stem education - smart...
Post on 12-Sep-2019
2 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Transforming Learning through
Exploration and Collaboration
STEM Education Building opportunities for tomorrow’s innovators
Get Professional Content
ACCrEdiTEd by SMArT
Impact of STEM and Academic
Core Standards IntegrationBy Byron Ernest
March 2012
magazine
Sneak Peek – SMART Notebook 11
AcTiviTy BuildeR
2 | March 2012
FROM THe ediTOR
STEM EducationEdITorIAl Shari-Lynn Sare, Managing Editor Chrissie Chambers, Editor
CoNTrIBUTorS Shari-Lynn Sare Stacy Kindopp Heather Ellwood-Wright byron Ernest
ArT Vanessa Liang, designer and Cover Art
it’s well documented that the United States needs
a strong science and technology workforce to
maintain global leadership and competitiveness. …
improving STEM education of our diverse citizenry will
strengthen the science and engineering workforce
and boost the U.S. economy.
– Freeman Hrabowski III, President, University of Maryland, baltimore County
Hrabowski’s statement goes without saying, and with President
Obama’s nationwide initiatives aimed at science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) education, today’s students are
better equipped to embrace math and science and become
leaders in these areas.
According to the U.S. department of Commerce, STEM
occupations are the jobs of the future and they’re projected to
grow by 17 percent through 2018.
SMArT is also contributing to the success of our future innovators
and to global competitiveness by providing products and services
that encourage and inspire students to study and succeed in
STEM fields. This month’s issue provides ideas, best practices,
resources and content to help your students reach their goals and
achieve success in STEM.
in the feature article, you’ll discover how three STEM educators
are using social constructivism, formative assessment and inquiry-
based learning to teach their students. be sure to enter our
four contests on pages 6 and 7 for your chance to win SMArT
products that help engage students in STEM subjects. Finally, in
the product spotlight, we highlight our Software and Content
Accreditation Program and explore four STEM-focused software
titles by well-known education publishers.
i hope you enjoy this issue and discover a few valuable
nuggets to bring back to your classroom!
Shari-Lynn Sare, MANAGiNG EdiTOr
© 2012 SMArT Technologies. All rights reserved. EdCompass, SMArT Notebook, SMArT response, SMArT board, SMArT Exchange, SMArT Table, SMArT document Camera, SMArT Slate, SMArT Sync, smarttech, the SMArT logo, all product logos and all SMArT taglines are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMArT Technologies in the U.S. and/or other countries. All third-party product and company names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
receive monthly
issues of EDCompass magazine right to your inbox.
Sign up now for your
complimentary subscription.
Subscribe
As always, you can e-mail any
questions or feedback about
EDCompass magazine or the blog to
EDCompassfeedback@smarttech.com.
March 2012 | 3
cONTeNTS
04 NoTES FroM THE FIEldWith byron Ernestimpact of STEM and Academic Core Standards integration
06 CoNTEST CorNEr Four Chances to Win SMArT Products
08 ClASSrooM CoNTENTOn the SMArT Exchange Website
11 ClASSrooM CoNTENT SMArT Notebook Tips
Customizing Presets for Shapes, Pens and Fonts
12 ClASSrooM CoNTENTSneak Peek – SMArT Notebook 11 SoftwareActivity builder
20 NEWSWhat’s Happening This MonthFind out about SMArT’s latest opportunities and happenings
22 SMArT SHoWCASE SCHool ProFIlEMaking the World a better Place
24 ProdUCT SPoTlIgHTGet Professional Content Accredited by SMArT
14 FEATUrE ArTIClETransforming Learning through Exploration and Collaboration
4 | March 2012
NOTeS FROM THe Field
Impact of StEm and acadEmIc corE StandardS IntEgratIon The academic achievement of U.S. students is becoming increasingly
important if the United States is to compete successfully in the world
economy. And as the department head of an indiana agriculture science
program at Lebanon Community School Corporation, i am continually
investigating the problem of low student performance and achievement in
STEM subjects and the impact of the real-world application of career and
technical education courses on student achievement in these core subjects.
The education landscape is competitive, and my school is striving to
successfully meet challenges head-on. Educators must examine the areas
where STEM can be taught in a relevant context. To that end, it is important
that academics be fully integrated both vertically and horizontally into all
course work. We must reinforce the academic cores, including STEM.
We’ve adopted that practice at Lebanon, and significant improvements
in student achievement and performance have occurred since our focus
turned to teacher effectiveness and the use of SMART products to
enhance the learning process.
