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?



 

 

 

SMART Notebook 11 Review, part two

As promised in my last post, here is a brief word on some of the minor changes sound in SMART Notebook 11.  For a discussion of the major changes, go back and read my last post.

Before mentioning these changes, let me comment on one other issue that may crop up as you begin to use the SMART software with your Windows 7 computer.  I have found that using the SMARTBoard often triggers the Windows 7 software that is intended for use when Windows 7 is installed in a touch screen capable computer.  That is to say, on onscreen keyboard appears and can become quite an annoyance.  If you’ve seen this keyboard, find it as annoying as I do, and want to get rid of it, let your

friendly ITRT know and we can get rid of it forever.  

Now, on to the minor changes in the new Notebook software.

On the menu bar, you’ll find a couple of new options under “insert”.  One is an Internet browser—you can now browse the Internet without leaving SMART Notebook.  If you are used to the toolbars on Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc. you may not want to use the SMART Browser.  But, I think it is worth the adjustment to be able to click on the next Notebook page and have a website instantly appear with all of its functionality.  It took me a minute to figure out how to close the browser, but the thought is that you won’t close it, you’ll just go on to the next Notebook page.

By clicking on the “pen” tool, a drop down menu appears which now offers a crayon—I’m sure some of the elementary students will enjoy coloring or drawing with—probably some of the older students too if they are given that chance. 

SMART tells us that the “fill” tools have become easier to use and will now fill any closed object.  I’ll admit that I’ve sometimes had a problem with the fill tool in the past, I can’t honestly say that all those problems have been corrected—I still had a hard time getting it to fill some of the objects I tried to use it with.

Other minor changes:

·         Grouping objects can now be done with fewer clicks.

·         You can now select any object to become the pattern in a “creative pen” –which could come in handy, but is certainly not anything critical.

·         Formatting tables and the fonts within table has been made easier. 

A couple of final notes:  First, you’ll be glad to learn that all of these new features are explained in a notebook file which opens when upon your initial use of Notebook 11.  After that it can be accessed from help menu.  Finally, the non-notebook tools have changed,   “Smart Aware” has become “Smart Ink”.  Perhaps I’ll review that in some future post.

Speaking for all the ITRTs, just let us know if you still have Notebook 10 and you’d like us to come around and install Notebook  11 for you—or download and install it yourself by clicking here.  Also, let us know if you’d like some help becoming familiar with any of its features.

I intend to do one final post on Notebook 11—a post in which I discuss the new gallery, and the 3D objects.  See you then.