How to Turn SMART Board Writing Into Text

Turn your SMART Board writing into text without touching the keyboard.

The SMART Board is an educational tool that allows teachers to produce interactive and engaging academic lessons. Teachers can use this touch-sensitive device to interact with their computer from the front of the room. One of the many tools available to SMART Board users is the handwriting-to-text tool. This tool allows teachers to write a section of text using a SMART Board pen or their finger, and have the text automatically translated into typed characters. This tool makes it simple for teachers to capture notes or lessons for future review or to provide to pupils who missed the lesson.

Instructions

Using the SMART Keyboard

1. Open the SMART keyboard. To do this, click on the SMART Board Tools icon. Select the "Keyboard" option. This option is represented by the term "Keyboard" and a picture of a keyboard.

2. Open Handwriting Recognition Window by selecting "Write" from the drop-down menu at the top left corner of the SMART keyboard window.

3. Write the text that you would like to turn into type in the Handwriting Recognition Window. Write clearly, using print and making your letters as distinctive as possible.

4. Click on "Capitals" or "Numbers" if you are writing in all caps or writing a string of numbers. These distinctions are located above the writing area in the Handwriting Recognition Window. By telling the program whether you are writing in all caps or numbers, you help it to distinguish possibly confusing figures. If you are writing in standard caps-lowercase combination, leave the program at the preset "No Preference."

5. Watch for the typed version of the text you entered to appear above the writing area in the editing area.

6. Correct any unrecognizable characters. If a question mark appears in the string of typed text instead of the letter that you wrote, it means that the system was unable to detect what you were writing. To correct this, click on the unrecognized letter with your pen. A box will appear around this letter. Write the letter again, taking more care. If the system recognizes it, the question mark will be replaced with the appropriate letter.

7. Transmit the text to the area in which you were writing by hitting the "Send" button, to the right of the "Editing" window.

Conversion Without Using the SMART Keyboard

1. Write text on your SMART Board screen. When doing this, remember that the SMART Board can more easily interpret large, well-spaced text.

2. Press your finger to the board toward the center of the text, and hold until a pop-up menu appears.

3. Select "Inject 'converted text' Here." This command is the first command at the top of the pop-up menu. Upon pressing on this command, the converted version of your handwritten text will appear in the space previously occupied by your typed text.

References

• University of Melbourne: SMART Board Full Reference Guide
• Lambton Kent District School Board: SMART Board Basics

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish