Tech Tools Tuesday
Newsletter #5
Our Last Meeting (Tuesday - 11/4/14)
- To learn the basics of the Smart Projectors in the lab
- To create an account for Smart Exchange
- To explore the lessons in the Smart Exchange
- To discover how to use Smart Notebook in classrooms without a Smart Board or Projector
Smart Projector Basics
- To turn the projector on, press the red power button once on the Smart panel next to the Presentation Station. The Smart projector will take about 30 seconds to power on and display your computer desktop.
- To turn the volume up or down, press the + or - on the Smart panel.
- To turn the projector off, press the green power button twice.
Sign up for the fun! Create an account in Smart Exchange!
Here's how to create an account:
- Open your Smart Notebook by clicking on the icon on your desktop.
- Click on the blue button at the top of the page (it looks like a stick person - an X with a head). This is the shortcut to the Smart Exchange. It will open an IE browser. You may have to copy and paste this URL address into a Chrome browser if you experience difficulty in IE.
- In the top right corner of the Smart Exchange home page, click on 'Join for free!' Fill in the information requested and Agree and Continue.
- An email will be sent to the email address that you registered with. When you receive the email, click on the 'Verify' link included.
Devil's Tower
Explore the Lessons in Smart Exchange
Search Box and Narrowing Your Search:
After logging in to Smart Exchange, you may search by typing your topic in the search box. The default for grade levels is 'All", so to narrow down your search, on the left side of the page, choose your grade level. You may want to even choose a grade span - a grade above and below your grade level - to find just what you are looking for. You may also narrow your search by choosing the type of Smart lesson. (We'll talk about some of these options later.)
Browse by a subject, a grade, or a file type:
After logging in to Smart Exchange, skip the search box and right under it is the Browse by area. Simply click on the subject you would like to find lessons for. On the next screen, you can browse through the lessons, or narrow your search on the left by choosing grade(s) or lesson type.
Start with a Standard from the Iowa Core:
On the Smart Exchange home page, click on the 'Standards-Aligned' tab on the top in the middle. On the next screen, click on 'Select standards' and select the curriculum standards you wish. Select your grade and subject. Click View. If you click 'View Resources' under the Standard that you want, you will be able to browse lessons that align with that state standard.
To get back to the Smart Exchange home page from any where within the exchange, click on 'Smart Exchange' in the top left corner of the page.
If you see a lesson that you would like to use with your students, download and save a copy. You may want to create a new folder in your OneDrive and save your lessons there. You could even share those lessons with your teaching partners! By saving the lessons, you will have the lessons even if they are removed from the Smart Exchange.
No Smart Board or Projector in your Classroom? No worries!!
The Smart Notebook software on your laptop and a wireless mouse will allow you to use the lessons in the exchange. The wireless mouse will allow you and your students to navigate the lessons.
**I will be placing an order for wireless mice by the end of this week. Please let me know if you need one for your classroom.
Office 365 Corner
Adding attachments to emails update
Has anyone noticed the new change in adding attachments to your emails? How is it working? If you experience problems, please submit a HelpDesk ticket.
Topic #2:
'Shared With Me' Files and Folders
Are you experiencing any problems with files and folders not showing up in your OneDrive 'Shared With Me'? The district has turned in this problem and MicroSoft is working on it, but hasn't resolved the problem yet. Keep turning in those tickets for it! The more tickets that are received at the district level, the more IT understands how wide-spread the problem is, and the more pull they have with Microsoft.
Next Tech Tools Tuesday Meeting:
- Smart Exchange lesson exploration and sharing
If you have possible topic ideas, please comment at the bottom of this newsletter or send me an email!
Cindy Wagner
Table Mound Elementary School
Dubuque Community School District
Email: cwagner@dbqschools.org
Website: http://www.tablemound.dbqschools.org
Location: 100 Tower Dr, Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone: 563-552-4412
Twitter: @cwagnertm