Category: Edtech in Schools

We should always be thinking about how we deliver professional development versus how we’ve delivered it historically. Some say that most of the current professional learning is generic and doesn’t help teachers with subject or content pedagogy. Too often when budgets are tight, professional learning and innovation are the first cuts in school systems. It’s unfortunate because teachers working with students every day are vital. Let Teach Smarter help bridge the gap between your school’s fiscal realities and the need for professional development.

Contact us at info@teachsmarter.com to learn more.

As school begins in earnest around the country, you may be wondering how you clean and disinfect a SMART Board or some other flat panel display. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this probably wasn’t as big a concern as it certainly is now. Happily, the procedure isn’t all that complicated.

Before cleaning, please make certain that you:

• Do not use any type of marker on the screen. If you accidentally use something like a dry-erase marker, remove the ink as soon as possible with a lint-free, non‑abrasive cloth.
• Do not rub the screen with dense or rough material.
• Do not apply pressure to the screen.
• Do not use cleaning solutions or glass cleaners on the screen as they can deteriorate or discolor the screen.
• Avoid touching the reflective tape between the screen and the frame and ensure that this strip stays dry. Damage to this strip affects touch interactivity.

*According to SMART, generally, it is best to use only a cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to clean your SMART Board and never spray liquid directly onto the surface.

The best way to clean and disinfect your SMART Board, and which has been approved by the folks at SMART, is to use a diluted bleach solution.

To mix the correct solution, using standard household bleach at a strength of 5% Sodium Hypochlorite:

• 4 tsp. of bleach per quart of distilled water
• 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of distilled water

Adjust accordingly to maintain the 0.1% solution if you’re using bleach stronger or weaker than 5% Sodium Hypochlorite. SMART recommends using a spray bottle for applying the solution to the cloth to avoid over-saturating it. Test a small, inconspicuous area before you clean the entire surface. 70 – 90% isopropyl alcohol comes pre-diluted and no mixing is required. For concentrations above 90%, dilute accordingly with distilled water.

Once you have the solution in a spray bottle, then:

1. Make sure you have two lint-free, non-abrasive cloths.
2. Turn off any connected computers.
3. Turn the display off. Go to https://support.smarttech.com/hardware and find your specific model for instructions.
4. Wipe all surfaces with the first dry lint-free, non-abrasive cloth to remove dust and debris.
5. Gently spray a small amount of the water or cleaning solution on the second cloth.
   Note: Do not oversaturate the cloth to the point it is dripping.
6. Wipe the screen with the dampened cloth.
7. After wiping the screen, wipe off the remaining SMART Board surfaces that can be normally touched, such as the frame, pens, and other accessories.

Once done, your SMART Board will be clean and disinfected and ready for use.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Teach Smarter at info@teachsmarter.com.

Educators certainly know the coming school year will be different. Often, change is forced upon us whether for good or ill. Whether students will fully return, becoming hybrid learners, or stay strictly online has yet to be determined for mos school districts. Plans are certainly in place, but much like the coronavirus, we don’t yet know what we don’t know. Things are fluid. One thing is certain, however. Technology will be playing a much larger role in the classroom than it every has.

I found this article from edweek.org to be particularly interesting. Have a look and see what you think.

As always, if you have questions, are in need of training, or consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Teach Smarter.

The role of classroom education is definitely shifting. It was changing before COVID-19 and most certainly will look different in the next academic year even when schools reopen. Many states have adopted approaches that fit the needs facing students, parents, and teachers today. With a whole summer of preparation, the coming “blended” classroom that will no doubt take shape will look even different. Teachsmarter became involved in the idea of a blended classroom in 2012/13 when in partnership with the Global Online Academy we taught and co-developed the Online Learning Environment Series of professional development courses for 6-12 and higher education faculty. In this three-part series of courses, faculty learned how to implement a blended model of instruction and examine best practices in teaching online that can be applied directly to brick and mortar classrooms. They compose the backbone of the GOA professional development program. Participants that complete the entire series receive GOA’s Online Learning Environments Certification.

If you have questions or concerns as a parent, student, or teacher about what may be coming or how you can best prepare for the new blended classroom reality, please don’t hesitate to reach out at info@teachsmarter.com.