The Importance of Smart Board

Blog 6: SmartBoard

These are the questions for you to reflect on.

1. Do you understand the basic knowledge using Note book function in SMART board? If yes which part that you understand most? If not why you did not understand.
2. Do you understand the basic knowledge to use gallery feature and attachment picture in SMART board incorporate for teaching English vocabulary for standard 4 students?
3. Do you find that SMART board is useful tool to support in teaching and learning? If yes, why it is useful? If not, what is the problem?
The SMART Board is an interactive, electronic whiteboard which can enhance instruction and learning. The SMART Notebook software makes it possible for teachers to create content rich, dynamic lessons which address specific student skills.

On that fine day, my friends and I had been introduced to the using SMART board by Miss Fenny. She had taught us on how to use SMART Board for primary education.It’s so cool!! She gave clear instructions and demonstration on how to use the SMART Board correctly. Besides that, most of us are given opportunity to ‘touch’ and operate with that particular tool. Haha. It soOO nice to handle Smart Board especially when to create activity for ESL classroom .
This is an exciting technology that every teacher should have in the classroom…Someday… Smart Board is an interactive whiteboard that allows you to manipulate objects on the screen by just touching them. As English language teacher, this is especially exciting because many of young learners are tactile learners. They can actually go to the Smart Board, and move numbers and variables around in the equations.

Last time when I was at IPIK, I had a visited to English Language Teaching Centre(ELTC) which is situated at Pantai Dalam,KL. It was an interesting and meaningful visit that exposed me with teaching professions. And I agreed with the ELTC ethos which is ‘Professional Development for Quality Language Teaching’. There, I have been introduced with Mr. Smart Board and there were 2 persons that demonstrated the use of Smart Board. I feel amazed on how that particular whiteboard functions. I cannot remember clearly who had conducted that session but I still remember how that particular whiteboard functioned. Some advantages of SmartBoard are:

- Integrates the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer to bring an interactive, flexible tool into single- site meetings or lessons and data or video conferences.
- Enhances information sharing by allowing meeting or lesson participants to run a variety of multi- media materials form a touch-sensitive screen.
- Enriches group collaboration and productivity by allowing teams to work together on computer files and save notes over applications for future reference.
- Encourages meeting or class involvement by providing participants with an intuitive, natural interface and familiar whiteboard tools.
- Displays high-quality data and video images without light reflections or shadows. Best of all, the full-featured SMART Board interactive whiteboard is incredibly easy to use. If you can use a computer, you can use a SMART Board interactive whiteboard.

Educators should aware of the importance of technology since nowadays we have to communicate through the internet, such as blogs. Research skills and navigation skills are important at most any age in order to pull information for projects of all kinds. I do feel that every teacher should know how to use a Smart Board. Somehow, we are teachers, which means we are flexible and find myriads of ways to make things just as great without pricey technology. Some places can't afford these luxuries especially the schools at rural and remote area. As far as I am concern, the price for a SmartBoard is about RM5000++…Phew… it’s quite costly.

Furthermore, the SmartBoard works together with LCD and computers which means that the school should provide with computer and LCD as well. Hmm…I feel that money is not everything. In order to produce IT literate and knowledgeable students, the government should invest vast amount of money for the sake of education. Besides, the Ministry of Education should aware the situation and try to equip the schools and students with such facilities in order to produce high-quality students that able to contribute to the country.

Perhaps someday, the government will equip all the schools in Malaysia with SmartBoard, internet networks and etc. As for what I would include, I would put internet/technology ethics on this list as well. The internet is a wonderful resource and is quite often misused, causing it to be viewed as a negative, rather than a positive learning tool. Educators should always seek ways to improve their technology knowledge, but it should be relevant to their needs and the needs of their students.
I have just retrieved from the internet the use of Smart Board and it is useful for your better understanding of Smart Board.

ADVANTAGES of using a SMART BOARD - dynamic interaction with user
1. Touch of screen functions as cursor on computer. Allows blackboard-like presentation to students as you manipulate computer by
touching the screen instead of bending over the computer.
2. Input directly from screen to computer facilitates focus and emphasis on particular
content.Light pens enable highlighting or added comments.
3. Lessons can be saved for review or for access by absent students. Can use Smart Board Notebook or other applications.

