What is it?

SMART Notebook software is a content delivery and creation platform that gives users access to create multimedia content and the tools to edit, save and share that content. Designed to be used in conjunction with SMART Boards and Sympodiums, Notebook is most commonly the primary application used by instructors in classrooms with those devices.

Key features

• Versatile whiteboarding space for content creation.
• Ability to create shapes, tables, graphs, and provides tools for writing, drawing, and handwriting recognition.
• Ability to import Powerpoint presentations directly into the application.
• Ability to save any work for use in later instructional sessions.

Who uses it?

SMART Notebook is designed for use in conjunction with SMART Boards and Sympodiums and so is most commonly used by instructors who also have those instructional technologies in their classrooms. SMART Notebook may also be used to make notes on Powerpoint presentations or used to prepare a lecture that may then be saved and imported onto any other device with SMART Notebook. In class, the ability to annotate video, spreadsheets, computer applications, web pages, notes, pdfs, and more allow for a dynamic learning experience.

How does it work?

The user is presented with a blank whiteboard space that may be used for virtually any media-driven purpose. Basic tools include virtual pens, shape creation utilities, tables, and graphs. Notebook software also has a handwriting recognition feature that converts handwriting to text. The interface for Notebook software divides the screen into two sections: whiteboarding space and a tab column. There are three tabs: Page Sorter, for viewing and organizing thumbnails of Notebook pages; Gallery, for accessing and saving images, sounds, movies, animations and text files; and Attachments, for attaching files, shortcuts, and links that can then be accessed during presentations. Notebook software users can create multi-page interactive documents and presentations by dragging content and pages between the whiteboarding space and the tabs without leaving the application. Users can create their own content, or use content from the searchable Gallery of educational material. Although SMART Notebook is most often used in conjunction with another SMART device, it may also be installed for instructional use on both PC and Macintosh computers.

Things to consider before using SMART Notebook

• If your needs are simply to annotate webpages and presentations, SMART Notebook may be unnecessary if there is already another SMART device in the classroom.
• If you want to use SMART Notebook with a SMART classroom device, be sure to take some time to familiarize yourself with the device itself.

Uses as an Instructional Technology

As a replacement for a traditional blackboard

• Instructors can use SMART Notebook in conjunction with a SMART Board or Sympodium to create a ‘digital blackboard’ that allows you to introduce media into instructional sessions and also save any work for later.

For annotating presentations and lectures

• Users can write or make notes directly onto any Powerpoint presentation, Word document, or most other common instructional software to call attention to specific passages or points.

For providing digital copies of a lecture to students

• Notebook software can save any work during an instructional session as a PDF, image file, or Notebook file that may be distributed to students for their reference.

Resources at Wooster

• SMART Notebook is available to all instructors upon request for both PCs and Macintosh computers.
• SMART Notebook is installed on all classroom computers that are attached to Sympodiums and SMART Boards.
• Instructional Technology provides training, installation, and support for SMART Notebook.

Some content on this page was derived from the SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard page maintained by WIkipedia.