Smart Sync. Computer Classroom Management Software. What is SMART Sync? Table of Contents

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1 Smart Sync Computer Classroom Management Software What is SMART Sync? SMART Sync software helps instructors manage the computers in their classroom. SMART Sync keeps a student engaged and focused, and helps instructors better manage class time. Instructors can take advantage of one-to-one computing, observe and guide lesson activities, and keep students focused on learning. Some uses for this software are: Broadcast Mode instructors may demonstrate something on their PC and even use interactive whiteboard features like highlighting text or drawing on a screen while broadcasting their computer screen to the students computers. Then they can stop broadcasting and turn control over to the class so the students can practice what was taught. Observe Mode as students are working on an assignment, instructors can observe each computer in the lab from the instructors computer, and even display a typical problem or issue on a student's PC to the entire class. Control Mode instructors can give direct instruction by remotely controlling a student computer. Instructors can also ensure student attention, by disabling all student mice and keyboards. Vote mode instructors can create a Yes/No question on a specific issue or topic during a lesson to have students vote or to ascertain whether students comprehend a concept. File Transfer Mode instructors can transfer a file to the entire class or answer student questions via chat mode. Table of Contents Objective 1: Review the SMART Sync Instructor Screen... 2 Objective 2: Review the SMART Sync Student Screen... 3 Objective 3: Opening and connecting to SMART Sync... 4 Objective 4: Observe the students computers... 5 Objective 5: Broadcasting the instructor s computer to all student computers... 7 Objective 6: Manage student computer usage... 8 Blocking Applications... 9 Internet Block Launch and/or close an application on student computers Objective 7: Communicating with student Announcements Chat Questions Voting Objective 8: Transfer Files Between Students and Instructor Objective 9: Creating Groups Objective 10: Collaboration SMART Sync 1 December 20, 2010

2 Objective 1: Review the SMART Sync Instructor Screen SMART Sync software has toolbars in two different locations. The Main Dropdown Menu is located at the top of the interface and provides access to preferences, menus, help, and more. This menu will never change no matter what view option you have entered. The second toolbar is called the Main Action Toolbar. It is located just below the Main Dropdown Menu, and provides different options based on the view that you are in. Main Dropdown Menu Main Action Toolbar Side View Toolbar SMART Sync 2 December 20, 2010

3 The view toolbar, on the left, controls what you see in the main area of the interface and what functions are accessible from the main toolbar. Monitor and control your students computers Create collaborative assignments for small groups Respond to questions that students ask Start a computer chat session with all of your students or a group of your students that you have created Send computer files to your students Remotely block, launch, and close applications on students desktop Remotely block internet access Objective 2: Review the SMART Sync Student Screen Reconnects student PC to instructor PC Group gives access to group files, chats, etc. Allows students to ask instructors a question Opens group and all student chat Students can send files to the instructor Group gives access to group files, chats, etc. Information about SMART Sync SMART Sync 3 December 20, 2010

4 Objective 3: Opening and connecting to SMART Sync When you first open SMART Sync on the teacher-station you will be given the option to select a class. Select the class that has already been created. Because of the current configuration of computer labs, any new classes that you create will be lost when the instructor computer is rebooted. Once you select the default class, your screen will open to the Thumbnails View. The Thumbnails view enables you to see small images of students desktops on your computer. To Connect to Instructor Station 1. Double click the SMART Sync Icon on desktop. 2. Select the default class that has already been created and matches the room number of the computer classroom. Then click OK. (Screen will open to thumbnail view) SMART Sync 4 December 20, 2010

5 Objective 4: Observe the students computers Observe mode allows instructors to observe each computer in the classroom as students are working on an assignment as well as show a typical problem or issue on a student's PC to the entire class. To Observe Students Computers 1. Click on Thumbnails in the Side View Menu, if necessary. 2. Click View on Main Dropdown Menu bar. Then click Thumbnail size or Thumbnail arrangement to change size and location of images. Thumbnails SMART Sync 5 December 20, 2010

