FAQ

Smart Responders-By Jess Leger
They are a great way to give your students an assessment using technology. They can use scrap paper to answer the questions (if math related) and then type their answers in the responder. Their answers are automatically recorded in the software and you can get access to the scores immediately. It is also a great way to practice skills. You could put a DRP on the screen and the students can read along and choose the correct answer using the responder. I have also used the responders as a way to review before a test!
 * 1) How can I use the Smart Responders in my classroom?**

It's easy! Go to www.smarttech.com and download the teacher software package. This will give you all the pieces you need to use the responders and other pieces of the software. Contact the building technology leader and they will give you a product key to register the software after you download the software. All set! If you need help with using the software there are videos on the website.
 * 2) How do I get the SMART software on my laptop?**

NO! All you need is a laptop with the software installed and a projector. The software runs without the smartboard!
 * 3) Do I have to have a smartboard in order to use the smart responders?**

We have a set of 32 responders and 1 wireless receiver. So, you can only have once classroom going at a time with a maximum of 32 students at one time.
 * 4) How many smart responders can be used at once?**

**5) How does the software know which student is using the responder?**
Once you download the software you will need to use the teacher tools and set up your classes. Each class can have a different name and up to 32 students (since we only have 32 responders). You will need an ID number for each student to use. They will use the ID numbers you assign them to log-in to the smart responders. As the students log in to the responders you will see their names appear on the main screen. This is a handy way to check that all students are logged in!

The best place to get assessments is on the smarttech website. They have various question sets organized by grade levels, state standards and even subject matter. It is very easy to search! When you find something you like, you can download the file and it is ready to use right away. I would also suggest working with your grade level team to take turns developing assessments that you can use over and over.
 * 6) Do you have to create all of the assessments or is there a place where we have some already created?**

After your students complete an assessment, you can go under the teacher tools and you will see your assessment listed. If you click on the assessment it will give you different options for displaying the data. You can look at the grades by student, as a class and even look at the results for each question separately. The data can also be exported to an excel spread sheet for easy manipulation and printing.
 * 7) Where does the assessment data get stored?**

I have not found a video in the training section of the website that shows the students how to log-in. There is a great simulator of a responder that downloads automatically when you download the software. You can bring this up on the screen and go through the steps of logging-in along with your students.
 * 8) Is there a video that shows the students how to log-in to the responders?**

When they are done taking an assessment and you have clicked "stop assessment" on the main screen, they simply click the little blue menu button. There will be a list of options that appears. One of the options is "Sign Off." They simply hit enter when the arrow is pointing at sign off and then it will ask them if they are sure. The student then selects yes and it signs them off. They can then hold the power button down until it shuts off.
 * 9) How do the students sign off of the responders?**

When the students log in they will get a warning on their screen if their battery is low. You will also see a little red battery signal next to their name on the main screen if their battery is dead. You can simply replace it and its all set!
 * 10) How do I know if a responders' battery is dead or dying?**


 * Easiteach Wireless Pad - Hochdorfer

1) What is the Easiteach Wireless Pad?**
 * It's like a handheld SmartBoard and wireless mouse combined.

2) Can the wireless pad be used without the Easiteach software?** Not only are you limited to using the Easiteach software, but you can use any program like //Paint// (as long as most of the functions can be used with a mouse and not a keyboard)

The Easiteach program come with "remotes" for science and math. Since you are not limited to the software you can use the wireless pad for history (using google earth for example) and any class as a writing template when lecturing the teach has the freedom to circulate the class as notes can be projected on the board.
 * 3) What subjects can you use the technology for?**

Yes, without the pen, the wireless pad would be useless
 * 4) Is the pen that comes with the wireless pad the only way to "write?"**

There are lessons that can be bought using the Easiteach program depending on the class and grade level
 * 5) What other features comes with the software?**

The math remote contains toold for creating coordinate planes, number lines, fractions, operation symbols, shapes, and place value
 * 6) What tools does the math remote contain?**

stopwatches and times, calipers, rulers, web diagrams and science sybols.
 * 7) What tool does the science remote contain?**

the battery needs to be charged for 10 hours when the battery is completly d epleted. The battery can last for days depending on the rior of the load put on it during use.
 * 8) How long does the battery last/need to be charged?**

The RM software has a keyboard tool.
 * 9) Is there any way to use a wireless keyboard with the pad?**

yes.
 * 10) Would you recommend Easiteach?**