SMARTBoard software update: Service Pack 3

Service Pack 3 is here and I encourage everyone to download it and test it out. As usual, if you find any issues with the software, please report it to usability@smarttech.com.

New Features

In addition to all the great new features available in version 9.5 (What's New in Version 9.5), Service Pack 3 offers these additional features.

Windows and Mac
Show All Links: When you select the Show all Links feature, all the linked objects on a Notebook page are briefly surrounded by an animated link indicator to help the presenter navigate the linked objects on the page.
Dual Page Display: Use this new feature to display two Notebook pages on the screen simultaneously. You can draw, make notes, import files and add links on either page.
Team Content access: Use the Team Content feature to connect to Gallery content on a shared network drive. Depending on your permission level (which you can see on the file’s security settings), you can use, add content to or delete items from Team Content folders without installing the software as a network administrator.

Windows download available at http://www.smarttech.com/support/software/sb_win.asp
Mac download available at http://www.smarttech.com/support/software/sb_mac.asp

It is important to note that when you download Service Pack 3 you get all the upgrades from service packs 1 and 2 also (if you haven’t downloaded them already).

Updating your SMART Board Software

Hopefully everyone has updated their SMART Board software to Notebook 9.5. If you are not sure, or just want to check, go down to the lower-right corner of your task bar and RIGHT-CLICK the SMARTBoard icon. Then choose 'Check for Updates'-- this should help keep you current.

ALSO- the easiest way to add the clip art files to your gallery is to open Notebook, click on Gallery, and find the button in the upper-right hand corner that says 'Show Additional Gallery Actions.' Use this to Click on 'Check for Updates' and then 'SMART Essentials for Educators.' This will allow you to download ALL the latest clipart files from Smart. But be prepared, it could take hours to download them... you may want to leave it overnight.

Constitution Day Palm FREE Resources

With Constitution Day approaching, K-12 Handhelds is offering some free curriculum materials for the Palm. There are ebooks about the Constitution, audio files to hear parts of it, and Quizzler quizzes to name a few of the FREE resources.

Click on http://www.k12handhelds.com/curriculum.php, download the files, hotsync them to your Palm, and beam them to your classes.

Podcasting Workshop

The ESU is offering a podcasting workshop with Dan Schmit from UNL and Kidcast (he's awesome!). Unfortunately, because of scheduling it has to be on a Saturday. The good news is that the ESU will pay a stipend to teachers who are willing to give up their day to learn about this exciting new form of digital media publishing.
The date is Sept. 23 so you will need to email Lanita at ESU#1 immediately if you are interested so that they don't cancel it!

Palm wireless keyboards

I accidently loaded the wrong driver for the Palm keyboards on about 80% of our students' Palms. Good news is that Mike Curtis helped me figure out a relatively easy fix...

• Hold the UP button while you do a soft reset (let go when you see the Palm logo)
• Delete the keyboard app
• Do a regular soft reset
• Beam the RIGHT keyboard driver to the Palm (probably from your teacher Palm)

Some 6th graders can sure help with this as well as they know what to do!

Opening Attachments with ESU email

This tip is from Kevin. I don't typically open my email online, but I know that often it has problems with attachments opening, etc. Kevin says that if you hold down control while you click on the attachment it should actually open! (I have also heard of clicking reply FIRST, and then the attachment may open).

...For what it's worth!

Laptop Labs

The laptop lab carts are currently up and running ( to the best of our abilities!)
We are going to house them during the school day in the 5th and 6th grade hallway and they should receive a good signal anywhere up and down that hallway... possibly even into the 3rd grade rooms. It would be perfectly fine if students wanted to use a laptop during studyhall or classtime if you want to allow it. Please just remember to monitor their use and reinforce these several required actions:
1) Leave the laptop as you found it-- don't change screensavers, desktops backgrounds, install programs, etc... (all this good stuff is covered in the Acceptable Use Policy we sent home with students that they signed)
2) If a laptop has a problem, write what the problem is on a sticky note and place it on top of the laptop lab cart.
3) Make sure the laptop is shut down completely before closing the screen and then make sure it is plugged into a power cord when it is placed back in the lab.

Laptop Labs

The laptop lab carts are currently up and running ( to the best of our abilities!)
We are going to house them during the school day in the 5th and 6th grade hallway and they should receive a good signal anywhere up and down that hallway... possibly even into the 3rd grade rooms. It would be perfectly fine if students wanted to use a laptop during studyhall or classtime if you want to allow it. Please just remember to monitor their use and reinforce these several required actions:
1) Leave the laptop as you found it-- don't change screensavers, desktops backgrounds, install programs, etc... (all this good stuff is covered in the Acceptable Use Policy we sent home with students that they signed)
2) If a laptop has a problem, write what the problem is on a sticky note and place it on top of the laptop lab cart.
3) Make sure the laptop is shut down completely before closing the screen and then make sure it is plugged into a power cord when it is placed back in the lab.

NEW YEAR-- NEW BLOG PURPOSE!

For the 2006-2007 school year I would like to attempt to use this blog as a way to share small pieces of technology-related information with the staff at O'Neill Public Schools. I'll post tidbits as I think of them and then hopefully compile them monthly into a printed newsletter as well. Hopefully this will make it easier to promote technology integration throughout our district.

THANKS FOR READING!