Welcome to the SMART product evaluation program

Identify objectives and outcomes before you begin

Start your evaluation by identifying your objectives and outcomes. This will help you determine the amount of planning, training time and documentation that you will need. If you are performing a basic evaluation of a SMART product and its effectiveness as a teaching tool, then you may want to use a journal, portfolio or survey to track feedback for the product. However, if you’re planning a large implementation, evaluation leaders may want to invest more time in developing content, documenting results, sharing experiences and participating in professional development.

Appoint evaluation leaders

Choosing evaluation leaders is useful for the evaluation process and will make it easier to assess the results. An evaluation leader is someone who will have access to the evaluation product for the majority of their teaching periods. As you consider teachers for this role, keep in mind that they will be more likely to explore the full potential of the products if they are

• Adaptable and enthusiastic about interactive classroom technology
• Willing to learn, collaborate and share their experiences
• Committed to the goals and outcomes of the evaluation
• Paired with another evaluation leader in the same school and subject area

Install products in dedicated rooms

When you install evaluation products in dedicated rooms, you eliminate the need for teachers to transport and set them up for each class period. This not only saves teachers time, but it also provides a more realistic setting in which to evaluate products’ impact on student engagement and achievement. For maximum benefit, try to assign each evaluation leader to a dedicated room for at least five out of six teaching periods.

Install SMART Notebook collaborative learning software on teacher and student computers

Evaluation leaders will benefit from having SMART Notebook software on their personal and school computers so that they have the flexibility to create and review interactive lesson content at any time. Students may also access lessons created with SMART Notebook software through the SMART Notebook Express web application, accessible online at no charge. This provides students with additional opportunities to access lesson materials and reinforce their learning.

Schedule training sessions

Help teachers leverage their existing resources by asking your SMART authorized dealer to provide an orientation and on-site demonstration, inviting a SMART certified trainer to deliver a basic training session or booking a professional development session with your SMART education consultant. SMART also offers a number of no-charge training resources to help teachers develop proficiency with their SMART products, including

• Quick-reference guides
• Two-minute tutorials
• Live, online training sessions
• SMART Learning Space self-paced training modules

Involve students

Students will be more likely to adopt the technology when they see immediate benefits to their personal interests. Give students opportunities to provide input and showcase their work. Provide access to the products for student initiatives, such as student council meetings, brainstorming sessions, study groups, etc.

Develop a professional learning community

When teachers feel that their contributions are being noticed and valued, they are more likely to continue developing innovative teaching practices and interactive lesson content. Create and develop a supportive professional learning community where teachers can share teaching practices and explore ways to enhance student achievement through classroom technology. Develop a professional learning community by

• Creating a shared folder that is easy for all teachers to access, post and retrieve newly created resources, lessons and ideas
• Encouraging regular meetings for evaluation leaders and participants
• Providing evaluation leaders with opportunities to showcase their work

Measure results by collecting meaningful data

Evaluation leaders will gather valuable insights throughout the evaluation process. Measuring improved teacher practice and student achievement will ensure that you will be able to make an informed purchase decision, and it may also help in securing funding. Collect meaningful data by

• Encouraging teachers to keep journals of their product experiences
• Creating and executing surveys to collect teacher and student opinions
• Comparing student achievement data between classes with and without SMART products

Create a smooth transition to future implementations

After your evaluation period, you’ll be making a number of decisions about what to do next. You can be better prepared to answer questions from teachers if you create a technology plan with a detailed implementation schedule. In your plan, consider when additional SMART products will be purchased, which teachers will receive those products and where the funding will come from.