylus or the eraser is selected, while buttons activate the on-screen keyboard and right-mouse click. LEDs indicate the active tool. Four Whisper-tip styluses and an eraser are included, but you don't need special tools to work on this natural whiteboard interface. You can also begin the orientation procedure for your SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard quickly and easily while at the board itself by holding down the Keyboard and RightMouse buttons simultaneously.

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Projected and Non-Project Modes: Use with a projector to display and interact with computer materials or use in non-projected mode to save dry-erase marker notes to the computer. OptiPro™ Surface: This optional screen surface is optimized for use with high-lumen projectors and is available at no additional charge Bezel Finish: Textured, graphite-gray surface. Wall-Mount Bracket: Dovetail design supports the SMART Board™ when wall mounted. SMART Ideas® Software: A free copy of SMART Ideas® software is now available for use with SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards.

C) Advantages of using smart board: • Utilize digital resources while still directly interacting with the classroom • Use computer-based learning with a communal screen, not individual computers • Increase learner motivation. • Student engagement enhances retention • Save and archive a class session, unlike a traditional white board

• Ease of use Effectiveness of board as a teaching tool Students' responses to the Board Preference of whiteboard to alternative presentation methods Value of interactive quality of board Open-ended questions about notable successes with board, & what they liked best /least about the board • It makes the subject come alive • It enables tutors to use multimedia resources and the internet with a whole class D) Limitation of using SB: Too expensive: in order to have smart board technology, it is necessary to pay a lot of money. Difficult to use at the beginning : If a student or teacher uses the smart board technology for the first timethey will find that is difficult to use easily • Difficult to install and management. E) How to use SMART BOARD in DE? By collaboration between videoconferencing and SMART BOARD Weintraub said” We're using SMART Boards, videoconferencing, and course delivery software at each location to enhance the course and the students will follow the class presentation as it appears on their own SMART Board. ” How to apply it ? Two SBs at different locations can be connected to each other by videoconferencing, and course delivery software and because of that any information presented on one appears on the other simultaneously.

F) How SMART BOARD support DE? • Bring the outside world in to the classroom: Linking one classroom to another with videoconferencing: by this technology you can link more than one classroom and make them as one classroom and student can work with each other easily and effectively way. • Bridges the gap between the haves and the have-nots in a cost-effective way and that means use the same resources by many classroom in the same time as explains Armstrong said

“We find we can pool resources by using videoconferencing and our interactive whiteboards because what one class may not have in the way of resources, another class may” • Document what happen in the class and make it is available to the students and instructors.

G) Concerns raised by researchers and distance students/tutors about SB: How to engaged/motivate distance learners by using SB? 1. These studies focus on finding the best way to ensure the learners interact with the process of teaching and learning. Also developing the best methods to motivate students through the use of smart board. Research indicates that students respond to displays where color is employed, and marking can be customized both in the pen and in the highlighter features to display a number of different colors. Width of lines can also be adjusted to add flexible marking choices.

How to make distance instructor and users use SMART BOARD effectively? This research is designed to explain the reasons that lead students and teachers to use smart board in Wrong way. Also it aimed to improving the students and teachers deal with this technique to get the advantage from using it. How to overcome the limitations of smart board? It is well known that every technology has advantages and Limitations ,so this research aimed at finding alternative solutions to overcome the Limitations of the technology and overcome them. H) Real Example: 1) Wiegand how is a distance instructor said “My students are completely engaged about what they are learning, seeing, Having the SMART BOARD has transformed my teaching and allowed me to go to the next level. I can’t imagine teaching now without one!” This Teacher said that because he uses the collaboration between videoconferencing and smart board technology in teaching students in New York City as well as in another city at the same time and save his time and make the teaching and learning process more effective. 2) Smart Technologies Company use SMART BOARD with videoconferencing in teaching children in Africa: This company has many programs that use the collaboration between videoconferencing and smart board technology in teaching students. One of its programs had been implemented in Africa, where this technology used to bring the spatial dimension in solving the problem of limited resources within the classroom. The application of this program was a result of the success of various programs which applied by the company in various countries in the world.

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References: 1. (2001, Smart technologies) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_NlAn6Azs 2. (2002, Mary Ann Bell) http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html 3. (2003,Al.qhtani) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgFxqXw3ock 4. (2003, Smart technologies) http://www.hits-inc.com/SBSmartBoardFeatures.htm …