Following are just a few of the improvements we’ve seen:
•A144percentincreaseinthenumberofeleventh-andtwelfth-grade
students taking AP courses
•A9percentincreaseinthenumberofstudentsreceivinganAPtest
score of 3, 4 or 5
•A38-pointincreaseinmathandcriticalreadingscoresontheSAT
•A17percentincreaseinthenumberofstudentsreceivinganIndiana
Core 40 diploma
•Agraduationratethathasincreased9percentto95.3percent–the
state average is 84.1 percent
•Anattendanceratethathasincreasedby2.3percentto98.1percent
•MyadvancedlifesciencecoursesthispastschoolyearhavePurdue
University’s largest share of dual-credit students, with 136 students
receiving at least 3 credits and some receiving 10 credits in one year
Byron Ernest
department Head for
Agriculture and FFA,
Lebanon Community
School Corporation,
Lebanon, indiana
We have compiled
compelling data
that point to
improvements
in student
achievement
because of the
effective use of
SMArT products
to enhance
instruction.
March 2012 | 5
vOice BOx
vote now read the next issue of EDCompass magazine, where we
give you tips and suggestions for acquiring funding for
classroom technology.
Up Next
Your Vote
We asked what your biggest challenge is when
instructing young learners.
You responded:
have your say....
What do you feel is the best way to promote STEM learning in your classroom?
Having the
prep time
required
to create
lessons
All of the above
Other
Finding funding to
purchase tools that will
help early learners
Creating
collaborative
learning
environments
to nourish
creativity and
teamwork
differentiating instruction to
support a variety of learning
styles or stages of development
40%8%8%
17%
5%
22%
6 | March 2012
cONTeST cORNeR
it might as well be Christmas in March! SMArT is giving away products and we want you to win.
Would you like to win one of 10 CoreFocus™ dVds, or maybe a classroom license for 3D Tools for SMART Notebook™ collaborative learning software? Or how about a SMART Response™ XE interactive response system? And wait, there’s more – you can even win a SMART Board® 885ix interactive whiteboard system. it just doesn’t get better than that!
Keep reading to find out how you can enter for a chance to win.
Tell Us Which Training Topics Best Suit Your Needs Season two of the SMART training and professional development video series is around the corner and we
want you to tell us what topics you’d like to learn about.
by entering our draw and telling us what you want to
see in season two, you could win a SMArT response XE
system with 24 remotes (or clickers) for your school.
To enter, visit the SMArT Classroom youTube™ Channel
and watch some of our previously posted videos. Then
read the terms and conditions and complete the entry form by telling us your ideas for the upcoming season.
The contest closes March 31, 2012. Enter now for your
chance to win!
productS for Your School FOuR cHANceS TO WiN
March 2012 | 7
Win a Year’s Worth of Interactive lessons for K–1 Classrooms We’re giving away 10 dVds loaded with
CoreFocus learning activities, co-developed
by Hatch® Early Learning and SMArT, valued
atUS$1,995.CoreFocusisanewinteractive
whiteboard content solution designed to
help young students build math and literacy
skills. There are more than 2,500 interactive
K–1 lessons correlated to the new Common
Core State Standards. CoreFocus is also
appropriate for special education teachers,
where the cognitive age of students is
between four and eight years old.
To be eligible to win one of 10 CoreFocus
dVds, read the terms and conditions and complete the entry form before
April 30, 2012.
Want to Enhance STEM Instruction? Enter our STEM contest for a chance to
win a SMART Board 885ix interactive whiteboard system, which will help you
engage students in learning and inspire
them to explore the world around them.
The contest runs through March 31, 2012. read
the terms and conditions and enter to win!
download the Search Widget for SMArT Exchange™ to Win
SMART Exchange has a new search widget that, once uploaded to your desired location,
enables you and your site’s visitors to quickly
and easily search for ready-made learning
resources on the SMArT Exchange website.
After you upload the search widget to
your education blog or school or district’s
website, send us the link to where it lives.
you then become eligible to enter our draw
for one of 10 licenses for 3D Tools for SMART Notebook software.
And, you can double or triple your chances
of winning by spreading the word. Share
the widget on your social media sites, such
as Facebook, Twitter™, Pinterest, Tumblr, StumbleUpon or any other social media
site, for additional entries.
First, download the instructions for posting the
widget to your site. Once it is uploaded, simply
complete the entry form and agree to the
draw terms and conditions to be eligible.
Youhaveuntil11:59p.m.(MT)onFriday,
March 30, 2012, to upload the widget to
your sites, spread the word within your
social media circles and enter the draw.
cONTeST cORNeR
8 | March 2012
clASSROOM cONTeNT
SMART Notebook lessonsFind a growing database of SMART Notebook lessons on the SMART Exchange website for all grades and
subjects – many of which are standards correlated – created by classroom teachers or by SMArT’s team of
curriculum resource developers.
because this issue highlights STEM, we suggest you check out the more than 6,500 math and science lessons on
SMArT Exchange. you can also search for Common Core State Standards-correlated lessons for math and English
language arts by clicking the Standards-Correlated Lessons button in the top navigation bar on the home page of
SMArT Exchange to begin your search.
