Lesson Seven

Saving a hyperlink to a notebook page.

Sometimes teachers want to create a notebook lesson that includes a hyperlink to an Internet page or to a document in their files. It is quite easy to do this.

First open your notebook.
Select "Insert" from the top drop down menu.
Select "Link"

On the left of the new window you will see a few options: web link, document link, page link, and attachment link. Select the kind of link you want.

If you choose web link--you will then have a window to type in the web address of the page you would like to link to. Type in the web page, select as object or corner link (try each to see the difference).

Then save. You have connected your notebook lesson to a web page.
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If you decide you would like to link your notebook to a powerpoint or word document in your files, simply choose insert/link again.

This time pick browse and go find where you saved your powerpoint or document. Select the one you want.

Now when you click on it the document or powerpoint will open right from the notebook.

Enjoy:)
BD

Another Resource

Smarttech has now added a threaded discussion community to its services. You can join this bulletin board at

http://exchange.smarttech.com/forums/

The threaded discussion will allow folks from all over to post questions and to share ideas and answers.

I would also love folks to join our wiki--the link to join is in the right hand column of this blog. A wiki allows us to all input our thoughts and ideas (like wikipedia) and have one place where all of our collective wisdom is shared. To join you need to go to the site and press "join" at the top right. You will create a free wikispaces account. Then go back to my smartboard wiki page and select "join this page" at the top left. I will get an email showing that you have requested to join and I will accept. Then you can make additions and changes to the wiki as well as just searching our wiki for ideas whenver you need them. I foresee it growing to a page that has subdivisions by subject and grade area with many places to share links, ideas, and materials.

Enjoy!
BD

Lesson Six

Lesson Six
Hopefully you are all having great fun with your boards. Lesson Six I am going to get specific to a learning topic, division, mostly because I just finished fishing out these sites for another smartboard user and I thought I might as well share them with everyone. For the beginners I am going to ask you to just try out the lesson sites and downloads. For the advanced I am going to show you how to search for such items for yourselves.

Beginners:

Go to this site:

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

in the search box type "division" and two links will come up.

The numberline applet demonstrates how division works on a number line. Hit the little division symbol at the bottom and then hit the "go" button at the top. Watch what happens. You can select "new problem" to see many different examples.

If you hit the internet "back" button, you can then check out the other link. The rectangle division link takes you to an applet that demonstrates division in rows and columns (great for showing what remainders actually mean). Use the little scroll bar on the left to change the factors (divisor and quotient). Use the up down arrows next to the number to change the dividend. Fun stuff for "seeing" division in action.

If you want something different, try this link:

http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+activities/

Go to the above site. Select the "View all" hyperlink under "United States."

Then in the search box type "division," you will get four downloadable notebook lessons--pick one or all to download and try out. I find these lessons are usually pretty good. I think once they are downloaded you can simply link on them and your notebook software will open.

Hope that gives you some fun!
:)Bonita

Advanced Users

Try the lesson above--meant for beginners EXCEPT--use the search boxes to find things specifically of interest to YOU. The first site (Virtual Library of Math Manipulatives) has many incredible math resources that work wonderfully with a smartboard. The second site is a searchable database of all lesson topics. These topics and lessons are designed by teachers and the database is provided by smarttech. You can even add your own lessons to share with others.

ENJOY!
BD

Results of our Poll.

Well, looks like our most common smartboard uses are "as a whiteboard," "as an advanced overhead," and "as a way to access tools and sites on the Internet." I thought more would report using it for writing revision, and editing, but interestingly not. Please let us know what types of smartboard lessons you want by participating in the new poll.

Lesson Five

Reminder
If your smartboard seems to be receiving no signal--try touching the RGB button on your remote. It may be that your projector has been accidentally clicked off of the smartboard setting. Happens occasionally...

Beginners

A wonderful review lesson that will take you 2 minutes exactly. Click on this link:
http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/learningpath/moduleone.asp#
Then go to the "Touch, Write, and Save" 2 minute tutorial link.

Have fun!

Advanced

http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/learningpath/modulethree.asp#

Click on "Notebook's Software Gallery" and enjoy the two minute tutorial that takes you through the basics of using the gallery objects.

