Welcome back, teachers! We've missed you, and so did your SMART Board. Kick off the school year by ensuring your board is updated and ready to be a seamless hub of engagement from day one. Here’s the ultimate 5-step SMART Board refresh checklist to help you transition back into the school year!
- Surface and Sensor Dust-Off
- Summer break invites dust and cleaning residue into SMART screen corners and edges, which can interfere with optical and infrared touch sensors on older models.
- Wipe down the screen with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
- Make sure nothing taped or resting on the pen trays is blocking cameras or sensors.
- Double-check your HDMI/USB-C cables and power cords for tight connections.
- Update Firmware & Re-Calibrate
- After turning on your SMART Board, check for updates in the iQ settings or on your host computer for SMART Notebook updates.
- Older boards may need to be recalibrated across all four corners and the center to ensure accurate pen tracking.
- Build Your "Day 1 Launchpad"
- Pin your go-to apps and daily essentials to your board’s home screen for quick, one-tap access.
- Create a "Morning Routine Screen" that can be a slide or widget that includes a daily schedule, timer, morning instructions, etc., to set the tone for the day.
- Take Advantage of the Split-Screen Workflow
- Switching between screens and input sources disrupts the flow of daily instruction.
- Keep your main instructional prompt visible on one side of the screen while modeling or using a document camera on the other.
- Reduce the “what page are we on?” disruptions by keeping essential directions continuously on the display.
- Prep Lumio/Screen Sharing Integration
- Run a test cast from your wireless device to ensure Wi-Fi is running smoothly so you can teach from anywhere in the room.
- If you're using Lumio or the interactive whiteboard, post your class code around the room so students can join a poll or digital activity immediately.
Integrating SMART’s interactive displays should simplify teaching, not create extra tasks. Setting up your SMART Board at the beginning of the school year will keep your tech running smoothly all year long! Discover our upcoming courses and ever-growing course library with a variety of categories, including SMART & Lumio!
An overall look at OTIS for educators
A diverse course library
In fact, OTIS now offers over 900 courses across 50+ categories, covering everything from instructional strategies to edtech tools. Moreover, these are designed by experienced educators and align with standards like ISTE, making them practical and relevant.
On-demand access
All courses are available anytime, anywhere, and on any device–perfect for back-to-school learning. Additionally, educators can explore tutorials, state-approved PD, and curated playlists to meet their goals.
For all roles
Whether you’re a teacher, admin, or paraprofessional, OTIS PD supports unlimited users per school or district license. This undeniably makes OTIS a great resource for team-wide growth.
You can visit OTISpd.com to sign up and also explore the full course catalog. Want help picking a course based on your interests or goals? In that case, we’d love to help with that! To learn more, visit teq.com!