Using the Interactive White Board

My best advice for when you are unsure of how to use any type of technology in the room is to first, if you aren't standing in front of the class, to ask the teacher in a room close to yours. Chances are they have the same technology or similar. If you are standing in front of the class and realize you don't know how to run the equipment, don't sweat!, if you look panicked the kids will realize and either start shouting out or come running up to help you. This creates chaos and takes a long time to get them settled back down. Instead, calmly tell the students that you are looking for a assistant to get things set up while you explain what you are going to do. This way, they will all sit quietly with their hands raised hoping you'll choose them to be your assistant. This gives you the upper hand in the situation, therefore not letting things unravel. I consider myself pretty tech-savy and still have trouble because every machine is a little different!! Good luck! Once you get it working, it is an amazing tool!!

I love using the smart boards. There are so many fun actives that can be done with the lesson plans or just to have fun. The way I learn to use the white smart boards is when I had a long term position for a kindergarten teacher. She asked if I had any extra time after school to go through the morning work that they use on the smart board? Of course I did and from there she showed me the some different things that the class does through out the day. If a substitute really wants to know how to use them. Then I would ask a teacher (one who you sub for a lot) to just come and watch, and to take notes.

I learned to use the interactive white board as a teacher. I am semi retired and now substitute. I would highly recommend an easy guide be given to all subs so that the teacher does not have to leave instructions for its use. In my district their is an access code for all grades for the sub to get on the computer and into the folders where teachers can leave their white board plans. This code needs to be given to all of the subs. Then the teacher only has to leave info about which folder to go into. This should be very easy. The white boards have task bars. In the guide an explanation of the task bar icons would be helpful.

Yep, ask teachers next door or some kids in the classroom. Hey, you become acquainted with other teachers. If you should accidentally use a permanent marker just write right over it with a dry erase pen and it comes clean. Really.

As a stellar sub I "float" from one class to another on a regular basis. It is my experience that if you are having problems you could look to the school's IT team. Our tech team is wonderful and can help with any problem that might come up. Should the school you are at not have a tech team or IT person you could look to a teacher/classroom close by. If this is a school that you are at often I would ask the sub coordinator or administration if you could come sit-in while they are having a inservice on the interactive white board and take notes. That way you are ready for your next white board lesson!

Being a younger generation sub, technology is less intimidating for me. I am used to troubleshooting new technology to figure things out. In Loudoun County, we use the ActivInspire program (not sure if others elsewhere) to serve as a chalkboard and you can do the basics pretty easily. I suggest playing with the program during planning or a break to get familiar with key tools like the pen, eraser, spray bottle, arrow for selecting, redo & undo, etc. One extra tool I like that may be useful is the "revealer"-serves as a cover you can pull down while revealing notes.
When in doubt, I agree that atleast older students generally know how to use basic tools and are eager to help!

If by white board you mean the Smartboards (used in the Sioux Falls school system) they are a challenge at first. Subs don't consistently get to use them even if they've had training on them before a semester or year begins, the hardware and software supplying the image/video/DVD/text vary from room to room and school to school, and sometimes the teacher's instructions on how to use are lacking. It's often the case that a teacher in an adjacent room can/will help out--though sometimes it takes them a moment to figure it out (because the equipment is different than in their room). The best tool that helped me (somewhat) master Smartboard was a six week long term sub assignment last year. The teacher used Smartboard and had lessons prepared for every day, including warm-ups, lecture notes, dvds, videos, etc. Now I can, with some confidence, tackle white boards.

Promethean, Smartboard, and Mimio systems have online instruction available. I would suggest going through at least an introductory course. Make sure the teacher leaves all pass codes for getting into the system and for any other online programs needed. Also, learn the particular classroom's computer system so that you know how to start the system properly. For instance, the order you start a projector and computer system may prevent the board from recognizing yours, or the teacher's computer. In addition, make sure you have any videos, annimations, and sims downloaded to a file, if you can, to prevent slow speeds preventing you from using online services. For example, I found a video on youtube I would have liked to use to display motivational and course related information, but since there was heavy use of the Internet in the school that day, it took all day to download. I therefore downloaded the video onto my computer from home and played it the next day. Lastly, always prepare a contingency should things not go smoothly and you are forced to abandon the whiteboard. This happens often, even for teachers. As a matter of classroom management, you do not want to spend more than a few minutes to get a board working or application started; this is where you can lose control as students recognize your unfamiliarity and may revert to mayhem. It also helps to have the school's technical person available and their contact numbers handy. I hope this helps.

