SMARTboards: Are they a smart investment? Group 7: Chanda Crossman, Katelyn D'Orsi, Marisa Mendenhall, Christina Salviejo

What are SMARTboards? Interactive whiteboards with touch input. -Can connect to a computer -Depending on the model, some offer multi-touch recognition. Others offer only single touch recognition (meaning only one writer on the board at a time). -Newer models offer only two markers, users can choose their color with the push of a button. Older models offered different markers for each color (four). -Newer models also offer multi-touch inputs such as pinch, toss, flick, and scroll. Smarttech.com

Classroom Implementation SMART Boards can theoretically replace traditional whiteboards in classrooms. They save cost in the long term by eliminating the need for markers, erasers, and whiteboard cleaners. However, the initial cost and potential upkeep of the technology might not be worth it. SMART Boards are technologically savvy, which can help keep students interested-provided the teachers are properly trained in the use of SMART Boards.

Pro's vs. Con's Pro's: Interactivity: SMARTboards allow you to control a presentation a touch board which makes interaction easy. Flexibility: There are for different marker colors to write with on a SMARTboard. You can also save SMARTboard presentations to a file or convert your handwriting into text. You can even share presentation files by uploading them to a database or to the internet. Visibility: The picture on SMARTboards is extremely clear, especially in comparison to a typical projector which have a tendency to appear blurry. - Another point going off visibility is that you can zoom in and out on the screen (on the actual board) allowing optimal viewing for the students.

Pro's vs. Con's Con's: It takes awhile to get used to writing on a SMARTboard. The writing quality is generally large,messy, and blocky. Lastly, it is an expensive piece of equipment. The installation and training costs can be quite high as well.

SMARTboard Pricing (2012) Screen Size (inches):2012 Price (USD): 48 inches$1, inches$1, inches$2, inches$3, inches$3, Source:

Other Uses for SMARTboards: SMARTboards are not only useful in the classroom but can be used in: -business settings for training -customer interaction -marketing -business pitching -government relations -etc. Link to other uses

SMARTboard Comparison Chart:

SMARTboard Success Story: Mr. Mike Santos, a high school math teacher has been using smart boards for over five years and has experienced great success teaching with SMARTboards. He speaks very highly of SMARTboard use in the classroom, and I, Marisa, can confirm his success, he was my 12th grade pre-calculus teacher. "SMARTboards have allowed me to use actual photos to diagram a problem or give directions for an activity. I can manipulate shapes, pictures and writing in ways I couldn't do on a white board. I can move and edit things more easily and In the last couple of years I've been able to set up different programs that allow the class to interact with the Smartboard; even something as simple as taking attendance by letting the students press their name on the board lets them get off their seats and move around. If prepared ahead of time, I save a lot of time with notes because I don't have to rewrite them on the whiteboard every time."