Here are three math and science lessons you can try with your students.
Math Mania
Students in grades 1–3 will enjoy
this weekly math practice that
helps them review their math skills
with basic math facts. The lesson
includes an activity page that
students can complete each week.
Volume
Mathstudentsingrades7–9are
introduced to the concept of and
formula for volume in this lesson
from Skoool.
Earthquakes Sciencestudentsingrades9–12
can learn about earthquakes,
their causes and how earthquake
magnitudes are measured.
oN ThE
SMArT Exchange
March2012|9
clASSROOM cONTeNT
SMART Response question setsSMArT Exchange also offers a growing number of SMART Response question sets, most of which are
correlated to state and provincial curriculum standards. The website contains hundreds of activities for all
subjects and grade levels.
Try one of the following SMArT response question sets in your next science or math class.
Capacity
Second- and third-grade math
students can learn how much
different containers can hold. They’ll
begin with a sorting lesson to learn
about capacity and then test their
knowledge with a question set.
Matter Review
Science students in grades 4–6 can
test their knowledge of matter and
review the physical and chemical
changes of solids, liquids and gases,
along with parts of an atom.
Relativity
Sciencestudentsingrades9–12
can learn about Einstein’s theory
of relativity.
WEBSITE
SMArT Exchange
10 | March 2012
clASSROOM cONTeNT
developed specifically for early education classrooms, check out the growing number of activity packs for
the SMART Table interactive learning center on the SMART Exchange website. you can search by
topic, subject or grade level to access hundreds of activities for your SMArT Table. you can use SMArT Table
activities with small groups to complement whole-class and individual learning experiences. Most activities
correspond to a SMArT Notebook lesson and SMArT response question set.
Following are a few SMArT Table activities you can try in your next class.
SMART Table® activities
Soil First-grade science students
can identify ways that land
plants depend on soil and
complete activities that help
them recognize the various
components and types of soil.
Fill It with Sand and Water Pre-K students can play with
sand and water, and drag each
substance into different sized
containers to learn how much each
one can fill.
Compare the Size of Rocks Pre-K students can look at
different rocks and compare
their sizes using the terms
biggest, bigger than, smallest and smaller than.
March 2012 | 11
clASSROOM cONTeNT
With more than six million activations of SMArT Notebook collaborative learning software, it’s no surprise that one of your favorite sections of the magazine is SMArT Notebook Tips. This month, you can learn how to customize the preset options for shapes, fonts and pens.
if you like to use red letters in your favorite font, you prefer your circles be shaded in green or you like to use a blue
pen with thicker lines, you can! instead of changing the characteristics of the tool each time, you can customize it
once and save the properties. That way, it will always appear the way you want it in your toolbar – ready to use.
Follow the same steps to customize shapes or pens. Simply select the tool from the top toolbar and repeat steps 2–4.
SMArT Notebook
THE STEPS
in the toolbar at the top of your SMArT
Notebook software page, click the
symbol ‘A ‘ – the Text tool. A floating
toolbar will appear showing all the
preset fonts available.
Within the Properties tab, you have the
option of changing
the text font style,
size, color, texture
and transparency. Just
click though the tabs,
Text Style, Line Style
and Fill Effects to
select your options.
Click the Properties tab
along the side of your
page and select one of
the text boxes in the
toolbar.
Once you’ve made all your
selections, click Save Tool Properties and you’ll see your new
font and color in the toolbar.
1 2
43
12 | March 2012
clASSROOM cONTeNT
The Activity builder enables you to add interactivity to any object, making your lessons easier to
build and even more dynamic. you can create drag-and-drop activities, such as sorting, ordering,
labeling and hot spots, that provide instant feedback – and you don’t need any programming skills.
A whole range of new activity types that use object animations and sound will be available within
SMART Notebook 11 software.
read next month’s product spotlight, where we’ll devote four pages to SMArT Notebook 11.
activity Builder
Last month, we introduced you to shape image fill and the customizable creative pen. in this issue, we’d like to tell you about the Activity builder, another exciting new tool for SMArT Notebook 11, available this month.
March 2012 | 13
clASSROOM cONTeNT
SMArT NOTEbOOK 11 SOFTWArE
Along the side of your SMArT Notebook file, you’ll see a new tab with a puzzle piece icon.
Select that tab to access Activity builder, and then click the icon to begin your customization.
Click the object on your page for which you want
to create an activity and select the Edit button in
the Activity builder tab. your object will appear
with diagonal lines running through it.
Select the Objects tab. drag objects from
your page to the appropriate boxes,
depending on whether you want objects on
the page to be accepted or rejected when
dragged into your activity object.