When I accepted a long term substitute position, I was able to get a download code for the ActivInspire software. Then I was able to practice on my own time to build up my skills. Check with someone in the school you frequently work in to see if you can get a code. I also found some usefuls tutorials by searching the web!

A good way to become familiar with the white board is via Youtube. I learned most of what I know about white boards by viewing the tutorials They give you
The basics on how to get it up and running, how to make sure the touch points are aligned, and how to find the notebook software on the computer. Hope this helps!

Elaine

i like white board

Used it before, but not proficient with it as yet. You have to kep practicing!

I have had a little bit of a problem with them as well, even the schools sometimes have a problem of getting the individual classes teachers computer up as well. I have had some teachers to leave their access for me as well as detail information of what program they want me to access. When that happens it is great because I am familiar with the computer and do not generally have a problem if I can access what is required. We do have in our system the sub sign in, however, it does not always allow access to me when I have tried to get into the system with the sub sign in. It does create a problem when a sub cannot access the white board, I feel like I am not carry out their instructions and really feel bad that I can't because I like the day to flow if I am there just like it would for the regular teacher. Thank you for addressing this issue. Elizabeth Bohan, SUB,WCS, Tennessee

Usually the biggest challenge in accessing the interactive whiteboard is that the teacher leaves plans to use it, but does not leave their username & password to be able to log into the computer, which is necessary in most cases! I don't think the districts make it clear enough that, most of the time, substitutes are not given a log-in/e-mail account, nor is there a "generic" log-in for them to use. Even so, usually what the teacher wants the sub to do is saved in their personal files, which couldn't be accessed through another person's log-in anyway. If you can get onto the computer, then I highly recommend taking a few minutes to calibrate it in order to reduce "issues" throughout the day where the e-marker doesn't line up properly.

Smartboard Technology is truly amazing; however, as with ALL technology, it should be used to augment and enhance the teacher's and students' daily experience. I hate for anyone to become completely dependent on a particular tool in order to function and move forward. As with all computer use...there should be regular "back-up". In our district (when I started 12 years ago), we've gone full circle in some ways...full computer access and grade management access for long-terms years ago...and then to a rigid security policy banning subs from computer use (unless and only if they are in a long-term position allowing limited grade management access) to a situation where there are "guest" passwords furnished (at certain schools) and the Smartboard activity is left on the desktop for those subs who have Smartboard experience and can function smoothly using the technology with the class.

Personally, I have served as a long-term and daily substitute for 12 years in our Texas school district. I exclusively teach junior high students (mainly in Science...and then, History, Math, and English). As a long-term substitute, I've often "closed out" a school year (or a semester) and for many early years was granted access to Grade Manager in order to enter final and semester grades...these final averages indicating a student's ability to move on to the next grade. Approximately 5 years ago, while we still had IT people at each campus, long-term subs could no longer enter final averages into Grade Manager due to security issues. The IT person (who had no vested interest in the students) had to frantically enter those final averages for however many long-term subs were at the school at that particular moment. If it was more than 1 or 2, it put a huge burden on the IT person. This situation bothered me for many reasons. Security issues were constantly a problem (for subs) with getting moment-to-moment information especially when there would be an announcement for the teachers to check their email for an important message. I never understood this issue. If we were entrusted with the safety of the students, why could the security issue not be addressed and surmounted? With these message announcements, if I was in the middle of class, teaching, I usually had to wait until the end of the period and hope there was no danger ensuing beyond the doors of the classroom...and if so, someone would remember to alert the subs. Taking attendance varied from school to school because of this...and NOW, access to Advisory Period announcements depends on whether you've been granted a "guest" password. All this to say, for an experienced sub who loves to "be there" for teachers and be able to make the day one in which the teacher feels like she can leave and not miss a beat with her classroom goals, the ups and downs with technology and security can be frustrating for both the teachers and the well-meaning subs. I teach at one school where I still feel like the teachers are not truly allowed to grant access to their Smartboards and associated lessons....thereby, they're still struggling to convert their lesson plans to an overhead projector format or a presentation-station format (someone still has to log in for you with the presentation station). This still leaves the Daily Announcement situation unaddressed. At the other school, the teachers feel free to give me their guest password and leave the Smartboard lesson on the desktop. Therefore, I can access daily announcements, too. The more I am able to use the Smartboard (consistently), the better I perform. It takes exposure and practice. The principal at this second school is hugely supportive in all ways and therefore the teachers can use and take full advantage of their subs who have the experience. In some situations, it leaves me freer to help students individually, do grading for the teacher, or be additionally helpful to other teachers or other subs who might be nearby. As with any lesson design (whether on an overhead projector, on a dry erase board, or a Smartboard) the students LOVE to help and be involved with the teaching. Here,the Smartboard is the "boss" of all tools. The students cannot wait to interact with the board, manipulate the screens, and solve problems with the "pens". Just remember the pens have to be in the tray if you want to use the "eraser" and vice-versa. The board often needs re-calibrating if the pen is marking on the board in an offset or delayed-fashion. The students ALWAYS know how to do this. They pull up the orienting screen and love to touch/calibrate the "X"s on the Smartboard. It takes seconds and fixes the problem. Always turn off that board at the end of the day....(!)...double-click the green button (usually bottom right). The bulbs cost about $100 or more to replace...and have to be ordered.

