How to Use a Notebook With a SMART Board

Companies and schools use the SMART Board system to enhance training and presentations because the SMART Notebook program captures input and notes from the specialized white board. Each SMART Board includes a built-in tray containing electronic markers and an eraser that are synchronized with the sensors to translate movements as handwriting or commands. Travelers who rely on a laptop should take a few precautions to ensure their laptop is configured for the specific SMART Board at the location. Basic setup skills include connecting digital components and calibrating the SMART Board sensors to support a smoothly run presentation or lecture.

Things You'll Need

• SMART Board installation CD (optional)

Instructions

Set Up

1. Make sure you have the latest version of SMART Board installed on the laptop.

2. Connect the SMART Board cable to the laptop's serial port and the SMART Board's digital projector cable to the external monitor port on the laptop.

3. Connect the SMART Board's keyboard cable to the external keyboard port on the laptop.

4. Turn on the SMART Board and projector and then turn on the laptop.

5. Insert the SMART Board installation CD in the disk drive, if the computer prompts an alert that new hardware was found and needs to be installed. Follow the prompts to install and/or update the SMART Board drivers from the CD.

6. Press and hold the "Fn" key and then press the display function key to send a video image to the projector, if the computer doesn't automatically change its display settings based on the detected hardware. Note: the display function key on most Windows computers is the F5 key. Dell laptops use the F8 key and Mac laptops use either the F1 or F7 key.

Connection

1. Locate the SMART Board icon in the task bar or tray on the desktop. Click the icon and select "Control Panel."

2. Click the "Connect" button in the dialog box, press the "Detect SMART Hardware" button, and then press the "OK" button.

3. Verify that the ready light on the SMART Board has changed from red to green.

4. Click the SMART Board icon and select "Orient" (Windows) or "Orient SMART Board" (Mac) to synchronize the SMART tools and calibrate the screen.

5. Follow the onscreen prompts to press the center of each red cross with either a SMART pen or your finger. Press the "OK" button to save calibration settings.

Using the Notebook Application

1. Launch the Notebook application and select "Open" under "File" in the top menu bar.

2. Select the desired file and click the "Import" button to create a layered, interactive file containing pages.

3. Click the "Save" button when the conversion process is complete.

4. Use the SMART Board tools and control panel to access options such as the text and drawing tools. Touch the white board twice to navigate through the Notebook pages.

5. Activate the onscreen keyboard by pressing the "Keyboard" button on the SMART Board Pen tray or through the SMART Board Tools icon (and selecting "Keyboard" for Windows or "SMART Keyboard" for Mac).

6. Save the presentation file by selecting "Save" under "File" and choosing whether to embed the annotations before clicking the "Save" button.

References

• CREATE for Mississippi: SMART Board Quick Reference for Laptops
• SMARTTech.com: SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard FAQs for Windows
• SmartTech.com: SMART Board User's Guide

Resources

• Lee's Summit, Missouri School District: Connecting the Laptop to the SMART Board Serial Connection