Click the Settings tab to set how you want the objects to
behave once they are accepted or rejected. you can add
sounds to your objects by checking the appropriate boxes.
For objects that are accepted, you can request that they
Fade Out, Fly Out, Snap to Center or Spin. For objects that are
rejected, you can set them to bounce back or do nothing.
Once all objects have been added to the right boxes and
your settings applied, click Done. your activity is now ready.
it’s this easy:
12
3
4
5
14 | March 2012
FeATuRe ARTicle
Transforming learning through exploration and collaborationby Stacy Kindopp
March 2012 | 15
FeATuRe ARTicle
Exponential growth in engagement With a background in drama and theater, Marcy Stein brings a touch of magic to each of the math, English and drama classes she teaches at Bialik high School in Montreal, Quebec. Stein is a SMART Exemplary Educator and was recently honored with the 2010–2011 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
With a SMART Board interactive whiteboard in her classroom, Stein loves to use SMART Notebook collaborative learning software to create lessons that capture students’ attention.
“The chalk-and-talk approach doesn’t work with today’s students. i engage my students by getting them to work on an inquiry approach, where they explore and discover concepts on their own,” explains Stein.
The SMArT board interactive whiteboard has given Stein a new connection with her students. She cites Marc Prensky’s Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, which tells how today’s students are “born into
the digital world.” Stein says that it’s necessary for teachers to adapt to the digital world that their students are versed in.
Stein uses SMART Notebook Math Tools to engage her math students. “Working with graphing and geometry is amazing on the interactive whiteboard,” says Stein. “The interactivity helps them explore and understand the concepts. Students can move lines around a Cartesian plane or create arcs with the compass in different colors.”
The SMArT Notebook lessons that Stein creates help her more effectively teach math concepts that were previously difficult to explain to students.
“For example, it’s difficult to teach students how to calculate the area of a circle – you can’t break it up into equal squares. With the shape division feature in SMArT Notebook Math Tools, we can pull apart the circle and rearrange the sectors to create a parallelogram and then the students are able to calculate the area. being able to manipulate objects like this is fantastic,” explains Stein.
16 | March 2012
For example, Stein has created a SMArT Notebook lesson on integers that features a cauldron with a fire underneath it. She uses the interactive thermometer from the Gallery in SMArT Notebook and three-dimensional cubes – blue for cold and red for hot. When it’s time to deliver the lesson, Stein shows up to class wearing a cape and witch’s hat.
“i’ll do whatever it takes to get my kids to learn. Teaching in character is just part of my drama and theater background,” laughs Stein.
And her teaching strategies are getting results. Students in Stein’s enriched mathematics classes participate every year in the Canadian National
FeATuRe ARTicle
“With SMArT board interactive whiteboards in our classrooms, there has been an exponential increase in student engagement,” she adds.
To gauge student understanding, she also creates quizzes within her SMArT Notebook lessons.
“i will often use web-based games or interactive quizzes to find out if students are grasping a concept. Students feel like it’s a game and are very excited about learning,” says Stein.
Stein strives to create a classroom environment that keeps students curious and motivated. “i’ll even come into class dressed up in a costume if it relates to a concept.”
With SMART Board
interactive whiteboards in our classrooms, there has been an exponential
increase in student
engagement.
– Marcy SteinTeacher, bialik High School
Montreal, Quebec
March 2012 | 17
FeATuRe ARTicle
Mathematics League and from 2001 to 2008 and in 2011, the team placed first in Quebec.
Integration instead of isolation At the Will Rogers Learning Community in Santa Monica, California, educators provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning that integrates STEM across the curriculum. Carl Witt, a SMArT Exemplary Educator and SMART Certified Lesson Developer, is the STEM coordinator at the elementary school.
Five years ago, the school implemented a Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGi) approach for teaching math, in which there is an emphasis on problem solving
instead of memorization and repetition of number facts.
“With this approach, students gained a better knowledge of the logic behind formulas,” says Witt.
because of the success of the CGi approach in math, the school began using the same approach for all STEM subjects. “SMArT board interactive whiteboards have completely changed the way that we implement this teaching strategy for all subjects. it’s enabled us to become more collaborative,” explains Witt.
The school has a SMArT board interactive whiteboard in every classroom, including their special education classrooms and computer
lab. They also have SMART Response interactive response systems and document cameras.
“This combination of technology helps us respond to student questions on the fly. if a student asks why it’s H
20 instead of 0H2, we can look it up on the internet immediately,” says Witt.
in keeping with this interdisciplinary approach, Witt works with teachers to develop engineering design projects that enable students to apply what they’ve learned in science and math.
“We have two planning days in which we go through every science lesson and see how we can incorporate mathematics,
18 | March 2012
FeATuRe ARTicle
engineering, technology, language arts and art,” says Witt.
