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=**__SMART Boards in Special Education __** = = = =**__INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY__** =

According to [|smarttech.com], the makers of the SMART Board, the SMART Board is the product of the integration of a whiteboard and a computer. There are three series of the SMART Board: the 400, 600, and 800 series, which have different capabilities and different prices. The 400 series is an entry-level SMART Board that can be used by one user at a time and includes a short-throw projector, which is just the distance between the lens of the projector to the center of the screen. The 600 series is a high-quality system with the ability for one or two users to use. It comes in multiple sizes and short-throw projector. The 800 series offers multitouch, touch gestures, and has multiuser capabilities.

According to Wikipedia, a SMART Board uses a projector do display a computer’s video output and the whiteboard for input. It comes with four pens that use digital ink rather than regular ink. A user can choose what color ink they would like to write with. Wikipedia also says that the SMART Board operates as one component in a whole system. The system components are the interactive whiteboard, a computer, a projector, and software.

Here is a SMART Board tutorial media type="youtube" key="dwla8E6jz4g" height="315" width="420"

http://youtu.be/dwla8E6jz4g

According to Jessica Springgay, writer of the article, //What is the history of the SMART Board?// [|ehow.com], the SMART Board was first introduced in 1991 and is currently being used in classrooms around the whole world. In 1992, the SMART Board had a projector behind the board, in the wall. In 1999, the first SMART Board was introduced for plasma displays. In 2005, the SMART Board went wireless, with a tablet PC that allows the user to launch applications with. In 2008, the document camera, the series 600i, and other products were released. Many schools are implementing SMART Board technology in the classrooms today. = = =__**ADVANTAGES**__ = = = There are many advantages of using the SMART Boards. One advantage is that teachers as well as students are getting a hands-on approach to classroom concepts. There are different ways of using them, from using a desktop computer to a laptop, to simply tapping on the board itself. Also, most SMART Boards allow input from a number of different laptops, and many advanced SMART Board models come with flexible pen-and-finger systems that allow multiple users to write directly on the SMART Board. “For students with physical disabilities, the SMART Board’s touch-sensitive surface gives all students the opportunity to participate in learning. It allows all students, even those who cannot hold a pen, to write and interact with content using the finger-touch capability. For students who have trouble using traditional keyboards and mice, the touch and click ease of a SMART Board allows them the opportunity to interact with a computer.” (Bright Hub) SMART Board is a flexible tool that allows Special Education teachers to project worksheets, pictures for background knowledge, or any other visuals to share with the entire class. They also seem to be pretty easy to use for most. “While most users do require some training, most people can walk up and start using a SMART Board immediately. A SMART Board does not require any special software; software currently installed on a personal computer will work seamlessly.” (Bright Hub) Teachers have said that using SMART Boards in their classrooms have given Special Education students the chance to make huge strides in learning. Another advantage is that with students who are auditory learners that learn best through classroom discussion can participate in classroom discussions that are centered around the SMART Board. Also, for students that are visual learns, having the SMART Board helps them to make sense of what is happening around them and with any questions they may have, they are able to ask those questions by what is being displayed on the board. Some other advantages that may not seem like a big deal but can be to a teacher who is trying to teach her classroom full of Special Education students is that it does not require the teacher to use chalk, dry erase markers, and erasers, which can be a distraction to some if the marker isn’t working right and the teacher has to stop the lesson in order to find a marker that is working properly. It is the simple things like this can be such a positive thing to a teacher that they would pick a SMART Board over using something else. “The only thing the teacher needs to use with the board is the computer markers or the teachers’ hands. No need to replace dry markers or broken chalk.” (Technology Integration) =__**DISADVANTAGES**__ =

Though there are many advantages to the SMART Board, there are just as many disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage to a school that is going to use SMART Boards is the cost. These are very expensive and with many schools getting cuts to their budgets, it is most likely unaffordable to them. According to smartboards.com from 2010, the typical cost of a SMART Board can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $6,000. Another disadvantage of using SMART Boards is the training that it takes to be fully aware of the many things you can do with them. “In order for the SMART Board to run properly, it needs to have installed the required software. The software is an added expense, so you have to add that on to the total cost of the board. Since it is a computer, at any point in time it could malfunction and stop working, than as the teacher, what do you do? Do you have a backup plan? Whiteboards do not require any software and you never have to worry about it breaking or the software not working.” (Technology Integration) This is an important thing because with Special Education students, routine is a big thing to them. If the SMART Board malfunctions and disrupts their daily classroom routine, you are not only going to have issues with the SMART Board but also with your students. 

