My dd raves about hers at her school and I want one for home so my ds will be able to see me work issues on the smartboard. Wish they were cheaper. It's kinda a hush hush thing trying to get the whole price for the entire thing... who knows.
They have them cheaper at Academic Superstore - but don't get excited. They only offer the discount to higher education. If I had a few thousand extra bucks I'd have one though. What I would use it for - I dunno - but I love anything techie! I'm sure I could find something to do with it!
A smartboard is a mixture of a projector (school), whiteboard, and a computer. You can project the computer screen on the wall and it is touch screen on the whiteboard and it reacts!! OH I WANT ONE. It is for the same reason you would write on a chalk board/white board, project it on the wall for easy viewing, and it is universal for ANY usage! Here this lady will show you: Have fun! http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=SbRl3Sr_jso *delete the spaces between the . youtube .com
We have them on campus and I use it weekly, so I feel your pangs of want. lol. Of course, we have a huge whiteboard (4' x 8') that we rarely use, so it would likely not be the least bit worth it for us. lol.
Okay, I found they are actually called the Interactive Whiteboard and they come new and used. I know I would teach my son just like it shows on the videos. I would put all of my lessons that require showing him through written examples. The program can be embedded into the wall so the board is not necessary. The "markers" are electronic and you dont have to have those either. You can use your finger... I will look into it with our tax return (after bills) and see if it is something we can afford. I hope we can. They range from 1000 to 12000... depending on what materials you purchase.
Personally, I think smart boards are just another peice of technology that is so interesting that it gets in the way of learning. That is my opinion.
I think that with some children/parents learn/teach better with an item such as the smart board. My daughter talks about how the students in her class are allowed to interact with the board and it seems to burn into her memory because it is now a hands on experience for all of the kids in her class. I found a CHEAP alternative to it and I am waiting on a reply then I will let you all who are interested where we all can get one..
Oh, I could make that smartboard sizzle! If I had the time, that is, to write the programs and stuff. I could see it in a classroom, but for homeschool - it would be a lot of effort to make it worth the money. If it recorded the presentation as a flash video that I could put online - well then that would make it a business expense...LOL. (And I might have to get one - IF they could do that!)
But when working one on one with our kids at home.. or even two or three on one... it's just as easy for me to use the computer screen and keyboard, or a piece of paper and crayons and we can work together on things and it is hands on for the kids. I guess I just can't imagine the cost, esp after I just had to have a chalkboard that hangs on the wall and only gets used by the kids to draw on. There are so many things that I thought I wanted, esp when we were just starting out, that I either got and never use or that I'm now glad I didn't spend the money on because I wouldn't use it. Maybe teaching style has something to do with it, we make it a point not to do school at home, maybe someone who does a school at home approach could benefit from such a gadget.
I can see your point on that. It is a costly item, but what if it's CHEEEEAAAP??? I will try it anyway and give you all reviews. Perhaps the board is a little mature for a second grader, but for my daughter since she is still in PS she would benefit because I can dl the teacher's lesson plan for that day or week and review it.
Possibly around $100. Kind of rigging it but i think once we find a way to do it we can make a more aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment.
I'm looking right now at tablets... my drs office has started using one to keep the charts updated, you walk in and they give you this little touch screen computer to take to the waiting area to put in your symptoms or whatever. Something like that would work too for what you are thinking I think. I know the company my hubby works for has a projector for their computers and have told hubby he can borrow it, but it's not something we would use except for watching movies off of netflix..lol. I can't wait to see what you come up with, it's probably not something I would ever use, just not our schooling style, but I still love learning new things.
Ok, now I'm drooling, but more for me than for the kids..lol http://cgi.ebay.com/VIEWSONIC-ASV21...iewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item4a9c39b4f6
