Using the Interactive Whiteboard

Using the Interactive Whiteboard GUIDE v1.2.1 User Services IT Services

User Services IT Services University of Malta Msida MSD 2080 Malta Email: support.itservices@um.edu.mt Web: Tel: +356 2340 4113 Last Updated: 13 March 2014 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://goo.gl/r8rwuw. Based on a work at www.smarttech.com

Table of Contents A. Introduction 1 B. Understanding how the Interactive Whiteboard works 1 C. Understanding the Pen Tray 1 D. Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard 2 E. Writing, selecting and erasing using object awareness 3 Using Lockable Pen mode 3 F. Gestures 4 Best practices for gestures and tools 5 G. Quick Reference Guide 6 The Interactive Whiteboard 6 SMART Notebook Software 7

A. Introduction This quick guide provides an overview of the information you need to start using a SMART Board interactive whiteboard available at IT Services. B. Understanding how the Interactive Whiteboard works The interactive whiteboard (IWB) is a type of touch screen whiteboard that comes as part of the integral system to use in conjunction with a computer and projector: The workstation (computer) sends an image of an application to the projector. The projector casts the image onto the interactive whiteboard. The interactive whiteboard acts as both the monitor and input device, letting you control any application by touching the screen. When you touch the interactive whiteboard s surface, the four cameras located in the interactive whiteboard s corners detect the contact s horizontal and vertical coordinates. The computer interprets these coordinates and moves the pointer to the corresponding location on the interactive whiteboard s surface. C. Understanding the Pen Tray In addition to providing a convenient place to hold the pens and the eraser, the pen tray on interactive whiteboard has several controls, sensors and indicators. Power module buttons The Power module at the pen tray s left side has Power, Orientation and Help buttons, as well as the Ready light. Power button Press the Power button to switch on/off the interactive whiteboard. Orientation button Press this button to start the orientation process. Orienting the interactive whiteboard ensures that the mouse pointer or digital ink appears directly below your finger or pen tool when you touch the interactive surface. Refer to Section D for information on performing an orientation procedure. 1

Ready light This light indicates the status of the interactive whiteboard's controller module. The Ready light is solid green when the system is working properly. Pen tray buttons The centre of the pen tray contains six buttons. The middle four change the colour of digital ink for the pen tool. The buttons on either side of the pen colour buttons default to the onscreen keyboard (left button) and mouse right-click (right button) functions. D. Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard It is recommended that you orient the IWB prior to its use in case any of the hardware has moved since its last used, or whenever the mouse pointer isn t properly aligned with your finger or an IWB pen when you touch the IWB surface. To orient your interactive whiteboard: 1. Press the Orientation button on the pen tray. The orientation screen appears. 2

2. Starting from the upper-left corner of the screen, using the IWB pen touch the centre of the target firmly with the tip of the pen. When you remove the pen, the target moves to the next orientation point. Try not to flick the pen when you lift it from the interactive surface, and make sure that you lift it from the screen at a 90 angle. 3. Repeat step 2 until you complete the orientation process. The orientation screen closes. Note that: Although you can use your finger to orient your interactive whiteboard, a fine-point tool such as an IWB pen provides greater precision when touching the targets. The more precisely you touch the targets, the more accurately your finger or IWB pen appears on the interactive screen. You can re-orient a target by pressing the left arrow key on your keyboard, or the Keyboard or Right-click buttons on the pen tray. E. Writing, selecting and erasing using object awareness The interactive whiteboard features object awareness, which means that you can pick up a pen and write, select or erase without replacing the pen. The IWB software interprets your intent when you press the interactive surface, based on both the type of tool you are using and the size of the contact area. If you touch the interactive surface with the pen tool, the software identifies its reflective surface, thus your gesture will write or draw in digital ink on the screen. If you touch the interactive surface with your finger, the software will identify this accordingly, thus your gesture will perform a left click. If you touch the interactive surface with an IWB eraser, your palm or the side of your hand, the software identifies a large contact area, thus your gesture will erase digital ink from the screen. Refer to Section G. Quick Reference Guide - SMART Notebook Software for further information on how to input, edit, save and distribute information written on an interactive whiteboard. Using Lockable Pen mode If you want any touch on the interactive whiteboard surface to register as a specific tool (such as a Pen, Eraser, or Select tool), activate that tool and then, hold down a pen colour button on the pen tray until its light flashes (approx. three seconds). The interactive whiteboard locks into that mode. Example: If you want every touch to create red ink, press the red pen tray button until the red light flashes (approx. three seconds). Then on, every time you touch the board with your fingers, a pen or an eraser, your gesture will create red ink. Note that: The selected pen tray light blinks to indicate you are in Lockable Pen mode. To unlock the pen, press any pen tray colour button. 3

