Team+7+-+eZine

**Teaching Tools that Work!**  **Written by:** //Lisa Hatch, Knoles Elementary Ruth Donnelly, Cromer Elementary Joseph Fredrickson, Winslow Junior High//

Tool Up! When I think tools I think hardware! Tech hardware are fantastic classroom tools that can catch the attention of students and motivate them. But what’s out there and how can you use it? A projector is an essential in a modern classroom. You can add color, illustrations video and more to your lessons with just a projector. If you have ever tried to keep the attention of a seventh grade classroom during a lecture, short or long, it can be really tough. If you use a projector you can add visuals that focus student attention on the lesson instead of their friends. Well, if you have a projector, the next tool you need is a Smart Board. Smart boards are fantastic tools that can make your classroom very interactive. Anything that you can do on a PC as an individual, you can do on a smart board as a class. Explore the net, play games (educational of course), show video, quizzes, and review can all be done on a Smart Board. You can also write and draw on it. You can use manipulatives of any kind. If your projector wasn’t enough, your SmartBoard will get even more attention. Another tool that you could use is the Document Camera. It is like an interactive overhead projector that you don’t need to make transparencies for. You can also save pictures from the Doc Cam on you computer for later use. Activote interactive answer pads are another great tool. Have you ever asked your class for a show of hands in order to answer a question and everyone is watching that smart student who always has the right answer before they raise there hands? Activote can make answering those questions anonymous so that you really know who knows what in class. You can use it whenever you ask a question. You can also use it for games and review. Tool up teachers and get the whole classes attention! You will be amazed at the results. //"I have used the Aversion every day to capture something we are working on."// Ruthann Hays, Bonnie Brennan Elementary, Winslow, AZ



//__**Software**__ The types of lessons you do will obviously depend upon and be limited by the software you have available. Your SMARTBoard will come with software and will include Notebook software. Both have many resources ready to use or to be adapted for your use. Here is an example of a lesson that was adapted from the Notebook resources: Kidspiration and Inspiration are programs that many schools have. They work well with the SMARTBoard. Here is an example of a lesson using Kidspiration: While the possibilities are numerous with even a limited variety of software, almost every student-oriented software has a website that provides lessons for teachers.

__**Internet in the Classroom**__ Technology in the classroom helps educators deliver more meaningful, enriched lessons. Computers can meet instructional needs to students who need enrichment/remediation. Student performance/motivation increases, provided the teacher knows how to incorporate technology effectively. Many teachers are enthusiastic to learn to use educational technology, but lack the time, access, or support necessary to do so. Therefore, here are a few websites that will take the frustration away: [|www.smarttech.com] [|www.prometheanworld.com] [|www.thinkfinity.org]//