SMARTDRAW IN EDUCATION:

SmartDraw Makes the Grade with A+ Teaching Materials

A Little Homework
Christy Badeaux, a 7th Grade science teacher with West Thibodaux Middle School in Louisiana, was trying to help her son create a timeline for his school project.

Badeaux had previously used Inspiration and Microsoft WORD^® to make charts and diagrams, but knew that her son needed something different. "We searched Google for timelines, and we stumbled upon SmartDraw," she said. "We saw that the program offered a free trial, and we decided to give it a shot."

Badeaux was also interested to see if the program would help her create teaching materials. "My job is getting the students involved in more hands on projects, and they need to be able to read graphs and charts," she said. "I love to implement visual aids on tests and worksheets."

Making the Grade
Badeaux explored SmartDraw's trial with her son, and they found a timeline template that was perfect for his project. Then they could use the program's special Timeline Wizard to walk through the process of creating the perfect graphic… adding events, adjusting style and color, and even printing the completed timeline.

"The wizard was very helpful, very self-explanatory," said Badeaux. "We had his project done in about 30 minutes!"

SmartDraw includes thousands of symbols and templates for creating any sort of chart, diagram or graphic quickly and easily. In addition to content for timelines, the program also includes libraries packed with graphics for calendars, floor plans, maps, medicine & science, and much more.

SmartDraw even includes a dedicated section for education which includes templates and symbols for: awards & certificates; mind maps; projects and presentations; quizzes; reference guides; school forms; seating charts; worksheets; and much more.

"There are so many features with such a wide variety of options," said Badeaux. "I was able to use SmartDraw to create a presentation for my co-workers on student behaviors, and a chart for my students on the different kinds of cells in the human body."

A+ Results
Badeaux now uses SmartDraw several times a day.

"SmartDraw is so useful and so helpful, that I plan to use it as much as I can, in as many ways as I can," she said.

Badeaux claims that SmartDraw is the best investment she's ever made for her job. "My coworkers and boss are so impressed with the presentations I create in SmartDraw," she said. "They think I put much more time into them than I actually do!"

In addition to creating compelling teaching materials, Badeaux will use SmartDraw for a bevy of around-the-house projects.

"I'll be drawing up plans for my house, creating future student assignments and presentations, and future work with my son. There are so many possibilities. I look forward to exploring each and every aspect of SmartDraw."

To learn more about creating educational materials with SmartDraw, click here for the program's free trial.