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__ISSUES__ =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">As with any form of technology, there is the possibility of running into technical issues. Technical issues in special education classrooms can be very frustrating to the teacher and also the students. According to Harve Public School, some of the technical issues that can arise might include: problems with the connections of cords or internet connection. There may be problems with the projector that will effect how the system is operating. The boards at times are quite sensitive. This may be difficult for some children to use if they are trying to write on it but have fine motor issues. The boards also lose their alignment at times. This makes it hard to write on the board because where you want to write will not be the place that it will actually show up. This can cause confusion and frustration to students. All of these issues take time to resolve and if the teacher does not have a back-up plan then some of the students may become restless. Many special needs students also rely on routine. When any of these issues come about it most likely disrupts their routine, which ultimately transforms into confusion and frustration. This is turn may cause behavioral issues. Another issue that may be a factor is that some students may be very sensitive to sound of lighting. They may become distracted by the buzzing of the projector or the light from the projector may be bothersome to them. There may also be a glare off the board, which can cause some difficulties for some students.

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__FUTURE DIRECTION__ =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Future direction for the SMART Board seems to look promising. Many more school are already investing in SMART Boards for their classrooms. The SMART technologies company has come up with the SMART Table. It is the future for the inclusive classroom. This is a great technological invention. According to smarttech.com there is a way to make the SMART Table interactive with the SMARTBoard. This will allow many great opportunities for the students. The “SMART Table is accessible by all students, including those with special needs.” (smarttech.com) The SMART Table can help students that may be shy to still learn the material interactively.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">media type="youtube" key="1rqkBNqMYns" height="315" width="420"

=__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Use in the Classroom __=

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Social stories are short, child-specific situations that show the appropriate skills and social responses to people, events, and concepts. Autistic students tend to be very strong visual learners and would benefit from the social stories being something they can watch. SMART Boards provide opportunities for children to learn in an interactive process without having to depend on a mouse. Being able to see the social story develop and interact with the story would benefit the student more than just watching it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Two special education teachers developed social stories with digital self-modeling images that could be demonstrated on the SMART board. With this, these teachers are attempting to make it possible for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to more easily observe, imitate, review, and practice each desired appropriate behavior.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The first thing that teachers need to do when developing a social story is identify the target behavior and function. The target behavior and how to fix it can be identified through observation. Once the teacher knows those two pieces of information, he or she can develop an appropriate social story. This story should describe the appropriate replacement behavior to meet the child’s needs. Next, the teacher needs to use a computer to put the social story on. PowerPoint can be used to present the story to the child. Each slide represents a sentence in the story and includes photographs of the student modeling the behavior. To make this more motivating, music can be adapted from the child’s favorite cartoon or movie or a favorite song can be on the last slide. In order to directly involve participating students in the learning activity, it is best to use the “self-as-a-model” strategy. ASD students are usually highly visual and will enjoy seeing themselves on the computer screen. At this point, teachers should encourage students to imitate the model. Once going through the PowerPoint once, the teacher should present the story on the SMART Board. He or she will need to physically prompt the student to touch the screen to go through each slide of the social story. Once the teacher is confident the student knows to appropriate behavior through the social story, it is time to practice the skill in a social environment. If the social story was successful, the student will know what to do in each situation. The social story should be presented using the SMART Board as the initial activity for two weeks then presented again during a transition period to remind the student of the appropriate behavior.

References All SMART products. (2012). In //SMART//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

//Havre public school's//. (2007, August 06). Retrieved from []

Locher, T. (2009, July 10). //Using smart boards in the k-12 classroom//. Retrieved from []

//Smart//. (2012). Retrieved from http://smarttech.com/us/Solutions/Education Solutions/Products for education/Complementary hardware products/SMART Table

Smart Board. (2012, February 8). In //Wikipedia//. Retrieved February 6, 2012, from []

__ [|Springgay, J. (2011). What is the History of the SMART Board?. In //E How Discover the Expert in You//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from www.ehow.com/facts_4915092_what-history- smart-board.html] __

//Tidbits in tech: Integration in education/are smart boards the next generation of black boards?//. (2010, December 02). Retrieved from [|http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tidbits_in_Tech:_Integration_in_Education/Are_Smart_Bo ards_the_Next_Generation_of_Black_Boards%3F]

Writing, A. (2012). //The advantages of a smart board//. Retrieved from []

Xin, J. F., & Sutman, F. X. (2011). Using the Smart Board in Teaching Social Stories to Students with Autism. //TEACHING Exceptional Children//, //43//(4), 18-24.