6 To Observe an Individual Students Computer 1. Double-Click the student s thumbnail screen. The individual student computer will appear in a separate window for you to observe. Additional menu options will also be available across the top for that computer. Control Broadcast To Control an Individual Student Computer 1. Double-Click the student s thumbnail screen, if necessary. 2. Click Control in the Main Action Toolbar above the student screen. The instructor will have mouse and keyboard control. To Broadcast an Individual Student Computer to the Class 1. Double-Click the student s thumbnail screen, if necessary. 2. Click Broadcast in the Main Action Toolbar above the student screen. SMART Sync 6 December 20, 2010

7 Objective 5: Broadcasting the instructor s computer to all student computers Broadcast mode allows instructors to demonstrate something on their PC and use interactive whiteboard features like highlighting text or drawing on a screen. Then you can turn control over to the class so they can practice what was taught. To Broadcast the Instructor s Computer 1. Open any files, programs, or websites on the instructor PC that you would like to broadcast to students. 2. Press the Broadcast button on the Main Action Toolbar. Data will now appear on all students screens. While the instructor is broadcasting, the students will see all mouse movements and annotation that the instructor makes on their computer. Students will not have control of their computers. 3. Press the red X on the floating menu toolbar to end Broadcast on all computers or select Menu and Stop Broadcasting. 4. The menu dropdown from the Floating Menu Toolbar offers additional options during Broadcast mode. For example, if you click Pass the Chalk, you will be able to select a student computer that will be able to control the mouse and keyboard on the instructor s machine. 5. If you would like to broadcast to an individual or smaller group of students rather than the whole class, you will need to create a group. Refer to section the section on Creating Groups. Floating Menu Toolbar SMART Sync 7 December 20, 2010

8 Objective 6: Manage student computer usage While the Control mode allows instructors to give direct instruction to students by remotely controlling a student s computer, instructors can also manage student computer usage by locking down the computer (disabling mouse and keyboard) and even blocking the use of certain applications (programs). To Lock Student Computers 1. Without selecting any thumbnails, click the Lock button on the main toolbar. (A message reading Eyes to the Front will appear on screen). 2. Click the Lock button again to unlock student computers. SMART Sync 8 December 20, 2010

9 Blocking Applications Blocking applications allows you to either block selected applications or block all applications except the ones you select. To Block an Application 1. Click Applications on the View toolbar. 2. From the Rules list you can click the check box beside a rule to activate it. (application will be blocked) SMART Sync 9 December 20, 2010

10 To Add a New Rule 1. Click Add New button to create a new application blocking rule. 2. Give New Rule a name. 3. You can block individual applications or block all except a set of applications by selecting the Block the following applications or Block all except the following applications on upper right side. 4. Select the Program(s) from dialog box you want to block or allow. (To select multiple programs hold down control while clicking each one.) 5. Click Add then press OK. 6. Select the check box beside the New Rule you created to activate it. Internet Block The internet block feature is used to disallow internet access for students. It can be accessed from either the Side View Toolbar or the Main Actions Toolbar. To Block Internet Access 1. Click on either Internet Block in the Main Actions Toolbar or Internet in the Side View Toolbar 2. To allow internet, click either of the Internet Blocking buttons a second time. SMART Sync 10 December 20, 2010

11 Launch and/or close an application on student computers. You can launch an application on all your students computers to ensure everyone has access to the program at the same time. Launch Close To Launch an Application 1. Click Applications on Side View Toolbar. 2. Press Launch on Main Action Toolbar. 3. Select program then press Launch button on dialog box. To Close an Application 1. Click Applications on the view toolbar 2. Press Close on Main Action Toolbar 3. Select program then press Close button on dialog box Applications Launch Application Window SMART Sync 11 December 20, 2010

12 Objective 7: Communicating with student There are four ways that instructors can communicate with students; send Announcements, Chat, students can ask Questions, or the instructor can start a Vote. Announcements To Send an Announcement to One Student 1. Click the thumbnail for the student you want to send an announcement to. 2. Click on the Announcement button on the main action toolbar. 3. Type announcement in dialog box and press Enter. To Send an Announcement to All Students 1. Click on the Message button on the top toolbar. 2. Type message in dialog box and press Enter. (message will go to all students) SMART Sync 12 December 20, 2010