WRITING TO THE SCREEN using LIGHT PENS and the ERASER:
1. Pick up the color light pen that you want to use.
2. Use either the pen or your finger to write on the screen.
3. When you are finished writing, return the pen to its position on the tray.
4. If more than one pen is off the tray, the last pen to leave the tray will determine the color of the writing.
5. Use the eraser to remove any mistakes. When the eraser is lifted from the tray a small circle will appear on the screen and any writing touched on the screen will be erased.

USING THE NOTEBOOK and CAPTURE TOOLS:

1. Capture tools appear on the screen when you lift up a light pen, even when you are in other applications. Capture part of the screen or the whole screen by selecting the corresponding icon. To capture part of the screen:
· Hold your finger or pen firmly in a corner of the box you will draw. Keeping your finger/pen firmly on the surface of the Smart Board, move diagonally across to the opposite corner.
· Lift your finger/pen. The image of what you have outlined will automatically be put in your Notebook. Since the Smart Board software uses the clipboard to accomplish this, you may also paste the same image into any other application you prefer using, eg: Word, PowerPoint, etc.
2. Move images around the notebook pages. You can touch and drag any image from one page to another in the notebook. Or you can copy/paste from one notebook page to another.
3. Save your work.
You can save your work as a notebook file or as a gallery image. The notebook file can only be read by computers with the Smart Board software. Thegallery image could be saved on the network on Shared Student, and students could access it from any computer at school.
· You could use the Notebook capture capabilities to paste into other software, eg: Word, and then save that file wherever you want it accessed.

Smart School & DISC(Posters Making)

BLOG 5. (week 5)

Pelan Tindakan Pembestarian Sekolah. (SMART SCHOOL).

Teachers will need to change their role in the electronic classroom from being information providers to counselors to help students develop know how and judgement to select information sources.
The Smart School Project is one of the seven Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) flagship applications. According to my reading, smart schools encourage students to be independent in accessing knowledge. Students are provided with the opportunity to learn at their own pace as well as to explore independently ICT field which interest them. Thus, students are able to maximize their potential to achieve excellence. Smart schools use technology as a medium of learning in order to enhance learning in science and technology as well as to equip students with ICT knowledge. Furthermore, Smart School is an educational institution with emphasis on thinking enabled-learning, student-centered, using technology and multimedia wisely, applying teaching-learning strategies appropriately and effective school management in order to create meaningful learning environment. The Ministry of Education has collaboration with Telekom Smart School consortium to design, develop and prepare a smart school solution package. The smart school solution package includes ICT-enabled learning courseware for Bahasa Malaysia,English, Science and Mathematics.


DISC- Designing for interaction and students’ collaboration.

Themes for ‘Merdeka’ Day : Malaysia Negaraku.

- Did you face any problems during the session? Why?
- What do you think of the instruction?
- What improvement can you suggest?
- How would you carry out this design session with primary level students?
‘Merdeka! Merdeka! We are now in the air of Independence Day celebration which is on 31st August 2007. Due to the Merdeka Day celebration, Puan Nazirah who is from MMU assigned interesting activity which is poster making. Actually, this poster making activity is quite different with typical pastel poster that we had made during our schooling time. It is because that we have to create a poster by using computer software that had been prepared by the facilitator. Besides, we were ONLY allowed to use the pictures in computers which had been set by them. Sadly, we were not allowed to download images or pictures from the internet. Perhaps, this activity purposely designed to trigger our creativity and critical thinking since all groups use the same pictures for their poster. All groups in that class have to use the same ‘Merdeka’ pictures to convey their message of freedom, independence and etc. Whoa… However what is the difference of each group are how they manipulated the pictures and designed the templates. For me, I do not face any problems during this activity, however the instructions is not really clear since my group and I be seated quite behind from the facilitators. Sometimes, we could not hear clearly the lecture. However, Miss Nazirah had been done a good and wonderful job for the presentation. She’s so animated during presenting her lecture on how to make effective posters by using computer software. She also showed her concern by helping us to install the software into our computer.
We have to create the posters and present the masterpiece in front of the class as well as Prof . Raja Maznah.
In group, we try all of our best to create a meaningful and patriotic poster to show our respect and loyalty to our beloved country. My group ‘Hi-Tech’ had brainstorming for a few minutes to find the best ideas and work out for the best! Undeniably, this task is quite challenging since we have to create the posters with limited resources. The topic of this task is clear and specific which is about Independence Day.

