SMART Notebook Update for Mac - Floating Toolbar

Your SMART Notebook software for Mac has a new update if you have not noticed so far - 11.3.  Most of us should be at 11.2 currently.  Though this update is not much, it does have a couple of nice features.  The SMART Technologies package that comes with the update includes SMART System Menu, which, when launched, provides an icon in your system menu bar.  This icon acts as a hub for all of your SMART products, including Notebook, Screen Shade, and more; as well as the ability to show or hide the Board Tools.

If you are a frequent, or even minimal, Floating Toolbar user, you are familiar with the Board Tools icon that appears in the dock on your laptop.

From this application you are able to utilize the Floating Toolbar of SMART Tools to integrate with any application on your MacBook.  This is great when you want to annotate or interactively feature something on your projector from your computer for the classroom.

With the 11.3 update to Notebook, you can access the Floating Toolbar from the SMART System Menu - Show or Hide.  No longer will you see the Board Tools icon in your dock; so, don't be alarmed. It's nice having the one, integrated center to access Notebook and the Notebook features and tools.  And, the SMART System Menu icon will remain in your system toolbar when you log in to your laptop.

Begining with a SMART Board?

One of the most versatile tools of the SMART products that I like to feature to Macbook-teachers (especially new to SMART Board) is the Floating Toolbar.  I, personally, think this is the best way to start your SMART Board experience and the best SMART interactive tool.

It seems most courses or workshops that demonstrate SMART Board use, focus attention to the SMART Notebook software.  Notebook is an amazing presentation tool with much animation and interactivity.  However, I find when helping teachers adjust to new technologies, like the SMART Board, starting with the Floating Toolbar will make for a softer, easier transition to making the most of your SMART Board.

Your perspective of the interactive whiteboard that now sits on your wall (as if some god that can manipulate fear and anxiety) should be viewed differently that any regular dry-erase whiteboard you have had in the past.  How ever you would use your laptop to teach, is the same way you would teach with a SMART Board in the front of the room.

The SMART Board is merely a devise that mirrors you computer and is designed to be a touch-based surface for easy interaction.  You can interact with the SMART Board the same way you would use a mouse or clicker on your computer.

Without intentions of reviewing elementary or boring trivia, my whole point is that you can do almost anything and annotate with any program, document, website; or anything on your computer with the SMART Board.  This is where the Floating Toolbar comes in handy; especially when using the SMART Board for the first time.

When using the Floating Toolbar, the most important thing you need to be aware of is the Ink Layer.  Here is a great 1min video on what the Ink Layer is and how to use it.

Anytime you use a tool from the Floating Toolbar, the Ink Layer will appear as a boarder around the screen on your computer.  This layer acts as a transparency for which you can annotate and use any SMART tool on top of.  One thing you HAVE to remember is that once the Ink Layer is up, you can not interact with the program or interntet window that lies behind, until you close the layer.  You can simply close an active layer by clicking on the red "X" in the upper right-hand corner of your screen at any time.  Please review the above link to the video about the Ink Layer for more detailed information.  Also, please visit this handy Quick Reference PDF that covers the basics of the Floating Toolbar.

You can customize your toolbar to how you would like to use it in practice.  By clicking the Settings "cog wheel" or "gear" at the bottom of the tool bar a new widow of all available SMART Board tools will pop up.  You can customize your toolbar simply by clicking and dragging the icons in and out of your toolbar.  Move the tools around in your tool bar that you find would best suit your immediate needs.


Each tool is customizable as well.  When you select a tool you will notice a Settings "gear" for that specific tool.  These settings can offer various capabilities depending on the tool.  For the pens and highlighter, you will be able to not only select the color, but you can select the size of the pen application; the same with the eraser.

My big approach to making the most of your SMART Board is that when you become familiar and comfortable with using the tools in your Floating Toolbar, you will be practically a pro when you start using the SMART Notebook software.


If you have any more questions concerning this, or ANYTHING with SMART Technologies, please do not hesitate to contact me - nasonb@sad1.org