This year, the first-grade students studied the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in an interactive SMArT Notebook lesson. After the story, they were given an engineering design project in which they had to build a chair that was capable of holding three pounds. For materials, they were given eight pieces of newspaper, one piece of cardboard and an unlimited amount of masking tape.
To help them come up with ideas, their teacher used SMArT Notebook to show videos and pictures of chairs and collaboratively brainstorm concepts.
“Our vision is to build on this approach – we want to teach literacy through seamless integration of STEM components. We try to correlate activities to the themes they are already studying. We’re moving away from the idea of studying everything in isolation,” says Witt.
With this inquiry-based approach to STEM subjects, students explore concepts, experiment and share what they learn. Then, teachers begin to introduce them to the terms and definitions that apply to their observations.
To ensure students are understanding concepts, teachers
use SMArT response question sets. “When i use SMArT response questions at the beginning of class, i can gauge where we’re at and find out if i need to go back and review concepts before moving on,” explains Witt.
A new paradigm for STEM education Formative assessments are also an essential part of the innovative approach of the Progressive Science Initiative (PSi) and Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMi), led by dr. robert Goodman, director of the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning (NJCTL).
Goodman is driving the transformation and improvement of teaching and learning in science and math. He began developing thePSIapproachin1999whileteaching at bergen County Technical School in Teterboro, New Jersey. With the PSi approach, the sequence in which students study the sciences is reversed.
“The way we teach science in the United States has been to teach biology and then chemistry and then physics, which doesn’t make coherent sense – one doesn’t lead to the other,” says Goodman.
“So, students are constantly memorizing in the traditional class, rather than understanding. in our classes, students learn physics in a very natural, orderly way, ending with quantum physics, which is the natural beginning of chemistry, and then they do chemistry step by step until they get to organic chemistry and properties of water, which is the natural beginning of biology,” he explains.
With this approach, the rate of Teterboro students taking and passing the AP Physics b exam was 16 times higher than that in the rest of the state – and it continues to grow. The success of the program gained Goodman much recognition, including New Jersey State Teacher of the year for 2006.
We try to correlate activities to the
themes they are already studying.
We’re moving away from the idea of
studying everything in isolation.– Carl Witt
STEM Coordinator, Will rogers Learning Community Santa Monica, California
March2012|19
FeATuRe ARTicle
Goodman later joined the NJCTL and began focusing on developing PSi and PMi curriculum resources for K–12 classrooms. The content is developed in SMArT Notebook and incorporates SMArT response for assessments. The curriculum resources are offered as units, and teachers use formative assessments to gauge student understanding and pace the instruction accordingly.
“Formative assessments are the best predictor of student learning. in our approach, students sit at round tables and answer questions with their SMArT response remotes,” says Goodman.
“if students are split in their responses, we’ll tell them to find someone with a different answer and convince them that they’re right. They’re arguing, the classroom is noisy and they love it. it’s very socially dynamic,” says Goodman. “When you teach something to someone, it helps you know it better.”
Goodman believes that this approach helps students develop the essential skills. “Collaborating together and solving complex problems are the skills needed
for the future, so how we teach is just as important as what we teach,” explains Goodman.
And because students are constantly participating in assessments, no student falls behind. “We assess student understanding so frequently
that it’s hard to leave the class without knowing the concepts,” says Goodman.
Students also have fun opportunities to collaborate and apply their learning. For instance, once students have gained an understanding of how to equate the time, position and acceleration of an object, they will go outside for a class activity and launch stomp rockets. The teacher will give them
Collaborating together and solving complex problems are the skills needed for the future, so how
we teach is just as important as what we teach.
– dr. robert goodmandirector, New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning
Trenton, New Jersey
only a stopwatch and ask them to find out how fast it leaves the ground and how high it goes.
“We’ve had students working in the rocket lab, doing their computations, and when the bell rang at 3:00 p.m., they wouldn’t leave. They stayed with their friends working
on the problem until 4:00 p.m.,” says Goodman.
Schools in New Jersey that are implementing the PSi and PMi curriculums are seeing significant increases in student interest in science and math and meaningful performance gains, with a substantial increase in the percentage of students taking AP science exams.
NJCTL offers the curriculum content, including presentations, homework, labs and assessments, for free. Students, parents and teachers from around the world can begin using all
the resources, except assessments, immediately – educators must complete a free registration to gain access to the assessments.
“We’re freeing teachers up to teach,” says Goodman. “Some of our teachers call this ‘reduce your stress’ teaching. We’re giving them more opportunity to focus on their students instead of being constant curriculum developers.”