F. Gestures Touch gestures enable you to use pre-determined commands without using the keyboard or mouse. With a series of touches on the interactive whiteboard screen, you select and access objects, erase digital ink and more. Selecting and deselecting an object (clicking) Quickly press and release the interactive surface to select or deselect an object or option. This performs a standard mouse click. Displaying menu options (right-clicking or control - clicking) Press and hold the screen with your finger. This will be identified as a standard right-click, to which the right-click menu appears. Alternatively, press the Right-Click button in the interactive whiteboard pen tray. The first screen press will be identified as a standard right-click. Dragging an object, scroll bar or window Press and hold an object or scroll bar on the screen. Keep your finger on the screen and slowly move the object or scroll bar. When you reach the position you want, release your finger. Double-clicking Quickly press and release the interactive surface twice in the same spot. This performs a standard double-click. 4

Erasing digital ink Using the IWB eraser, your flattened hand, palm, or fist, press the interactive surface and move your hand/eraser across the area you want to erase. Move your hand in a circle around the area you want to erase, and then swipe your hand across the middle of the circle to erase a large area of ink. Best practices for gestures and tools Follow these guidelines when you use gestures and tools with your interactive product. Hold your fingers perpendicular (90 ) to the interactive surface at the contact point. Keep your thumb, other fingers, elbows and loose clothing away from the interactive surface. They can generate unintentional commands. For click commands, quickly tap your finger on the interactive surface. Also, make sure you lift your finger far enough away from the interactive surface between presses so that your finger is out of the interactive whiteboard cameras view. For erase commands, use your flattened hand, palm or the bottom of your fist when not using the IWB eraser. When using the IWB eraser, use the wide surface for large areas, and the smaller, angled surface for smaller areas. Do not use the edge of the eraser because this could be interpreted incorrectly. 5

G. Quick Reference Guide The Interactive Whiteboard This quick reference guide provides an overview of the information you need to use an interactive whiteboard (IWB) at IT Services. Starting the Interactive Whiteboard 1. Ensure the projector is switched on. In case of technical difficulty, contact IT Services staff on ext. 4113 or 4100 (Helpdesk & Reception, before 1700hrs), or ext. 4160 (Helpdesk, after 1700hrs). 2. Ensure the interactive whiteboard is switched on. Press the Power button on the Pen Tray if the Ready Light is not lit green. 3. Log on to the Tutor workstation using your UM IT Account. Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard It is recommended that you orient the IWB prior to its use or whenever the mouse pointer isn t properly aligned with your finger or an IWB pen when you touch the IWB surface. To orient your interactive whiteboard: 1. Press the Orientation button on the pen tray. The orientation screen appears. 2. Starting from the upper-left corner of the screen, using the IWB pen touch the centre of the target firmly with the tip of the pen. When you remove the pen, the target moves to the next orientation point. Try not to flick the pen when you lift it from the interactive surface, and make sure that you lift it from the screen at a 90 angle. Your Finger is your Mouse A finger press on the interactive whiteboard is interpreted the same as a left-click with a mouse. To open an application (such as Open-Sankore, or SMART Notebook), double-press the application icon with your finger. Writing and Erasing Notes To write over your desktop image or application, pick up the IWB pen from the pen tray and write on the interactive whiteboard. To write in a different colour, press a pen colour button on the pen tray. Pick up the eraser from the pen tray and move it in a smooth motion over your notes to erase them. 6

SMART Notebook Software SMART Notebook software acts as an electronic notebook that can be used to input, edit, save and distribute information written on an interactive whiteboard. Notebook can be used to act as a traditional flipchart, allowing you to easily create and flip back through lecture notes on multiple pages. Opening Notebook To open Notebook software: click Start > Programs > SMART Board Software > SMART Notebook, or click the Notebook icon in the SMART software docked menu on the side of the screen (refer to the adjacent snippet). Notebook Layout The Notebook software user interface consists of the following components: 1 1. Toolbar: provides tools for creating and presenting files 2. Tabs: provides additional tools and features 2 3. Page Sorter: lets you see an overview of all pages in the Notebook file, navigate to a different page and reorder the pages 4. Page Area: the workspace used to work with objects, including handwritten notes, typed text, and graphics. 3 4 Using Notebook Use the IWB pen on the Page Area to write and draw digital notes on the IWB. You will notice that your drawings appear on the page thumbnail in the Page Sorter tab. Each Notebook file is comprised of a series of pages, each with its own objects and graphics. Using Toolbar commands, you can: navigate to the next and previous pages, insert a blank page directly after the active page, and delete the currently active page, switch your view to full screen (press Esc on your keyboard to exit full screen), store the session on your UM IT profile for future reference or use. 7

User Services IT Services University of Malta Msida MSD 2080 MALTA Email: support.itservices@um.edu.mt Web: Tel: +356 2340 4113 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://goo.gl/r8rwuw. Based on a work at www.smarttech.com