Gallery & Lesson Activity Toolkit

SMART is continuously updating their software as well making additions to the gallery and lesson activity toolkit. To insure that you have everything that is available you can check for updates to the gallery and LAT.

In notebook software, open the gallery tab and click on "gallery." Click on the wrench that is to the right of the search engine. From the drop down menu, choose check for updates and then choose gallery or LAT. If you wish to add languages to either, you can do it from the update screen by clicking on the "languages" tab.

Don't forget to check for software updates as well on a regular basis. Click on your SMART tools icon in the windows notification area and click on "check for updates." The system will check to see if your computer has the latest updated version that is available online. If you don't have the latest edition, it will prompt you to update.

Brain Pop & SMART Response

If you use Brain Pop and have a set of SMART Response clickers, you can easily use your clickers to take the brain pop quizzes. First, you have to have the newest update of SMART notebook software so you have the new transparency layer icon on the toolbar. If you don't have that - go to your SMART tools icon in the windows notification area and click on "check for updates" to update your software.

While an image or quiz question is visible from brain pop - open notebook software. Click on the response tab and choose instant question (choose the type that fits what you will be asking). Click on the transparency icon on the toolbar and notebook will become transparent and students can see the question or image in brain pop. You can move around the T/F, Y/N or ABCD (based on what type of question you selected) to match where things are on the brainpop page. Students can now use their clickers to respond to the question.

Need more help? Below is the link for a webinar that was hosted by brain pop. It first explains how to use brain pop with Promethean boards and printing quizzes. If you go to the 17 minute mark, he begins showing how to use brain pop with SMART notebook.

https://brainpop.na4.acrobat.com/p97842771/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

Recognize Table function

I often forget about this function in notebook software and was excited to be re-introduced to this via tequipment's video blog.

Check out how easy it is to create a table after you have your content on the page.

http://blog.teqsmart.org/2010/09/teqcast-5-recognize-table-graph-tables-in-smart-notebook/

They also explain how to create a table and add a graph using the new SMART math tools that are an add on feature to the notebook software.

Need help with Grants?

Check out the current issue of SMART's newsletter - EdCompass. Besides grant information, how to fundraise to get funds for SMART products is also highlighted. While checking this issue out, be sure to subscribe so you can receive the newsletter via email on a regular basis.

http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/sitecore/en/pdf/smart_publications/edcompass/currentissue/edcompass-sept2010.pdf

Object Animation

Make a simple and easy interactive multiple choice formative assessment by using object animation. Simply write out your question and type the choices in separate text boxes. You can make the incorrect choices fade out to nothing and then have the correct answer spin. Click on the text box and then the properties tab - choose object animation and the type of animation that you want for that choice. It's a simple and easy way for students to receive feedback.

Scholastic & SMART

Check out Scholastic's SMART resources - the famous people notebooks are very nice.

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748726

Product Guides, Quick References, How to etc. from SMART

http://www.smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Product+Index/Software+Products/SMART+Notebook

Are you having trouble with your SMART software or drivers? Check out the above site to find guides, references and how to PDF files that will help you solve your problem.