20 | March 2012
NeWS
SMART Solutions in the STEM Classroom
Teachers working in STEM classrooms often tell us
that engagement is their biggest challenge – how
can they inspire students to look beyond the formulas
and numbers to see the patterns and the logic of
math and sciences? Many teachers have found that
using visual and interactive tools like those found in
SMART Notebook Math Tools have helped increase
engagement in their classrooms. And with the SMART Response XE interactive response system, it’s easy
for students to demonstrate their understanding of
complex concepts because they can include formulas
and equations in their answers.
Learn more about SMArT products in STEM education.
Apply for Your School to Be a SMART Showcase School is your school using SMART products to make
learning environments more dynamic and
interactive? if so, your school could become a
SMART Showcase School!
Once granted the designation, your school is
recognized for its innovative use of SMArT products
and serves as a host site for other educators who
want to learn more about the many benefits of
implementing SMArT products.
Visit our SMART Showcase School web page
for more information about how to apply. The
application deadline is March 31, 2012.
What’s Happening
This Month
March 2012 | 21
NeWS
Attend a SMART Webinar on Supporting Accessibility
Creating inclusive learning environments with SMArT solutions
March 21, 2012 – 3:00 p.m. (ET)
discover how you can use SMART education solutions to make learning accessible and meet the
needs of every student. On March 21, you can learn
from fellow educators who will share best practices
for how interactive products can help students
overcome barriers and foster inclusive learning
environments. Register now.
did you miss last month’s webinar about STEM? you can watch it on demand. in the webinar,
Discover New Ways to Bring Math and Science to Life in the Classroom, you can hear educators discuss
how they’ve successfully used SMArT products
to further engage students in STEM subjects. The
speakers explore holistic and integrated approaches
to the implementation of SMArT products in
classrooms and suggest new ways to deliver visual
and interactive math and science lessons that spark
a lasting interest in STEM.
Watch the STEM webinar on demand.
Become a SMART Exemplary Educator (SEE)
Would you like to join the global network
of SMART Exemplary Educators who are
transforming teaching and learning with the
help of SMArT? The program brings together
teachers, technology coordinators and
administrators who lead the way in using SMArT
products to engage students and improve
learning outcomes.
Through March 31, 2012, you’re invited to
complete a SEE program application that
highlights your commitment to developing
effective education practices and sharing them
with other educators.
Learn more about the program pathways and
how you can apply to join this group of skilled
and dedicated educators.
22 | March 2012
SMART SHOWcASe ScHOOl PROFile
Sometimes a tiny crystal of an idea can snowball into
an avalanche of change. That’s what happened when
10 teachers at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins,
Colorado, decided that the school should be a SMART Showcase School. So, with the advice of Tracey
Winey, the school’s media specialist and a SMArT
Exemplary Educator, each of these teachers posted a
lesson on the SMART Exchange website.
“From a staff aspect, that small step of putting our
lessons on the Exchange really pushed our teachers to
go to the next level. We say part of the 21st century
skill set is to share and collaborate, and through the
Exchange our staff collaborates worldwide. by doing
this, we are setting a great example for our students
– collaborating globally and making a real impact,”
explains Winey.
Susanne Martino, a seventh-grade math teacher at
the school, believes that sharing lessons on SMArT
Exchange is empowering for teachers. “i feel good
about sharing the work of other teachers. i know i
don’t have to recreate it, because i know they did their
best thinking and put it on the Exchange, just as i
have,” she says.
A clear focus
Sharing those initial lessons led to the entire school’s
staff exploring how technology products can best
be used to support STEM instruction in classrooms.
And it seems to be working. in addition to being
designated a SMArT Showcase Elite School, Preston
was selected as a 2011 Intel® Middle School of Distinction for science. With so many technology
companies headquartered in Fort Collins, becoming a
STEM school was a natural fit for this Poudre School
district school. Martino says it has led to an intentional
and all-encompassing focus on technology skills in all
content areas, but especially STEM.
“Preston students are engaged in activities and
investigations in the STEM areas that really allow
them to critically think and problem solve,” says
Martino. “Our teaching and learning is geared toward
preparing our students so they can understand their
place in the world and how it works. We do this by
using current technology that enhances both teacher
and student learning.”
The SMArT products at the school include 33 SMART Board interactive whiteboards – 3 of which are
SMART Board 885ix interactive whiteboard system with four-touch interactivity – 15 SMART Document Cameras™ with Mixed reality Tools, 10 SMART Slate™ wireless slates and 10 SMART Response interactive response systems. The sixth-grade 1:1 learning
Making the World a better Placeby Heather Ellwood-Wright
March 2012 | 23
SMART SHOWcASe ScHOOl PROFile
your school can become a SMArT Showcase School and be recognized for
using SMArT education solutions to create exceptional learning environments.
if selected, your school will receive exclusive membership benefits and
opportunities. it will have an opportunity to share its success story and serve
as a host site for other educators who want to find out about the benefits of
implementing SMArT products. Learn more.