I don't think cost of training SHOULD be an issue. Many subs would show up ANYWHERE to get pointers and help with using the Smartboard technology. Some teachers would probably VOLUNTEER to do this. It makes their lives easier to have subs who can step right in and use the board. The thing that I'm trying to discern, still, is whether security is being dealt with differently depending on the school and the principal. It appears to be the case. That part bothers me. The second school I referred to is much LARGER and runs extremely smoothly as a result of the SUPPORT of the principal and her goal to give her teachers access to great training and keep their stress level low when away for such things. I think it's a wonderful philosophy and everyone feels the support. This school appears to be ahead in the multi-faceted USE of all the technology out there...it IS a goal of this school.....the students have been using EdMODO for a couple of years now (thsi is a secure "FaceBook for the Classroom" mechanism...a great communication tool...I say this and I DON'T use the standard FaceBook!!! I taught a "start the year" 8th grade Science long-term the first year EdMODO was introduced and became a huge believer in it...it's great!), and they routinely access various WIKI features these teachers come up with to augment their notes and lessons. I, too, worry about teachers getting away from actual teaching; however, the truth is (and I have had to embrace this "truth" at 53 years old), this is the culture these students live in and relate to. Their world is technology-based and this is the way they have become "wired". Everyone who is supposed to be a part of their learning needs access and needs "to be able" to get on board with it. Pardon the puns. It's in the students' best interest as long as it remains a teaching TOOL and not a crutch to plaster Power Points up there daily without teacher instruction. Personally, I don't know ANY teachers who do that....or better said, maybe I just don't sub for any teachers who do that. I'm lucky enough to have been around long enough to be a "regular" for several great teachers. The teachers I know and sub for are using the Smartboard to actively teach their students in a better, more interesting way. They put a LOT of thought into these lessons and they actively facilitate the students' learning while using the Smartboard as a new (and exciting), interactive "tool". Good luck everyone...just beg for some instruction...someone out there will be willing to accommodate. It's like a language, though...if you don't use it, you lose it.

Several of the districts I sub in have Promethean Boards. They are an amazing piece of technology, but it does take some
training on. So far I have used the online free training that Promethean Planet makes available. One district doesn't allow subs, in general, access. However, because I have a long term sub job coming up they have allowed me to gain experience on it with the teacher I'm filling in for. The teachers usually leave all the necessary materials on the PB as folders. It makes the overhead feel like a dinosaur! I would encourage substitutes to go to Promethean Planet and check these amazing things out! Take the free courses they offer. And if you get a chance to use one, do it! It will make your jobs much easier and so enjoyable.

My district offers training on our boards, the Promethean Board. This training was invaluable for me. If I can, I also contact the teacher in advance to make sure that any necessary passwords are left for me.

When I first started using interactive whiteboards, I had trouble understanding how to review lessons on flipcharts, uploading information for subjects and logging in to the computer to start online activities. Over time, I received training on how to properly operate the whiteboards and I enjoy using them in the classroom.

Find two kids in the front row who know about using the smartboard, and are willing to come up to show you how - when requested. Otherwise you get 15 voices and 10 arms pointing from kids trying to help.

I have had the opportunity to use the Interactive White Board many times. Some teachers will keep a lesson or two minimized and then all I have to do is bring it up. This can only be done if I am doing a half day or float assignment. Some classes have them and some don't. I am not particular about whether a classroom has one or not, but am happy when I the teacher has made it available to me. That way I am continually learning about this valuable tool. What I don't like is when I have no instructions to use it and also have NO board space. That is so frustrating to me.