The most useful new piece of technology in use at SHS is Synchroneyes software. http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SynchronEyes+Classroom+Management+Software/ Ah yes, I sing the praises of Synchroneyes! When the software is installed on a “teacher station” this computer is connected to all the student computers in a lab. One of the best features is the ability to send a web site to every computer at the same time. For instance; Mr. Government Teacher has his class researching the Presidential candidates, their platform, their stance on the issues etc. He has chosen a site that provides a non-partisan look at all these requirements. The class arrives, each student logs on and the teacher “sends” the site to all student computers. Time is saved by not having the student’s type in the URL or Google for information. If during the class the student finds it desirable to have a look at their My Space page the teacher can ‘lock’ the computer, a message appears on the blackened screen “computers are for academic use”. Upon unlocking the computer, a message may be sent to the student suggesting that they stick to the project. If they continue to stray the teacher has the capability to log them off and shut down the computer. During the last part of the class the teacher wishes to test the students. He has created a test and saved it to Synchroneyes, with a few clicks the test appears on all screens. Multiple choice, ordering and essay questions may be used in the test mode. As the students finished the test and click finish, the tests are automatically marked and sent to the teacher station. If a student has found a site containing inappropriate content, a picture of the screen can be captured listing the student name, computer number, date, time and content. This information may be saved to the teacher station and used as verifiable evidence if there are consequences for the offense. Synchroneyes has so many practical features; it is my choice for the most helpful new technology for computer lab use and classroom management.
10 comments:
Hello,
My name is Jason and I am an Education Consultant for SMART Technologies, the company who makes SynchronEyes. I have to admit I loved reading your post,it brought back alot of memories of when I was using the program to help my teachers in our elementary school computer labs. I would like to talk to you to get some more info on how you are using the software and maybe get our PR department to speak with you about a possible blurb for our website if that is ok with you. If not, you can always use me as a free resourse if you have any questions of SynchronEyes or any other SMART product. Again, thanks for the post!
I love this technology tool. I mentioned to our principal that I would love to have it. I'll get together with you and Myra and talk more. It's such a great way to keep students on track. Almost every single student "wanders" when a class is in here. It's impossible for me to see everything since all of our computers face in different directions.
I am also lovin it. I hope we can explore all it can do someday. We are doing more with it, but in busy times I find I just hit the shutdown key on mr. myspace.
Oh my gosh Linda, a PR oppertunity! Good going.......
I would love to have this tool! I think it's more necessary for high school, but I've had my share of wanderers this year, esp during sex ed!
I would love to have these computer eyes! I can be standing next to someone telling them to get off a site and as soon as I turn around they are back on it. Some of these kids have finally caught on that I do have "eyes in the back of my head", because I make them log off after a warning. Lots of valuable computer lab time is wasted by kids wandering around on the sites vs. getting down to business. Did you buy one program that will work in the labs and the library? Or do you need to buy the program for each location in the building?
I'm very jealous!
SMART offers a license of SynchronEyes for each lab or a site lisence for any k-12 school. A lab license consits of one teacher station and as many student computers that you can fit in that room.
Jason, Thank you for your comments on my blog. I do have some SMART Technologies questions. Please leave a contact number or e-mail address for me.
jasonnast@smarttech.com
I would really like to get SynchronEyes at my school. I have mentioned this program to a few people and they seem so set against it. There have been times when I have a gut feeling about a student and what is happening on the computer. I am never able to prove anything. It would really make me feel like I have more control.
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