I particularly enjoy listening to presentation of all of my friends. I could see the high level of motivation as they are really engaged in their work is always a rewarding and satisfying experience for them.


The Advantages of Using Posters for ESL classroom.

The advantages of these poster presentations include:
lots of out of class researching and use of class time for collaboration in groups;
little or no reading of notes in the presentation;
and, highly motivated students working towards a final goal.
Please Make NOTE….

In order to know more about the benefits and advantages a poster can bring for your classroom take note of a basic difference between posters and other advertising media. Posters, unlike other advertising and promotional materials, speak to the audience who are mobile or are “on the move”. This is the main difference since newspaper ads, magazine ads and mailing pieces like brochures, flyers and pamphlets are designed for audience who has time to site and take in a lot of information. A poster can only put in a few words and graphics that should capture a viewer’s attention immediately and spark them to react. The poster should be fully knowledgeable of the features, benefits and designs of an effective poster. You must be definite on the custom printed poster you will need depending on your objectives for it. About custom printed posters Posters are flexible advertising tools they are intended to catch more mobile viewers.

The effect of the balance allows the viewer’s eyes to flow from one point to another on the poster and this causes movement. Your poster achieved a good design by having both balance and movement. These poster design essentials will be the foremost factor and will give the viewer’s a mental pull to pay attention, read and react to it. As much as possible make your poster eye-catching, attractive and not too crowded with information.

ICT Learning

BLOG 4 (week 4)
ICT and learning.

Today Prof. Raja Maznah had explained well about ICT and learning in classroom. There are many interesting things about the latest educational field in Malaysia.
There are many things I learnt from this course that conducted by Prof. Raja Maznah which are:

Teacher training:
The Teacher Education Division formulated an intensive in service training named English for the Teaching of Mathematics and Science (ETeMS). Courses are conducted to train teachers to be proficient in using English as the second language to teach Science and Mathematics teacher who is proficient in English. The modes of training include Full Immersion Course, On-site Training, Usage of Self-instructional Package, On-line Web-based Learning and collaborative Learning through Buddy System. Each school will select a buddy who is an English teacher or a Science and Mathematics teacher who is proficient in English.

Textbooks
The textbook Division provide a special five-item package of textbook, activity book, teacher’s manuals, student’s CD-ROM and teacher’s CD-ROM.

Multimedia software
The Curriculum Development Center (CDC) has commission the development of CD-ROMs for selected topics which are delivered free to schools. Science Courseware developed under the Smart School Project is translated into English for schools.


Teacher should make use all the ICT to the fullest in order to create wonderful classroom learning. Furthermore, one of the aspects of an individual’s potential to be developed under the Philosophy of National Education is the intellect. Students who memorize information alone are not intellectual enough if they do not understand, analyse, evaluate, and apply such information in various situations.

Workshop: How to make good power point prsesentation

Workshop: How to Make Effective Power Point Presentation.

Today we do not have to present anything but… we have to listen to a workshop by Miss Ng. On that day, she has explained thoroughly on how to make a good power point presentation. I felt impressed on the way she presented her power point slides although the slides are quite simple and not too colourful. Besides, she also gave us several useful tips on how to create a wonderful and ‘tempting’ slide show. Furthermore, she also does mention that we do not have to be too creative in order to compose a good power point presentation. However, we should think on how to create an informative power point to others. In short, a good power point conveys meaning and communicates ideas to the people that view that power point. In addition,she also taught us on how to manage the power point and what is the relevant of putting pictures or clip arts in the power point slides. I realized that sometimes people just simply incorporated pictures which are not really suitable to the context which is the power point pesentation itself.
I agree that it is very important when it comes to Powerpoint presentation, as to how much it will capture the audience's attention. Giving statistics such as above is pretty simple, but when it comes to giving contextual presentations, wordy presentation are almost unavoidable. Miss Ng also showed some good power point presentation by LIVING ZEN to us as reference.

