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Smart Technologies has introduced a FREE online student companion application to Notebook.
Smart Notebook Express is a web-based application that allows students to open the .nbk (notebook)
proprietary file, create their own notebook file, and SAVE that notebook file. For students
who may not have ready access to the internet, there is also a link to download the Notebook
Express software so they can create and open files offline.
The interface of Notebook Express is simplified from the full version. It opens in page view,
same as Smart Notebook, but only includes one other tab area, the attachments tab. The
attachments tab does not allow the student to import images, but is available in case
the instructor provides an .nbk file with file attachments.
The toolbar is also simplified. It includes PREVIOUS and NEXT icons, ADD PAGE, OPEN FILE,
UNDO and REDO, DELETE, SHADE, SELECTION TOOL, PENS, ERASER and TEXT TOOL.
There are several ways that an instructor might use Notebook Express to enhance student
learning. Here are a few examples: Identification exercise: This can be used
for almost any two categories of items. Vertebrates and non-Vertebrates, for example, or digestive
and pulmonary organs, Impressionistic or Expressionistic painting styles, and so on. You can create
an identification exercise using any two categories. Find images for the items in each of the categories
and give each image file an appropriate name. Batch import those images into a Notebook
file using the attachments tab. Create two pages in your notebook file, and at the top
of each page put the name of the category. Under the category name put a simple explanation
of the exercise, i.e., Select the attachments tab from the left side of Notebook express.
Drag each of the images in the attachments tab onto the correct page category. Save the
file as Identification_Your Name and upload the file as an attachment in the Identification
Exercise Discussion Board in Blackboard.
Note: Blackboard adds its own code to any file you upload. This does not matter with
Microsoft files, as they are full of arbitrary code. But in proprietary files like Smart
Notebook or Notebook Express it corrupts the file if you attach the file using the Assignment
Feature. When using a proprietary file, other than Microsoft, create a discussion
board thread and allow file attachments. Here you can make your file available to the students
and the students can attach their files for you to open in Notebook without issues.
Take a look at the case study on the following page to see how an actual instructor uses
Notebook Express here at Prince George's Community College.