Cheers!
Bonita

Lesson Four

Notices:
The poll revealed that we have 15 active users of this blog and we are a split group--half have only had smartboards for a few months (if that long) and half have had boards for more than two years. I guess we will keep the beginner-advanced format for a while. Answer the new poll at the right to help us learn what people use their boards for most.

Beginners

How to open this blog and use your board at the same time:
1. You may just open the blog the same as you do on your computer, only do it with your finger instead of the mouse when using the smartboard.
2. As soon as the blog is open, you can use your finger to hit hyperlinks and try out those activities and sites. Don't forget that once you hit on a hyperlink and go to an Internet site, you will have to hit your "back" key to navigate back to blogger.

Another way if you want blogger AND your notebook open so that you can try out my instructions as you read:

1. First open blogger--then use the button on the top right corner of the window (that, in fact, looks like a window)--That button, the maximize/minimize button, allows you to make the blogger window any size that you would like it to be.(You can size the window the same way that you size clipart). Hit the button and then drag the sides of the screen to the size you would like the screen to be.(You will see a double arrow symbol when you hold the cursor over the sides of the window).

2. Open your notebook software (remember--smartboard toolbar--you can use the bottom right corner icon--small white board). Again--use the button on the top right corner of the window to make the notebook any size you want it to be.

3. Size blogger and notebook to fit side by side on your smartboard. This will allow you to read the blog and try the notebook side by side.

A third way is just to open both blogger and notebook, then use minimize window to go from one application to the other.



Advanced

Are you aware of "ink aware?" Ink Aware is a special application that links smartboard applications to commonly used software like Word or Excel. When you open Word or Excel on a smartboard a special toolbar appears that allows you to use the write-on-board features in concert with the software.

For instance, open a Word document. In the Word document, take out a pen and choose a place to write a comment or make a mark. When you touch the first smartboard icon that is now part of your Word toolbar, the writing you just put on the word document turns into an image--like clipart--that will stay on your document when you save it.

The second icon allows you to put the cursor at a spot on the word document and then write any letters of the alphabet using the smartboard markers. Tapping the icon will turn the letters you wrote into type at the spot where you left the cursor!

The third icon is a camera and it allows you to instantly take a picture of the word document that you are working on. The picture is then available in the notebook software which is now minimized at the bottom of your screen or else available in another window.

A wonderful 2 minute tutorial on "ink aware" is available at http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp


Cheers!
Bonita

Lesson Three

Beginners

Beginners, I hope you are trying out each lesson as it comes. Comment to me below if anything is really working (or not working) for you.

Now that you have played with your projector buttons and played with using your board like a whiteboard, it is time to try out an online resource. Click on the following site:

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_154_g_1_t_1.html?from=category_g_1_t_1.html

This is a math applet. Try using your finger to drag one of the little cubes in the ones column. Now try dragging your finger across the top of the ones column and down the right side. You should see a line form into a box around all the little cubes in the ones place column...and when you let go--Voila! Magic ten stick! Move the ten stick over the the tens column--see how the math problem is done for you on the right? Now hit new problem and try a few more. Enjoy!

Advanced

Advanced users, are you having fun yet? Those sites I sent to you last week are just the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the Internet. Prior to making your own powerpoints--check that field trip site. Prior to creating your own gallery objects for a math lesson--check that virtual library of manipulatives. Add those sites to your browser favorites--you will want them at-the-ready.

Now, what other exciting things can work nicely with the smartboard? I will give you more sites to try out today.

Are you studying animals? How about giving your students a "live experience?" In many zoos and aquariums, web cameras have been set up so folks can check in on animals in their habitats. Here is an article with some webcam links at the bottom:

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech100.shtml


How about looking at and making art on the smartboard? The following site is such a fun learning experience. You may need to download an update to shockwave to make the programming work--but it is fast and easy to do so. Once the all the installs are complete (less than 2 minutes for me)--check out the slide show of paintings already set up for you (no powerpoint required)--then try the collage activity at the top for starters. What fun!

http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm


Enjoy.
Cheers,
Bonita