SMART Sync

Many educators are already familiar with SMART products, such as the SMART Board and Sympodium, both of which allow for annotation over a connected computer’s desktop display. While these and other similar annotative technologies have become prevalent in classrooms across the country, SMART also offers a number of lesser known tools, like SMART Sync, which has been installed in some of our recently updated spaces on campus. As currently configured in our computer rich classrooms, SMART Sync allows an instructor to monitor what is happening at each student’s computer station. Using this feature, an instructor can then take control of one or all of the computers and broadcast their desktop—or the desktop of any of the students—throughout the rest of the room. SMART Sync is also great for collaboration, as it offers the ability to assign students into groups, where they can then share their work between computers to complete assignments. Work can then be presented to the class with a quick click of the mouse by the instructor. Additional features include polling, student questions, announcements, and the ability to block students from using potentially distracting websites like Facebook, or from internet access altogether (this option not available in Mac labs). More information about Sync can be found at SMART’s website. This technology is currently available in Central Classrooms 311, Derby Hall 029, and Hagerty Hall 186. To learn more about these and other recently updated classrooms, check out http://go.osu.edu/featuredspaces. For questions, or to schedule a tour, contact featuredspaces@osu.edu.