Class 4 of 4 Sessions Using SmartBoards to Enhance Mathematics Instruction

Session Overview In Curriculum Planning by Design by Forrest W. Parkay, the author discusses the theory of “ reverse planning ” - that is, designing lessons that first identify the academic need of students and working backwards from that need. No one knows your kids as well as you do. In this session, you will focus on your current class, identify a weak area that you ’ ve seen in test scores and design a six slide interactive, multimedia lesson that directly addresses that need. Each of your lessons will be unique to your students ’ needs.

Focusing Questions What Mathematics concept don’t my students understand right now? How do I design a SmartBoard lesson that teaches that concept in an engaging, interactive way?

Instruction

Framing Our Work Creating a SmartBoard lesson specifically designed to meet your current students’ needs, requires that we frame our work around the Columbia University’s Teachers’ College “workshop model”. That is, using a brief introduction, a 20 minute group activity and a conclusion where students share their work. This can be accomplished by using a six slide SmartBoard less that fits into a 40 minute period.

The Six Slide Lesson The six slide lesson allows us to frame our work around an introduction and a conclusion. It is a flexible outline that can be adjusted to suit the students’ level of engagement in the lesson.

Rules to Remember Make your lesson in advance. Set up the SmartBoard before the students enter the room. Use colorful backgrounds. –Light background - Dark font –Dark background - Light font Use large font sizes. –Fill the screen with the projection

More to Remember Limit the number of words you project. –No more than five sentences per slide. Use bullets whenever possible. Get your students up from their seats and touching the SmartBoard.

Guided Practice

Let’s look at the handout in your packet, entitled “How to Create a Six Slide SmartBoard Lesson”. This handout describes each step in creating your own lesson. It is similar to following a recipe. In this case, just follow the bullets.

Creating the Introductory Slide Open the SmartBoard notebook Go to “ insert ” and click on “ blank page Make six separate slide Click on the first slide Go to the Gallery tab Open “ Essentials for Educators ” by clicking on the left arrow or plus sign. Open “ People and Cultures ” Open “ People ” Open “ People ” again. Open “ People ” one last time.

Continued Pull up the midpoint screen on the right. Scroll down to the bottom of the section. Go to the template section. Click on the “ school ” template Click on the right hand down arrow Click on “ insert in page ” Pull the screen to the right so you can work on the template Go to “ draw ” Hold down the mouse until you reach “ text ” Choose the font you want

Still Working Go to the template Click and hold down the cursor and draw a box. When the white screen appears, type in your “ aim or teaching point ”. Highlight the words backwards. Go to the color box. Choose white in the color box. Click outside the box and your aim will appear as white font against a dark background. Center your Aim on the blackboard template.

Now finish your first slide Now create a second box on the desk Go to “ draw ” – “ text ” – then draw a box on the desk Type your name and date in the box Highlight backwards and change the font color to white.

Creating Your Last Slide (Make right after first slide) Go to the page sorter Click on the last slide Go to the gallery Click on “ People & Cultures ”, “ People ” and “ People ” again. Scroll to the bottom of the category Choose the template marked “ Home ” Click on the down arrow on the right Click on “ insert in slide ”

Finishing Your Last Slide Now create a text box and place it on the bottom of the sofa Go to “ Draw ” – “ text ” – choose your font Then click on the sofa and make a text box Now type in “ homework ” Highlight backwards and change the font color to white. Create a second text box for the window of the template Go to “ Draw ” – “ text ” – choose your font Then click on the window and type “ See you tomorrow ” Leave the font color as black

Creating Your Second Slide (Vocabulary) Always define new words before you begin: Go to the page sorter Click on the second slide Go to “ format ” on the top row Click on “ background color ” and choose a bright color Now create text boxes for each word. Create text boxes for each definition. See above for directions on text boxes.

Creating Slide #5 (Purposefully Out of Order) Slide #5 is the writing piece. Use this slide to have your students reflect on the multimedia activity they complete in slide #3 & 4. Go to “ format ” – “ background color ” Choose a bright color Create text boxes Type instructions for their journal entries Have the students write this piece separately and you will add their comments later.

Independent Work

Creating Slides #3 & 4 Now that you’ve created your outline in slides 1, 2 and 5, it’s time to explore existing multimedia resources in the Gallery to create slides 3 & 4. Look for interesting, engaging activities that have already been created. Remember, if you find it fun to do, so will your students.

Slides #3 & 4 Now go to the “ Gallery ” Go to “ Essentials for Educators ” Click on the left triangle or the plus sign Go to your content area Choose a topic Go to the section on the bottom Scroll to the bottom of the section Choose an interactive/multimedia activity that ’ s listed. Click on the down arrow to the left Click on “ insert in slide ”

You’re almost done! Your multimedia section has been added. If no interactive activity is listed for your content area, so to the Internet and search the database on

Share

Now you will project your individual lessons onto the SmartBoard and demonstrate your lesson using the device. The audience will critique the lesson, giving encouragement and support. Please remember to collaborate by copying your lessons to each other’s thumb drives. Share