What I have got from this meaningful workshop are as follows:

How to make good power point presentation.
1. Hold up your end with compelling material.
Simple and engaging it can be to build eye catching slides and graphics.The audience has come to hear you, not merely to stare at images tossed onto a screen. Build a strong PowerPoint program, but make sure that your spoken remarks are no less compelling.

2. Keep it simple.
The most effective PowerPoint presentations are simple — charts that are easy to understand, and graphics that reflect what the speaker is saying. Some authorities suggest no more than five words per line and no more than five lines per individual slide.

3. Minimize numbers in slides.
PowerPoint's lure is the capacity to convey ideas and support a speaker's remarks in a concise manner. That's hard to do through a haze of numbers and statistics. For the most part, most effective PowerPoint displays don't overwhelm viewers with too many figures and numbers. Instead, leave those for a later, more thorough digestion in handouts distributed at presentation's end. If you want to emphasize a statistic in PowerPoint, consider using a graphic or image to convey the point.

4. Time your remarks.
A well-orchestrated PowerPoint program brings up a new slide, gives the audience a chance to read and digest it, then follows up with remarks that broaden and amplify what's on the screen.

5. Use vibrant colors.
A striking contrast between words, graphics and the background can be very effective in conveying both a message and emotion.

6. Import other images and graphics.
Don't limit your presentation to what PowerPoint offers. Use outside images and graphics for variety and visual appeal, including video.
(Adapted from: Jeff Wuorio)

SO… let’s apply such tips suggested by PRO in order to compose for a good piece of work.

Week 2

Power Point presentation group (Hi-Tech)

Before power point presentation

In group of 5, we have decided our group name as Hi-Tech. However, I said to myself that I am not too high-tech.(he...he...) but I will do my best for the sake of Hi-Tech team. Ms Chin had asked us to make power point presentation on Yahoo(e-mail) for primary education. We have been allocated about 2 hours to discuss and create power point presentation. Honestly, the time is so limited and we do not have much time to decorate the power point, but we managed to make it adorable : ) The first thing that we do is surfing the net on the definition of electronic mail and its advantages and limitations. Furthermore, we had brainstorming on how to integrate the Yahoo (mail) in primary education. Undeniably, this tasks had test our soft skills such as teamwork,language proficiency and communication skills.

SOFT-SKILLS

Teamwork

The ability to share responsibilities, confer with others, honor commitments, help others do their jobs, and seek help when needed.

Language proficiency

The ability to speak, read, and writes Standard English in an appropriate and convincing way.

Communication skills

The ability to speak confidently and able communicate ideas to other one.

In my opinion, 2 hours is not ample for us to complete the power point. Instead of using plain slide, we decided to choose design slide for our first-time presentation in University of Malaya. I still remember that, during our time at IPIK we have been exposed with several presentation, simulated teaching and microteaching which is indirectly trained us to become as confident presenter.Due to the time constrains, we have to divide our tasks .Some of us have to surf the internet while the others have to do power point slide. As a result, we can complete our job faster and easier although we do not have much time to reherase the presentation.

While presentation

After the first group which is ‘Power Geeks’ presented their slide show presentation on MSN, now it is ‘Hi-Tech’ time to present our job to the class. Since this is my first presentation in UM (as I have mentioned earlier) , I felt quite nervous and it’s somehow effects my confidence to speak and communicate with the audience. However, I realized that I had use appropriate body language and eye-contact to my audience. Deep in my heart, I hope that they will understand my words. I suppose to be calm and aware of my language proficiency during presenting in front of the class.

Basically, my group presentation is about Yahoo electronic mail and how it can be integrate into primary education.

Now I would like to share with all you the advantages of Yahoo mail to young learners.
User-friendly

- send homework/school project after class/office hour.

Interactive learning

- online forum/discussion/QA session

Peer learning
- share info, peer feedback/evaluation/comments
Accommodate introvert learners

- they don't have to be shy about using email to communicate with anyone.

*And as conclusion, the key to using any teaching technology is learning how to control it as

much as possible and finding ways to use it that support your teaching goals. Email offers unique challenges in this regard, but ones that are worth engaging because of the many benefits that e-mail can bring to teaching.