Hey Megan,
We got a SMART board at the Illinois State Museum about a year ago or so. For the longest time, it got used as a glorified projector and screen (power point presentations,etc.) We didn't really have time to explore the interactive software that came with it.
In the last couple of months, we have developed a game for Super Saturday (4 hour come-and-go family event). It has been an interesting process of discovering what will work and what won't. The first game we developed was one that I built and we had a hard time getting all of it locked down so that the children couldn't change the game accidentally. After that, we decided to stick with some of the game templates that came with the software. These provide a start and reset button, and have fewer elements that have to be locked down. We found that the games are more successful when a volunteer is present to engage visitors, but it can work on its own as long as someone checks on it every once in a while to make sure it is still working as it should. The children seem pretty familiar with its operation and enjoy playing the games.
One of our staff members is also using it for volunteer training and has added some interactive elements to her regular power point training.
Let me know if you have any other questions. All of your former colleagues here say, "Hello!"
Best of luck,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth Bazan
Assistant Curator of Education
Illinois State Museum
Springfield IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2015 02:49 PM
From: Megan DiRienzo
Subject: Smart Boards for museum work
Are any museums using Smart Boards for collaborative, in-house work and/or for teaching? What are the benefits and challenges of using this equipment?
Any ideas or anecdotes would be appreciated!
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Megan DiRienzo
Interpretive Planner
Detroit Institute of Arts
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