A Quick Guide to the use of the SMART Board

Getting started

1) Ensure the PC and projector are switched on.

2) Check that you have a full set of pens in the tray.

3) Check that all wires are securely connected.

4) Check that the ready light on the pen tray is green:

Troubleshooting: If no image is projected, use the source button on the projector or remote control to select Computer. If you are using an ACER laptop press FN +F5. If you are using a DELL laptop press FN+F8.

At first login you will see the Floating Tools.

Clicking the SMART Board icon brings up the Tools Menu.

Projecting applications

You can project word, excel, internet explorer or any other application, write notes on the screen and save them. When you project, you can touch the screen instead of using your mouse. Open the internet and try using your finger to browse.

Orientation

You need to do this to ensure that the SMART Board is accurate when touched or written on.

1) Click (or touch) the SMART Board icon and choose Orient…

2) The following screen appears. Follow the instructions given:

Writing on applications

1) Open a word document.

2) Select one of the four pens and use the pen or anything else (such as your finger) to write in that colour. Notice the light in the pen tray. Replace the pen and choose a different colour. Ensure that each pen is returned to its proper slot when you have finished with it.

3) Touch the SMART Board with your finger. The writing disappears and you see a message to say that your notes are being saved. Click the Restore Annotations button if you want to keep them visible:

4) To see the saved annotations, look at the Task Bar (bottom of screen). You will see a SMART Notebook button. Click on this and the SMART Notebook reveals a page with your notes on it. You can save this as a file to project again in a future lesson, print it, or you can just close it down.

Troubleshooting: If the Print icon is not on the toolbar, you can add it by right clicking on the toolbar and dragging the icon onto the toolbar.

5) Return to the Internet and add some annotations. This time remove some of them using the eraser. When using Internet Explorer, touching the screen prompts you to save your annotations. These will be saved into a Notebook file, as before. Notice that your annotations ‘float’ on top of the web page. You will need to close this view to continue.

The Floating Tools

The Floating toolbar on the left of the screen allows you to do the following:

Note that when you are using the floating tools, the application ‘fades out’ behind.

The SMART Keyboard

The SMART Keyboard is useful when you want to type onto the screen without leaving the front of the class. You can access the keyboard from the SMART Board menu, the floating tools or the button on the pen tray. Move the keyboard to where you want it, position the cursor at the point where you want to type, and type normally.

You can choose to write and have your handwriting converted into handwritten text:

Right click mode

You can use the icon on the floating tools or the button on the pen tray. The following message appears at the bottom right of the screen:

The SMART Board will return to normal left click mode.

Notebook

The SMART Notebook can be opened from the floating tools or the menu. It opens in a separate window which can be moved, resized, maximised or minimised:

You can write or draw on the notebook using the floating tools, the notebook tools or the pens from the pen tray. Your annotations when using the Notebook are permanent, unlike those which float on top of other applications, but they can be erased and deleted.

You can also change the tool settings by clicking here

When you have chosen your settings, click Save Tool Properties and you can use the tool as you have customised it. To remove any menus on screen, click the tool icon.

If you need a larger area to write on, you can click the extend page at the bottom of the screen to create a larger area that you will need to scroll up and down.

Alternatively, you can click the Add Page icon and you will see thumbnails of each page you have created. Selecting the thumbnail allows you to view the page.

You have a number of options for the current page:

You can re-order pages by dragging the thumbnails (like PowerPoint slides).

You can also save your notebook files onto the network or a USB key for projection during a future lesson (note that you will only be able to open them on a computer that has SMART Board software on it).

You can print your pages directly using File | Print Screen. You can print a set of thumbnails or a full page. You can also add header and footer information before printing.

The SMART Notebook has a range of tools including:

/ Previous Page / Display the previous page in the current file.
/ Next Page / Display the next page in the current file.
/ Insert Blank Page / Insert a new, blank page in the current file.
/ Open / Open a .notebook file.
/ Save / Save the current file.
/ Paste / Paste clipboard contents on the page.
/ Undo / Reverse the effect of the last action.
/ Redo / Reinstate the last action reversed with the Undo command.
/ Delete / Delete all selected objects.
/ Screen Shade / Add a Screen Shade to the current page.
/ Full Screen / Display the current page in Full Screen view.
/ Dual Page Display / Display two pages side by side.
/ Insert Table / Insert a table on the current page.
/ Select / Select objects on the current page.
/ Pen / Draw a freehand object on the current page.
/ Creative Pen / Draw a freehand object on the current page using a Creative Pen.
/ Eraser / Erase objects on the current page.
/ Line / Draw a straight line on the current page.
/ Shape / Draw a shape on the current page.
/ Fill / Define a fill effect, and then apply it to objects.
/ Text / Select a font for your next text object.
/ Properties / Changes settings of the current tool (eg line style)

Using the select tool allows you to rotate, resize, move or delete objects, text and handwriting. Multiple objects can be selected by holding down the <shift> key while selecting. Handwriting can also be automatically recognised:

Other SMART tools

Other SMART tools may be accessed from the menu, including a Spotlight, Pointer and ScreenShade. The Magnifier is a particularly useful tool in a classroom situation:

Further Information

The SMART Board and SMART Notebook have many more features. For example you can record your actions on the SMART Board and play videos.

To find out more, use the Help facility from the SMART Board menu or within SMART Notebook. The E-Learning Co-ordinator will be happy to assist you in any aspect of using the SMART Board.

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