Smartboard Notebook Tip: View web pages directly from within Notebook.

With Smartboard notebook you have the capability of viewing and browsing the web right from the Notebook software.  You can set it up so that once you are done viewing with one class you can reset the site to go back to the beginning.

Tutorial

1.  Click on "Insert" and then choose the "Internet Browser" option.  

2.  You should now see Notebook's default page appear.  At the very bottom is the URL bar.  Type or paste an internet address into the URL bar.

3.  In this example I went to the dogs page on Animal Planet.

4.  Next to the URL bar, you will see two pins.  The right pin is kind of like a "Bookmark."  Pin the address.  Now you can browse this site and go where you want with your classroom.  Once you are done or want to go back to the first page, just hit the left pin button.  Now you are ready for your next class.

Smartboard Notebook Trick: Quicker way to advance pages

Here is a quick Smartboard Notebook trick that will let you move from page to page in your Notebook 11 software.  You can still use, of course the forward and backward arrows.

A quicker way might be to simply swipe your finger right to move a page forward or swipe your finger left to move a page backward.  You can thumb through your pages quite quickly from either side of the Smarboard using this technique.

Smartboard Notebook Trick: Use alignment to make sure your objects are straight.

If you are a person who is slightly on the perfectionist side, you will like using the "Alignment" option.  Alignment allows you to view how your Notebook items are going to align with another Notebook item.  Using this tool will allow you to easily set up neat and organized pages.

Tutorial

1.  Once you are in the Smartboard Notebook software program, click the "View" from the menu bar and choose the alignment tool.

2.  Decide how many of the alignment guides you will want to help you set up your Notebook page.  I choose them all.  Checking all the boxes give guidelines in vertical and horizontal directions and will "Snap" the objects in place correctly.

3. So if I want to snap this one in perfect alignment with the other ones, I drag it close and then you will see lines appear to show you what your alignment is like.  You can see that the bottom left one has 3 lines going horizontally and 3 lines going vertically which indicates that I am perfectly aligned with the other ones.

Smartboard Notebook Trick: Use transparent background to trace items from your computer or internet.

Here is a great idea when using your Smart Notebook program.  Dazzle your students with your ability to draw by using the transparent background and tracing images.  You can also use the transparent background and still interact and browse the web.  Once you are done tracing and marking things up, your work gets saved into your Notebook presentation.

Tutorial

1.  First right click somewhere your your menu bar if you don't already have your transparent background button.

2.  Scroll down until you find the "Transparent Background" icon.  Left click and drag the icon to your menu bar.

3.  You should now have the button on your toolbar.  Click on it and your window to Notebook will disappear.

4.  Your Smartboard Notebook will appear to disappear.  You will now see another toolbar.  If you have the clicker/instant response system you can even add questions right from your transparent screen.

 




5.  In this example I found an image of a dog and was able to trace it into my Notebook software.  I don't even draw well so you all that are artists this could be a great tool.

Smartboard Tip: Don't spend time erasing all the ink, use the clear ink button.

Have you ever had to spend time erasing all the ink off of your Smarboard Notebook?  I know that you can take your eraser and draw a big circle around your ink and then touch the middle and that can clear the in, but here is a little known secret that might save some time.  Use the "Clear Ink" button.  The problem is that the "Clear Ink" button isn't standard on the toolbar and that's why most don't know it exists.  Below is a tutorial on how to add the "Clear Ink" to your tool bar as well as use it.

Tutorial

1.  Right click on your toolbar, and a new dialogue box will appear.  All of these buttons can be added to the tool bar.  Just take any of of these buttons, left click and drag the button to the toolbar.

2.  Your "Clear Ink" button is now on your toolbar.  

3.  So lets say your a diagramming and drawing on a map on one of your Smart Notebook pages.  The example below doesn't show much ink so using an eraser is fine, but if you can get into the habit of using the "Clear Ink" button you will save time.

4.  The cool thing about the "Clear Ink" button is that it leaves your other objects alone and doesn't delete them.  This is an easy way to clear the board and get ready for your next class.

Smarboard Tip: Don't forget to save; set up timed saves.

Has the power ever gone off and you have regretted not having saved a document?  Don't ever let that happen when using Smartboard Notebook software.  You can set up the document for saved times and even set it up to save to a different document type.  Below is a tutorial on how to use your "Timed Save" feature.

Tutorial

1.  A good habit to get into is this first step.  When you first open up your Notebook software, click on "File" and then select the "Timed Saves..." option.

2.  Set up the Notebook timed save to what ever you want.  I actually have my set up to the second option "Every time I move to a different page."  This option is nice because I move through pages quickly and it save automatically as I create and edit my pages.

3.  Decide what file type you want your document to be automatically saved too.  Click the "Next" button.

4.  If you haven't saved your document yet, you will see a dialogue box that forces you to give your Notebook file a name.  Click the "Save" button and you are all set.

Moodle: How do I reset my course at the beginning of each year?

It is probably a good idea at the end of each school year to reset your course.  With resetting your course you can delete grades, quiz attempts, forum posts, and pretty much anything else that your students added to your course from the beginning of the year.  Below is a tutorial on how to reset your course so that you get a fresh start in the upcoming school year.

Tutorial

1.  Make sure you are logged in as the course creator for you Moodle class.  It might reset as well if you are the course teacher, but I am not sure.  Once you are logged into the course you should find under you administration options a link that says "Reset."  Click it.

1a.  If you scroll all the way to the bottom of your "Moodle" page you can choose the "Select default" button, which will do most of the check boxes for you.  This is the option that I use when resetting my Moodle courses.    If you want to see what they other options are for then keep reading the tutorial.

2.  You now have a whole slew of options to play with.  You can see under "General" that I can delete calendar events, logs and notes.  Just select the items you want deleted.

3.  Most teachers are going to want to reset at least the grades from the gradebook so make sure you check the "Delete all grades" option.

4.  If you have created groups of students the year before you can get rid of those groups.

5.  The "Roles" section is also one that for sure you want to reset.  Make sure that you unenrol "Students" by selecting them.

6.  If you students turned in or uploaded documents into the Moodle environments, then make sure you select the "Delete all submissions" option under the "Assignments" section.

7.  Delete the chat history if you want.

8.  I never do forums in my class, but if you do, just pick the options that apply to your class.

9.  If you had your students add to the course glossary, then use this section to delete their entries.

10.  The last option is to delete all quiz attempts.  Make sure you choose this option as well.

11.  Just click the "Reset" course once you are finished down at the bottom of the Moodle page.