Notebook 11 Review, part three

This will be the final installment on this series of three posts reviewing SMART Notebook 11

Today’s discussion is about some of the features that, strictly speaking, are not part of Notebook 11, rather, they are part of the “gallery” of images and objects which supplement the Notebook.

Gallery 2.0 Beta – Along with Notebook 11 you can download the Gallery 2.0 Beta version.  This gallery has a number of sort filters not available in the “classic” gallery—you can filter by manipulatives, sounds, 3D objects, widgets, pages, etc.  The other big advantage I see is that more attention seems to have been paid to explaining HOW some of the tools can be used.  For example, they have samples of activities which utilize layering to make things appear or disappear.  On the sample page they may include directions on how the page was built, or a link to an online video demonstrating how it was built—that is a big help.  It is certainly a lot easier than trying to figure out how to create these things on your own.

 In reviewing the new gallery, I also learned that in the Lesson Activity Toolkit, one can click on “examples” and then “help”, to find links to online videos and documents on how to use the tools in the Toolkit.  Again, this is a big help.  I remember spending what seemed like hours trying to figure out how to use the balloon pop activity.  The Toolkit is a wonderful supplement to Notebook and one which has been under-utilized in the past—these instructions make it easier for you to create interactive activities which will engage your students. 

3D Objects – While preparing this review I experimented with a number of 3D objects which could be spun around and viewed from all angles (think Google Earth).  However, to use this feature you must enable an Add-On which is only good for 30 days (unless you purchase it).  Too bad, because there are additional models available from the SMART Exchange and from the Google Warehouse.  You can also build your own models if you have the proper software.

 

A couple more quick comments and then we'll be done with SMART stuff for a while.  You can add and remove tools to the toolbar by clicking on the little wheel with the cogs over on the right.  This opens a window showing all the actions and tools available to you.   From that window you can simply drag icons on to or off of the toolbar.

 

Go to exchange

transparent background
 

Here are two buttons which can appear on the toolbar, and to which you may have paid no attention in the past.

 One of the icons takes you to the SMART Exchange--a site where you can search through teacher created SMART Notebook lessons for one which suites you. 

The second one makes the background of the Notebook page transparent, so that whatever you have on the page--things you've added with the pen, graphics, whatever, appear directly on your desktop, or some other window which is open on your computer.   This can also be done by clicking on the "view" tab and then selecting "transparent background." 

Well, thanks for reading this.  Next time I'd like to introduce you to a tool known as "class parrot"--sound interesting?