Study Curve

Well, things are going generally well, but recently the Senteo has twice locked during a "quiz" and only solution was to shut down computer and restart. Same class each time. Other periods went fine.
Otherwise things are working well.
-Thom

I do not have any teachers that are interested in using it...too busy with second semester. They feel they need training on it in order to use it. I have not had the time to even work with it so I know how the teachers feel.

THings are doing well! I do like the Senteo usablity but I do like the randimizer and attendence on the CPS. I agree about math it is great not having all these manipulatives with magnets on the back and being able to just clone the kids are more engaged!

I am doing really well with the Smartboard. I have the low math group in my grade level and I am finding that the students are highly engaged in the lessons with the Smartboard. These are the students that are the hardest to keep focused, raising thier hands, asking questions, and participating, but the Smartboard is really keeping them involved.

I was using the CPS system everyday, but I am not using the Senteo very often. I am not sure why, except to say that I can't take attendance with it and it doesn't have a student randomizer. When using Senteo, I have found that with the loss of the randomizer, I am losing some of my students. I also think that I am losing kids because they can't change an answer once it has been entered. I like the software with Senteo FAR more than CPS, which I found tedious, but I am finding that I am using them less. I have to admit that part of that is what we are working on in class right now, so it will be interesting to see how it goes when we move to some other units of study.

My technical issues are that my Smartboard likes to shutdown for no reason and the only way it can be turned back on is by restarting which is irritating and time consuming during the middle of a lesson. Additionally, I have had the plug on the back of the board come out on several occasions and they way the board is mounted makes it very difficult to plug back in; not just the DC plug, but the unit that it plugs into comes unplugged from the board itself.

Things are going great! I love the CPS clickers!! The smart board is great and my kids have commented on some of the manipulation that we have done with it has helped them with the concepts! I love a tool that helps to convey ideas quickly so that more can be covered.

The Senteo response no longer works in my room because it says the trial period is over. That just popped up today.

Everything else is awesome! I have been experimenting with presentation tools (just using the shapes tool and the order comand)that I can make to use over and over. I did make a cool high-light box that I can use to high-light text just by dragging the box over the text (no need to get the highlight pen out). Anyway things are going great!

Just an fyi to all. Beth at Hearthwood was having a problem with mouse not working and loosing connection. Last week, Sean my hardware tech partner did some updates and patches for the USB connections and chipsets. Not sure if this has improved Beth's situation but if you are having similiar issues, please let your BTI know. Beth, please let us know if you are seeing any improvement. Thanks Beckie