This week we have been exploring nets of 3D shapes and for the lesson’s “Shape of the Week” starter I had Google Earth running with the Pyramids (Egypt) placemarked – we zoomed, from right out in space, into the location of these great monuments. (I still love the awe and wonder of that, so do the kids!) It was a good link with our Ancient Egyptian history topic. I had switched on the 3D Buildings layer and I panned and moved about the modelled pyramids. We then spent some time talking about the properties of square based pyramids, their nets and the pyramid family in general. I scribed their ideas straight onto Google Earth using the SMARTBoard pens and annotated the pyramids. I good start to the session.

For the main part of the lesson and the independent task I wanted the children to visualise the top and the bottom of a net. Which face in a cube net does not move and which would become the top of the cube? So we combined the practical use of Clixi with a SMART Notebook that allowed the children to easily recreate and record the nets.

I shared a notebook file on the network, which the children accessed and opened on their own laptop. The children were working in pairs on their numeracy tables. They made the possible nets with the Clixi and then generating the same net in the notebook from some infinite cloned shapes I had setup. I then wanted them to colour the top RED and the bottom GREEN to show they understood how the net behaved when folded. The technology was not complex but it allowed them to quickly recreate the nets and show what was needed – less time was spent recording due to the technology. Which meant that more time was spent visualising how the net worked, exploring the Clixi nets they had made and discussing the possibilities in their pairs.

I was really pleased with the progress made throughout the lesson as the children discussed and explored the nets of cubes, cuboids and pentagonal prisms. I was equally impressed, however not surprised, in the successful way the blended learning resources worked – how they complimented each other and how the no frills technology began to become invisible amidst the learning going on.

I was hoping to create a Jing screencast as I am big fan of the screen capture tool but the video output is horrible! It works with real time swf coding so you are stuck with the size you get – which for me did not fit in the browser when played back. So I went back to SMART Recorder and uploaded to Teachertube.

I hope that you find the tutorial useful – why not let me know of the examples you create and how you use Befuddlr.

• Flickr Uploader tool (As mentioned in the tutorial: giving you the command “Send to Flickr” on a right click of an image – very useful)

Befuddlr allows you to create a quick interactive puzzles and is great to consolidate the learning for this sort of topic. Here is a link to a different diagram puzzle. And a link to a Befuddlr puzzle for my picture too.

Hope you find them useful

Download Video: Posted by tbarrett at TeacherTube.com.

The tip I use most of all is the 2 buttons – not sure if this is the same on the newer model of SMARTBoard or even if the buttons are there. Please let me know. Newer versions of SMARTBoard just have the buttons in a different place. Same tip applies. (Thanks Danny)

You can see other quality SMARTBoard tips like this one on our shared Google Presentation – please consider contributing, drop me an email if you do.

• SMARTBoard Tip – Round the World
• SMARTBoard Tip – The Double Tap

This is a tip to erase all of your annotations quickly. (Not just in maths!)

Download Video: Posted by tbarrett at TeacherTube.com.

I hope it proves a useful tip. Don’t forget to take a look at the shared Google presentation on IWB tips (now up to 10) – if you have one to add just email me and I will include you as a collaborator.

Here is a video I have made tonight called “The Double Tap” which supports tip number 6.
Download Video: Posted by tbarrett at TeacherTube.com.
Hope you find it useful, and feel inspired to add your own pearls of wisdom, just let me know your email and I will add you as a collaborator.

The premise is simple – you have one slide to explain one idea, in addition you have one image to help illustrate (if you wish). Let your ideas be for any group of teachers or children, from beginners to advanced users of the IWB – don’t be constricted by the IWB type, just as long as it’s a useful idea – I am sure we will all find a way to do it! Write about a simple tip or a longer project – you choose. Contribute one or contribute ten! I have made a start – the process is easy.

1. Go to the presentation and take a look at was has been contributed. If you would like to be added as a collaborator send me an email (thomasgeorgebarrett [at] googlemail [dot] com – or use the contact tab at the top of this page) I will invite you in as a collaborator.
2. Add your one slide, one idea and one image.
3. Change the presentation title slide to match the number of ideas.

It will have a humble beginning – currently the presentation is called:

“One Interesting Way to use your Interactive Whiteboard”

Please help me change the title and create a supportive document that provides valuable, road tested ideas and tips for IWB users, new and old. I am sure we will all learn something.

Image: ‘Sharing‘ www.flickr.com/photos/33128961@N00/142455033

We discussed a few questions about SMARTBoards in schools:

1) Is there a SMARTBoard/iwb pedagogy?

2) Does SMARTBoard/iwb uncover or amplify other pedagogies? What does it show and when?

3) What does effective SMARTBoard/iwb usage look like?

4) What is the next step for SMARTBoard/iwb usage for: a beginning user, an intermediate user, an advanced user? (Also what makes a beginning user, an intermediate user, and an advanced user?)

It was excellent to talk with fellow educators regarding the use of IWBs in the classroom and to share our varied experiences.

If you have never listened to the show I would highly recommend it as there is always something to take away. Congraulations Ben and Joan for 100 shows!

SMARTBoard Lesson Podcast #74: A History and Literacy Lesson from the UK

Let me know what you make of the show – well worth a listen.

As you may have read I have been tracking these products for more than a year now – four major stories seem to be most dominant.

• Jeff Han’s demonstration of multi-touch technology at TED Talks
• Philips Entertaible
• Rumours of new SMARTBoard technologies that incorporates multitouch – ie more than just the rear projector model.

And now…

• The press release about the Microsoft Surface

I suppose the question is no longer about whether or not we will see this type of technology in education but, what form will it take and who will be able to back it?