MP3 sounds can play within Notebook software when embedded onto an object. To play the sound, you need to touch the object and to pause the sound you need to touch the object a second time. However, you cannot manipulate the sound to rewind or fast forward. To play the sound from the beginning you need to flick to another page and then flick back to the page with the sound file.
FLV flash files are the only type of files that can be inserted into Notebook software that have a controller bar to stop/play/rewind/fast-forward, and to drag the timer to any part of the file. SWF flash files do not have a controller bar. Therefore, it appears logical to say that FLV is the best audio format to use in terms of its functionality.
So, how can you convert your MP3 and SWF files to FLV files? Watch the video for a short demonstration using Format Factory, a multifunctional media converter (original idea came from Matthew at Tequipment).
Whilst I’m writing about sound files/music, I thought I’d include the link below which is provided by the American Hands Association. It allows students to explore different hand movements and sound through an IWB. You can even select dance, hip hop or Latin music. Students select hand gestures which contribute to the rhythm being played. Great fun!
Before work this morning, I was reading the paper with some work colleagues and it was pointed out the there will be a lunar eclipse on June 15th this year. I am currently teaching my class about the Earth, Moon and Sun during Science so I immediately became excited. During my lunch break I began to create a Notebook document. In the process, I emailed the up loaders of the YouTube clips (that I wanted to use for teaching purposes ) for copy right permission and found myself receiving an email within 5 minutes from China (I am in Australia)! How fantastic is that. Anyway, this is what I came up with in my lunch break. You can download the zip version (45.3MB) if you like. (NOTEBOOK ZIP removed after Lunar Eclipse -18/6/2011).
LUNAR ECLIPSE UPDATE: I woke both my children and we watched the Lunar Eclipse from 4:30-5:15 with the best viewing time being 4:50. It was fantastic! The moon atually looked like a red planet.
Recently I travelled to Edithburg Primary School, to present at a whole school closure day for SMART board training and development.
I used my lap top, which I connected to one of their SMART boards for the presentation and I was running without any Internet access at all. Throughout the day I did not have any PROBLEMS WITH ANY FLASH FILES. Therefore, I am inclined to think that maybe SMART has rectified past problems with flash files which is great news!
There is another new feature of Notebook 10.7 which I failed to note in a previous article. With Notebook 10.7 you can not only change pages by flicking your finger across the page (as you would with an i pad) but you can also flick objects across the page.
Furthermore, if you install Notebook 10.7 on a computer that isn’t attached to a computer the calligraphy pen will not appear (as noted in my previous article). However, if you attach your computer to a SMART board (just once) and then disconnect it from the SMART board, the caligraphy icon will appear on your computer whenever you open Notebook software (even if it isn’t attached to a SMART board).
My current recommendation is to upgrade to Notebook 10.7 software.
For comments about Edithburg’s SMART board PD day regarding its usefulness and recommendations please contact Helen Jolly (Principal) at helen.jolly@edithbghps.sa.edu.au .
If you teach Kindergarten or Reception students you may be interested in this online site which provides 9 free online books to share with your students.
Term 2 PD sessions contain new online and interactive SMART board resources. Below is an example of an online resource for the Year 3 / 4 Science unit on Space. ‘We Choose The Moon’ is a site that tracks the activities of the Apollo 11 mission. The site tracks the stages of Apollo 11 and provides video galleries and photo galleries to support student exploration. Please note that the site is ‘flash heavy’, meaning that pages may take some time to load.
I’ll say it again, Study Ladder is a fantastic interactive, free, online resource for all schools and kindergartens. If you haven’t checked it out yet, do so. As a teacher, I get unlimited free access, my students receive unlimited free access at school and free access to 3 activities per night at home! As a parent, I’ve personally subscribed my two children for a year (cost: approximately $100 per year for 3 children for home access).
To celebrate ‘Walk Safely to School Day, 2011’, Study Ladder has provided free interactive resources for teachers. They are suitable for R-2 teachers. If you haven’t explored Study Ladder yet, try it, it is a great online resource which is constantly evolving.
Firstly, I would like to make it clear that once teachers know their Notebook software they can be spontaneous and create interactive lessons which require minimal teacher preparation because SMART software focuses on ‘ease of use’ (this is what sets SMART above other IWB companies). SMART have recently updated their software because they have released new hardware, the SMARTboard 800 series (refer to previous posts for more information). Many of the gestures that you can use on on a small screen (ie smartphone), SMART have transferred onto a large screen and integrated them within the SMART 10.7 software.
As a teacher in a school which has the older 600 SMARTboard series or earlier versions, I would not upgrade to Notebook 10.7. However, my school have recently purchased the SMART math tools add on. When you download Notebook 10.7 it automatically downloads the SMART math tools add on for a free 30 day trial (Notebook 10.6 isn’t available online with Math tools add on to download). If you do not purchase an activation key within that time period it is automatically removed from your Notebook software. If we had not purchased the activation code and license for SMART math tools we would still be running Notebook 10.6 because:
1.It requires time for IT technicians to create a new image, to push out across your network so that all computers in your school are running the same version of the Notebook software.
2.Notebook 10.7 has minimal advantages unless you have a new 800 series (of which I would be highly jealous of and there are not currently any in SA yet).
3.With every new upgrade there are usually ‘teething problems’. These are minor problems which are eventually resolved. Why not upgrade once they have been resolved?
4.As a teacher, it is easier to work with the same version of Notebook at home that your school is running.
The new features of Notebook 10.7 include:
1.Calligraphic ink. This is a new pen tool which appears at the top of your tool bar, but only if you are connected to a SMART board. It won’t show up on your home computer. This pen tool is good for teachers who find it difficult to write on the SMART board as it smooths out your writing.
2.In your shape tool selection you have a new heart shape.
3.The ability to open and export CFF.iwb files
4.With the flick of a finger on the older SMART board 600 series you can change pages (this is a bonus).
However, I am interested in finding out if Notebook 10.7 eliminates some of the problems that Notebook 10.6 is having with flash files. I have only upgraded recently but I will keep you posted. Below is a video created by SMART technologies on their new software, Notebook 10.7. It is worth having a look at.
I’ve posted a video on how to use YouTube Downloader to download clips from YouTube. It is quick and simple to use. However, it will not work with TeacherTube. For TeacherTube you will need to use ZamZar or SaveYouTube. For videos on how to use those programs scroll through my posts and you’ll find them.
Welcome to Term 2, 2011. Just letting you know that I’ve advertised Term 2′s SMARTboard PD under the events section. During Term 3 and Term 3 school holidays I won’t be running any SMARTboard PD, except for the possibility of a one day session on SMARTboards and RE during the term. During Term 3 I will be presenting SMARTboard PD in Melbourne. So, this is the last term for Inter-tech PD for 2011. To register for a session, download the registration form and fax it to Inter-tech Education. If you would like me to attend your school to conduct a whole school PD day (Fridays only), please contact me for further details. Enjoy Term 2!
