Getting into the "Real-World" with SMART Ink

Internet connected classroom computers link us and our students with the world. A web browser is a powerful teaching and learning tool providing access to current information, real data sets, rich media, interactive applets, and collaborative authoring tools. When used with a web browser, you might think of your SMART Board then as a centrally located computer interface, with the added benefits of easy annotation and capture.

Introducing SMART Ink

With the release of SMART Notebook 11, the "ink layer" has been replaced with a new program called SMART Ink.

Write Anywhere

SMART Ink is activated when a computer which has SMART Board Tools running is connected to a SMART Board or another SMART interface like an Airliner. A small toolbar is added to the title bar of each program. Picking up a pen adds a pen colour indicator to the SMART Ink tool bar to show that it is ready for writing. You can write or draw anywhere on the program window. Writing on the screen does not block interaction with the program like it did with the old "ink layer," and ink is associated with the underlying program so that it follows the location of the program window even when minimized. Unfortunately, ink does not scroll with the underlying program, so annotations will become misaligned on a web page if you scroll to read more.

Insert Writing as Text

Through SMART Ink, handwriting can be inserted as text in any application. First write the phrase to insert on the application. Next select the writing by returning the pen to the tray and touching the writing.[1] Make sure that the cursor is at the location you would like to insert the text by touching that place. Finally touch the icon beside the writing to recognize and insert the text. Unfortunately SMART Ink handwriting recognition is not as accurate as within SMART Notebook.

Choose a variety of Tools

Different pens and additional tool like a highlighter can be selected from the SMART Ink toolbar at the top of each window, or from the floating toolbar at the edge of the screen. The floating toolbar can be shown by choosing "Show Floating Tools" from the icon: in the tray in the lower right of the screen.

SMART Ink Setbacks

There two key features that were present in the old "ink layer" system that have now been removed: Ink can only be used outside of SMART Notebook when a SMART device is attached, and a few tools like the Magic Pen no longer work outside of SMART Notebook.

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[1] On boards with Touch Recognition enabled it is not necessary to put the pen back before selecting the writing because the board can sense the difference between the size of a pen tip and finger.

Blended Learning

Learning that incorporates both face to face classroom settings and online environments is known as "Blended Learning." Because there are many ways to blend these environments, blended learning may look quite different to match with the needs of different classes. For example, a teacher using a blended learning environment might:

• post reference, remedial and enrichment materials for students on a class Moodle
• use classroom computers or a lab for students to learn at their own pace through self-directed online activities
• use online quizzes for formative assessment
• ask students to share their learning with classmates online through a Moodle forum
• encourage the use of Google Docs for group tasks so that students can learn to collaborate remotely and be accountable for their own work.
• use webquests to help students work with primary Internet sources in an inquiry format

Why use Blended Learning

As we prepare students for success both at high school and after they move beyond there are many reasons to consider enhancing how we employ Blended Learning in our teaching practice. Here are three:

1. Differentiated Learning: Learning in an online environment can often be more individualized because students may be able to choose from alternative formats like interactive activities, and progress through material at their own pace. Additionally, some students who are hesitant to share their views or ask questions in a physical group environment will participate online.
2. Authentic Learning: Linking to real world stories and data is a natural fit with online environments. We can also help students learn to find and evaluate Internet sources when seeking information. Working with real scenarios can contribute to student engagement and is a valuable life skill.
3. Lifelong Learning: In many workplaces, as well as college and university, our students will need to learn and collaborate in online environments. We can make a strong contribution to our students' success in the coming decades is to build their Digital Literacy, and I believe this is a responsibility we share regardless of subject area in the way we all contribute to foundational literacy and numeracy.

Moodle as a tool for Blended Learning

Moodle 2 offers several features that make it a great tool to support blended learning. As always, resources can be linked and curated by the teacher making it an excellent anchor for a class' online elements. The new "Activity Completion" feature makes a Moodle course more engaging by revealing different and perhaps more appropriate activities based on the success or completion of other activities. The workshop activity builds self and peer assessment into the writing process. Enhancements in the quiz and feedback activities, especially in the ways they are created, make them good tools for adding interactivity and individual feedback online.

Beyond SMART Notebook

A major benefit to using a SMART Board is that teachers and students can control the class computer while standing right beside the projected image at the front and centre of the classroom. A SMART Board can interact with most programs, not only SMART Notebook. Here are four ways to interact beyond SMART Notebook.

SMART Board as an Interface

Touching a SMART Board is the same as pressing the left mouse button at that location. This allows you to click buttons or drag objects in any program like you would when sitting at the computer. To use the right mouse button, press the right button on the tool tray to make the next touch on the screen a right click or drag. To type short amounts of text, press the left button on the tool tray to display the onscreen keyboard. The tray button actions can be modified in the SMART Control Panel to function as a middle mouse button or a "floating mouse" for programs where hovering the mouse without clicking is important.

Ink Layer

The Ink Layer is like a huge acetate stretched over the whole screen which you can use to draw on top of any program. First, start the SMART Board Tools. This is found under START > All Programs > SMART Technologies > SMART Product Drivers > SMART Board Tools ( ), but you can drag this link to your desktop to make it easier to find. After the tools are started, picking up any pen from the tray will add the Ink Layer frame around the screen. While this frame is showing you cannot interact with the underlying program, but you can use the pens to mark-up the screen. The Ink Layer has three buttons in the upper right corner to clear the Ink Layer, copy a screenshot to SMART Notebook to keep a record, and close the ink layer.

SMART Aware

Some programs like Microsoft Office and SMART Ideas are "SMART Aware," meaning that they recognize input from the SMART Board as more than just mouse actions. When SMART Board Tools are running and you use a SMART Aware program, picking up a pen from the tray will not add the Ink Layer frame, but instead writing will be captured directly by the program. One advantage is that you can still interact with the program. Different SMART Aware programs can use ink in different ways. In Microsoft Office, ink is captured temporarily, and can be added more permanently to documents and presentations by clicking the "Insert as Image" ( ) or "Insert as Text" ( )buttons in the Aware Tools bar. You will also be prompted to add the ink as an image when you close the program or presentation.

Transparent Background

SMART Notebook has a Transparent Background mode ( ) which removes the usual toolbars, tabs, and white background to allow you to see and interact with other programs. SMART Notebook objects (like the circle in the example at the right) are still visible. Text, graphics, and hyperlinks can be added to the Notebook page by dragging them from the underlying program to any SMART Notebook object. Picking up a pen captures writing in the smart notebook page.