SMART Meeting Pro is the standard solution for business use when using a SMART Interactive Whiteboard or Podium.  But now, SMART Meeting Pro has been given a full upgrade to include a simplified but more wholesome business software experience.  The new SMART Meeting Pro 3.0 will feature meeting productivity tools often only found in expensive charting software.  Now, they are included in the new Gallery feature.  Gant Charts, Project Management tools, and they are all interactive because of the software's intuitive interface, therefore increasing group participation.

Coming this spring will be the long awaited release of SMART Notebook 11 collaborative learning software.  This version will help increase classroom efficiency by allowing users to access an embedded browser right from within their SMART Notebook file.  Users can write, draw, & drag content directly from that browser to the Notebook page they are working on.  The new release will also feature widgets available from the SMART Exchange website.

Features Include:

• Activity Builder - Creates activity objects that react to actions with animations or sound
• Embedded Web Browser - Inserts web browsers directly onto a SMART Notebook software page
• Enhanced Contextual Toolbar - Responds to actions by giving users the required tool choices when they choose a certain object
• Crayon - Creates authentic crayon drawings on a SMART Board interactive whiteboard
• Customized Creative Pen – Builds a unique creative pen from any image
• Reset Page – Brings SMART Notebook software page back to its last saved state to instantly start again
• Gesture Recognition – Supports four-touch interactivity for the SMART Board 800 series interactive whiteboard and the SMART Board 8070i interactive display. Also recognizes new shake gesture to group or ungroup objects
• Audio Recording – Records sounds directly into a file
• Shape Image Fill – Adjusts the size of an image to fit into a specific shape
• Updated Tables – Supports scaling, moving and interacting within tables more easily
• New Text Engine – Provides improved text formatting and consistency
• Fade Ink – Fades any regular ink
• Full-Page Frame – Allows borders of the page layout to be displayed

​The new SMART Notebook 11 software will be available as a free download to all existing license holders and future license holders purchasing SMART Boards, Podiums, Document Cameras, & Response Systems.  (SMART Notebook 11 will also be available as an individual purchase for $599.00)

Citation:

SMART Technologies, ULC, Public Relations. New Version of SMART Notebook™ Features Increased Web Integration.  SMART Technologies website News Release.  Read the full article here.

© 2012 SMART Technologies. SMART Notebook, SMART Exchange, SMART Board, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies in the U.S. and/or other countries.

(Copied with permission from Maliha Shaikh, our Arkansas VR Education Consultant)

If you have a Kindle you can download the free Kindle for PC app (or Kindle for Mac) from Amazon.com. The app allows you to access your Kindle library on your computer and SMART Board. You can project the text on your SMART Board, make notes with the digital ink layer, capture notes and text, and save it in a SMART Notebook file. Keep in mind that you can use your floating toolbar to spotlight, magnify, highlight, underline, etc.

1.  SMART Exchange icon:  shortcut to the SMART Exchange to view and download resources.

2.  CLEAR INK Icon: Click on this and all the ink clears from the current notebook page.

If you or your school is interested in learning more about these and other notebook features, contact me at 405-721-3764 and we can discuss the possibilities.

To find out more information about this and other features of the SMART Response systems, contact me at 405-721-3764 or plan to attend one of my upcoming Response Training sessions.

1.  Select an existing activity pack that you have downloaded and open it up. (Remember, only 1 toolkit at a time will open.) Select the activity tab you wish to edit. (For example, go to HOT SPOTS)

2.  Click on the label you want to add audio.  Change the audio tab to import audio. Click on the microphone and record your voice. Preview if you want. Attach the recording.

3.  Do this for each picture or word you would like to add audio.

4.  You can preview the activity by clicking on the Preview button in the lower right hand corner of the page.

5. To exit the preview, close the x in the top right hand corner, or use the ESC (escape) button on your keyboard.

1. Download the Notebook lesson to your desktop.

2. Open the current table activity pack that you would like to add the notebook file to. (Remember, only 1 table toolkit open at a time. (Double click on it.)

3. Look on the left side of the screen on the HOME tab.  You'll see the applications Addition, Addition Plus, Hot Spaces Hot Spots, Media, etc.  NOTEBOOK should show up if you're working with the updated table toolkit software. Check the box by Notebook, and then click on the Notebook tab across the top of the screen.  Now you can add notebook files to this activity pack.

4.  To add a file, click on the file folder under Import from:.....select your file and insert it.

5.  You can add audio at the bottom of this page. Click the dropdown arrow next to "No Audio" and change it to Import Audio".  Click on the microphone icon and record your message, then attach recording.

6.  You can also type the text you want to appear around the border at the bottom left side of the page.

We are hosting an Open House celebration of Friday, Sept. 30, from 11:00 AM-4:00 PM.  Please drop by and visit us if you have a chance.  VR Open House 2011.pdf

"Create. Touch. Learn. Together" - This hands-on training offered July 25th for the SMART Table will cover hardware & software operation, utilizing existing resources, and creating, editing, & presenting lessons. Learn how to use the SMART Table Tool Kit to create lessons, and integrate pieces of lessons created in SMART Notebook. Bring your own resources, lessons, and media to work with and you will leave with full lessons you can utilize in your classes.

Cost: $100 per person per training

Where: Video Reality Training Center in Conway; 707 Robins St. Suite 120, Conway, AR 72034

When: July 18th - SMART Response Training & July 25th - SMART Table Training

Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm (1 hour lunch break)

Prerequisites: None, although please be aware that SMART Notebook training will not be provided during these sessions.  It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with this Software before attending one of these lessons. See official training page for links to SMART Notebook resources.

Please see Arkansas Training Page for more Details.

I have had several requests for summer PD.  So, here is what I have so far:

July 18th: SMART Response Training

July 25th: SMART Table Training

I am open to adding one or two more days depending on the requests/feedback we get.  Let me know if there is some other SMART product/software you would like to see training offered for.  If there are enough requests, I may add that as well.  

Registration for the Response and Table Training will be posted on our website soon.

Thanks!

Conway, Arkansas - April 28th & 29th

We will have two full days of SMART Response Training on April 26th & 27th at the Video Reality Training Center.  Then, on the 28th & 29th, we will be hosting our Technology Showcase at the Centennial Valley Country Club.

Lunch will be provided both days of the Showcase.  After lunch on the 28th, you have your choice of the NEW Notebook 10.7 training or Golf

We are giving away lots of door prizes at the end of the day on the 29th, but you must be present to win.  All attendees must register to participate in the SMART Response Training or Technology Showcase.

Don't forget...Mitsubishi, NEC, Lumens, SAFARI Montage, and FrontRow will all be at our show as well!

Click HERE for the Conference Flyer or HERE to go ahead and register!

Map for Conway Training Center

Map for Centennial Valley Country Club

Well this year has been flying by and I have not slowed down much since this summer.  Just an update that I am offering SMART Response training at our Conway facility on November 17th.  I am looking at offering another training after Christmas.  If there is a program in particular that you want to gain experience with, just let me know and I may choose to offer that training. 

I am also toying with the idea of setting up a user group for all the SMART Board users in the central part of the state.  We could meet once a month and communicate anytime electronically, sharing ideas, examples, etc.  More to come....

It is going to be a very busy summer for us at Video Reality in Arkansas.  The guys are installing several SMART boards/products.  It's awesome to see this wonderful technology going into schools to help students learn.  If you need training, let me know, and we can try to fit you in. 

Also, for our tech show this past April we hosted SMART Response training here at our facility in Conway.  If I can get enough requests from individuals, we can host a training here again.

How Interactive Technology Can Improve Learning Outcomes for Students with Special Needs:

Learn how schools across North Amerca have improved cognitive, communicative, social, and behvioral outcomes of students identified with autism spectrum disorder. See examples of how easy-to-use classroom technology can enable extraordinary transformations in teaching and learning, and deliver the best return on investment through improved student outcomes.

Get in Touch. Find Inspiration. Multiply Student Engagement

Create Technology-enabled learning environments that get results. When SMART education solutins are used to deliver daily math lessons, the result is a more engaging classroom experience, with teachers delivering dynamic instruction and students actively participating.

Register here for one or both of the webinars

Photos by Don Shreve

Coming Soon

The system’s ultra-short-throw projector, the UX60, virtually eliminates shadows, glare and distracting projector light. It is positioned directly above the interactive whiteboard, projecting crisp, bright images from only 12” (30.5 cm) away. And because the 685ix’s interactive whiteboard is widescreen, it has 20% more working space than a standard board.

With the 685ix, you have an unparalleled interactive whiteboard experience and receive the best value for any integrated system.  Call us for pricing and availability.

Complement any classroom - The SMART Slate connects wirelessly to your computer from up to 32 feet (10 m) away. On its own, the SMART Slate functions easily with a computer and projector. To further enhance whole-class, small-group and individual instruction, the SMART Slate seamlessly integrates with the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, SMART Podium and SMART Notebook software.

Engage all students - Reach all the students in your classroom by handing them the slate at their desks and giving them the opportunity to solve problems or demonstrate their knowledge while their work is projected for the whole class to see. This is an added benefit for students with limited mobility, as the slate can be moved to where they sit.