“One of our mottos at Preston is ‘How will we
make the world a better place?’ And through our
use of SMArT [products], our kids are doing that
every day – and that’s exciting.”
Tracey Winey Media Specialist Preston Middle School Fort Collins, Colorado
environments also include SMART Sync™ classroom management software.
For Mary barela, a sixth-grade teacher, SMArT Sync
software helps her easily push content-rich websites
out to students in a controlled fashion. it also “raises
the personal accountability of each student” because
students know she is closely and continually monitoring
their work. For her math students, barela uses the
SMArT response system to differentiate instruction.
“With SMArT response, i can get immediate feedback
and determine which students are ready for enrichment,
which students are ready for an intervention and which
ones are on target. i am able to fully address the needs
of all my students,” barela explains.
Increased engagement Perhaps the most important aspect of the daily,
intentional and fully supported use of technology
products is the marked increase in student
engagement at Preston Middle School. According to
Winey, the overarching culture of the school is one of
deep questioning and exploration, usually centered
around authentic, real-world problems. For example, a
group of Preston students is involved in a project with
students in the Philippines and, together with industry
mentors and outside experts, are delving into the
problem of deforestation in that country. Such projects
and the resulting process mean both teachers and
students are more involved and enthusiastic.
“i am definitely more engaged in the learning,”
agrees Martino. “When i learn something new on
the technology front, i can’t wait to share it with my
students. And i find they all want to try it, so they are
more engaged. Subsequently, i’m more engaged and
we’re all learning because of it.”
A potential and welcome effect of this increased
engagement, says Winey, is decreased discipline referrals.
She says that although it’s tough to quantify the real
reason for the decrease, the Preston teachers believe it’s
because students are excited about learning – they come
to school with a learning mindset, ready to take on the
world, and the result is fewer discipline problems.
Winey says SMArT products are helping Preston
teachers and students make a difference. “We take
pride in the fact that we can differentiate instruction
for our students so well and we can challenge them
with real-world problems. One of our mottos at Preston
is ‘How will we make the world a better place?’ And
through our use of SMArT [products], our kids are
doing that every day – and that’s exciting.”
24 | March 2012
PROducT SPOTliGHT
Get Professional, interactive Content Accredited by SMArT SMArT created the Software and Content Accreditation Program (SCAP) to encourage third-party publishers to develop software and content that integrate with SMArT products. SCAP ensures that the high-quality content from these publishers will be compatible with the SMArT products in your classroom.
Through the program, reputable publishers such as houghton Mifflin harcourt, Pearson and Scholastic – to name just a few – create high-quality software and content that work with
SMArT products. And with an ever-growing number of titles available, you’ll discover a wide range of ready-to-use content.
Software or content accredited by SMArT carries our accreditation logo. before we accredit a title, we ensure that it integrates with SMArT products, is easy to use and will enable you to enhance learning in your classroom. With three tiers of accreditation – Standard, Premium and Elite – it’s easy for you to see the content’s level of integration with SMArT products
and the extent to which the publisher has incorporated the use of multiple SMArT products into its solution.
SMArT-accredited software and content can be found on the SMART Exchange website. When you search for content on SMArT Exchange, you’ll find a second tab that shows you which of our accredited titles also match your search. by using these accredited titles, you can spend less time preparing lessons and more time interacting with your students.
March 2012 | 25
PROducT SPOTliGHT
Understanding SCAP accreditation Following is a quick and simple guide to SCAP accreditation:
Standard – Software or content with Standard accreditation indicates that
SMArT has approved it for use with one or more SMArT products. The product will enhance the SMArT platform and is easy to use.
Premium – Software or content with Premium accreditation provides a
deeper level of integration by taking advantage of key SMArT product functionality while continuing to maintain the ease of use that is integral to all SMArT products.
Elite – Software and content with Elite accreditation has unique content or
feature integration designed specifically for a SMArT product. it easily integrates with SMArT products and may
leverage the use of multiple SMArT products to create a more interactive user experience.
When you choose third-party software and content accredited by SMArT, you can be confident that the content is compatible with our products.
Coming soon – an online content store it’s about to get even easier to use SMArT-accredited titles in your classroom. We will soon be launching an online store on the SMArT Exchange website to provide a repository of SMArT-accredited content and applications available for purchase. The store will include
•SMARTNotebooklessons
•Galleryimages,themes,videos and Flash® objects for use on the SMArT board interactive whiteboard
•SMARTResponse question sets
•Contentandapplicationsforthe SMArT Table interactive learning center
The store on SMArT Exchange will be available in the United States and Canada in the spring of 2012, with planned expansion to other countries.
Millions of
teachers each year
search the
SMArT Exchange
website for
high-quality lessons,
digital content and
resources.
The expansion
of SMArT
Exchange to
include a store
that will host
publisher-created
content and free
resources will make
it even easier for
teachers to find
relevant content that
will help
them create and
deliver engaging,
interactive lessons.
