Smart+Board

=** SMART boards **= = = Interactive white boards or Smart boards are becoming more widely used across the country, in both secondary and primary environments. There are many benefits of Smart boards. Some of these include Smart board are designed to be interactive and engaging, they are a “kid Magnets”. The more engaged children are with what is being taught the more likely it is that the kids are going to actually learn and process the knowledge and information. According to south Carolina department of education ( // Valeska Gioia, M.Ed. Mark Daniels, M.Ed) // some benefits of the Smart board in regards to special needs are as follows: Younger students and those with fine-motor challenges can operate interactive whiteboards by using special pens, a finger or fist, or any object, such as a tennis ball, depending on the type of board used. ( Valeska, G. Daniels, M. 2011) Educators can use interactive whiteboards to adapt material for students with visual challenges in a variety of ways. For example: making the text bigger for students who can only see with limited vision. Or make things colourful so they can distinguish between certain pictures or shapes. ( Valeska, G. Daniels, M. 2011) Interactive whiteboards are also a boon for teachers of deaf students. Interactive whiteboards with finger-touch capabilities enable educators to keep their hands free of pen tools, which can interfere with signing ( Valeska, G. Daniels, M. 2011) Interactive whiteboards, which provide a stimulating focal point for lessons, can therefore be a tremendous asset. (Valeska, G. Daniels, M. 2011) The South Caroline Department of education 2011 website not only has loads of information on the benefits of the smart boards in the classroom and with special needs children. However it also has different activities that can be done on the smart boards. Overall smart boards are a fantastic tool to have in to classroom to engage, integrate and collaborate. **References** South Carolina Department of Education.(2011). (//Valeska Gioia, M.Ed. Mark Daniels, M.Ed//[] Smart board, interactive white board improves pedagogy and student engagement (2008) []
 * Students became highly engaged when there were opportunities to work directly on a SMART Board interactive whiteboard
 * The use of SMART Board interactive whiteboards limited opportunities for distraction by focusing students’ attention on lessons
 * Visual and tactile lessons led to multisensory engagement in the learning process
 * SMART Board interactive whiteboards enhanced language lessons when teachers used visual aids to reinforce vocabulary and grammar lessons
 * Spontaneous lessons were easily supported with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard
 * Student engagement significantly increased when a SMART Board interactive whiteboard was used in conjunction with a classroom audio system
 * All ages respond well
 * Fine motor delay**
 * Visually challenged**
 * Deaf students**
 * Mental and Behavioural Challenges**