– linda Thomas
Vice President, Products SMArT
26 | March 2012
PROducT SPOTliGHT
bring math and literature to life with interactive lessons from Saddleback
Everything from polygons to Pride and Prejudice
becomes more fun to learn when teachers add
interactive elements to lessons – and that’s what
Saddleback Educational Publishing™ helps do with
its series of interactive whiteboard lessons.
The lessons are designed to grab the attention of
struggling learners in grades 6–12 while providing
teachers with digital content that’s easy to customize.
Saddleback’s Interactive Whiteboard Timeless Classics offers activities about classic novels, and its
Interactive Whiteboard Math provides activities for
pre-algebra, geometry, algebra and algebra 2.
give struggling learners the tools to achieve
Establishedin1982,Saddleback Educational Publishing has long offered thousands of high-
interest, easy-to-read materials, including books, audio
books, teacher resources and educational software,
to help struggling learners. And last year, Saddleback
decided to expand its selection by entering the
interactive whiteboard content market.
As SMART-accredited titles, these software
applications are all compatible with the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Learn more about these
applications by visiting the Saddleback Educational Publishing page on SMArT Exchange.
EXPLoRE SMART-ACCREDITED TITLES FRoM ThESE EDUCATIoNAL PUBLIShERS
inspire students with stimulating, interactive content from Sherston
developing your students’ problem-solving skills?
Flobot can help. Searching for an interactive activity
for your students with special needs? Try ReacTickles 2. Looking to help your young students improve their
counting skills? Look no further than Monkeys, Ducks and Frogs.
Created by Sherston, the UK’s leading provider of
educational software for primary schools, content is
colorful and dynamic and helps your students build
important skills in areas such as literacy, math, science
and technology.
Hands-on learning
Sherston Publishing Group has a multitude of
interactive, stimulating content designed for students
in pre-K to eighth grade. As SMART-accredited titles, these software applications, including The Crystal Rain Forest and Strumbie Island, are compatible
with the SMART Board interactive whiteboard.
reacTickles 2 is compatible with the SMART Table interactive learning center.
When combined with the touch capabilities of SMArT board interactive whiteboards and SMArT Table, teaching and learning with these resources become hands-on and interactive. For more information about available titles, visit the Sherston Publishing Group page on SMArT Exchange.
March 2012 | 27
PROducT SPOTliGHT
discover ready-made, inspiring content from Classroom Complete Press When an innovative third-party software publisher decides to develop content in the SMART Notebook collaborative learning software platform, it’s no surprise that the results are amazing!
That’s exactly what happened when CCP Interactive, a division of Classroom Complete Press, decided to start creating digital content specifically for SMART Board interactive whiteboards.
CCP interactive combines the interactive capabilities of SMArT Notebook with curriculum-based content to make learning language arts, science and environmental studies an interactive and engaging experience.
Comprehensive lessons with built-in assessments Covering a variety of topics, including simple machines, global warming and literary devices, each lesson plan features 80 screen pages of
instructional core curriculum content, interactive
learning applications, reading passages and engaging
question sets that integrate with the SMArT
response PE and LE interactive response systems.
With this ready-made, professionally created content
for pre-K through eighth grade, teachers can instantly
measure understanding while inspiring their students.
Explore all of the available SMArT-accredited titles
from this publisher by visiting the Classroom Complete Press page on SMArT Exchange.
Help students learn physics in playful, creative ways with Algodoo®
Students around the world are experimenting
with physics in fun, educational ways thanks to
the Algodoo application by Algoryx Simulation.
Algodoo is unique physics simulation software
that engages students in science by enabling them
to easily create interactive scenes and physical
experiments that are playful, creative and visual.
With Algodoo, students can explore physics, build
inventions, design games and experiment with
science. Algodoo is compatible with the SMART Board 800 series interactive whiteboard,
expanding the creative possibilities for two
students working together using the touch gesture
capabilities of the interactive whiteboard.
Entertaining and educational Algodoo lessons are easy to use, enabling students
to experiment with topics such as forces, velocities
and momentum and to create unique scenes.
Students are motivated to explore and play with
physics, helping them gain knowledge in one of the
most effective ways – learning by doing!
Algoryx Simulation has already won two
prestigious awards for innovation and future
potential for its innovative products. To learn
more about this SMArT-accredited title, visit the
Algodoo website.
With SMArT products, teachers can open up a world of wonder and excitement in their classrooms. Students’ imaginations will soar as they experience STEM lessons through collaboration, exploration and hands-on learning.
discover how you can inspire your students today and spark a lasting interest in STEM subjects.
Visit smarttech.com/stem.
Make your math or science class a hub of exploration and discoverySMArT solutions in STEM
top related