13 Chat The chat feature allows you to chat with all members of a group. If you are in the All Computers tab when you start a chat, the chat will be available to all students. If you have created another group and begin a chat, it will be available only for those members. See the Objective 8 on creating groups for more information. To Start a Chat 1. Click Chat in the Side View Toolbar 2. Click Allow Students to Chat, if you would like for students to enter messages. Enter your message and click Send. To End a Chat 1. Click Chat in the Side View Toolbar, if necessary. 2. Unclick the checkbox that says Allow Students to Chat To Clear a Chat 1. Click Chat in the Side View Toolbar, if necessary. 2. Click Clear in the Main Action Menu. SMART Sync 13 December 20, 2010

14 Questions The question mode allows the instructor to answer student questions. This is a feature for providing remote help to students or moderating questions during instruction. However, the instructor cannot ask students questions. Question Notification 1. When a student asks a question, a notification will appear in the bottom right of the SMART Sync program. 2. Click on Questions in the Side View Toolbar to see the questions that students have asked Answering Questions 1. Double-click the question message 2. In the message area, type your response and click Send if you would like to send the response to just that student. 3. If you would like to send the response to the entire class, click Send to All in the Main Action Toolbar. Student Question Area Questions Message Area SMART Sync 14 December 20, 2010

15 Voting SMART Sync allows the instructor to conduct a Yes/No vote with students. To Create a Vote 1. Click Vote on the Main Action Toolbar. 2. Type a Yes/No question. 3. Click OK. Once the students answer, you will see green checks or red Xs to indicate their selection. SMART Sync 15 December 20, 2010

16 Objective 8: Transfer Files Between Students and Instructor Instructors can transfer files from their computer to all students or to specific individuals, and students can transfer files to the instructor. Transferring files can reduce the need to print out certain information. Students can also use File Transfer to submit files to the instructor as a way of turning in assignments. To Send a File to All Students 1. Click File Transfer on the Side View Toolbar. 2. Click Send File on the Main Action Toolbar. 3. From the dialog box locate your file. 4. Select your file and press Send. SMART Sync 16 December 20, 2010

17 To Send a File to a Single Student or Group of Students 1. Click on the student(s), and hold down control while clicking to select more than one. 2. Then send the file as described above. 3. To deselect students so that you can send to the whole class, click the empty region below the last student. Sent Files Select Student(s) Received Files Students can then open, edit, and save this file on their computer. To access sent files, they click on Received Files in SMART Sync Student program. SMART Sync 17 December 20, 2010

18 To Access Submitted Files You can view the submitted files from the File Transfer view, but you can also open the folder that stores the file directly. This makes it easy to save the files to a flash drive or other storage device. 1. Click on the Start Menu 2. Click Documents 3. In the documents folder there will be a folder called Submitted Student Documents, open that folder by double-clicking it. 4. There is a folder with the current date that contains all of the submitted files for that day. 5. Either drag and drop these files onto a storage device or copy and paste them. Note: Any files left on the instructor computer will be automatically deleted upon restart. Any files you would like to keep, you should take with you on a storage device at the end of l SMART Sync 18 December 20, 2010

19 Objective 9: Creating Groups Creating groups allows you to use the available tools with a smaller number of students. Groups can have as few as one student computer or as many as your whole class. Creating a Group 1. Click Edit from the Main Dropdown Menu and click Add Group 2. Enter a name for the group and choose whether you want to Allow students to the group on their own. If you don t select this option, you will need to assign members to the group yourself once it has been created. 3. Click OK. Modifying a Group 1. Click on the group tab that you have just created 2. Click Edit and select Modify Group 3. In the Students column, hold down control and click on each student that you would like to add to the group. 4. Then click Add. The group members that you have selected will appear on the right in the Group Members column. All of the features that were available for the group that contained all students are now available to just this group, such as broadcasting, chat, and file transfer. SMART Sync 19 December 20, 2010

20 Objective 10: Collaboration Collaboration mode allows you to randomly assign your students to small groups of two or three in order for your students to complete an assignment collaboratively. You select the assignment and any resources that you would like to give students for completing the assignment. Once you begin the collaboration, students will be asked to first complete the assignment individually and hand it in. After all members of a group have handed in the assignment, the group can collaborate on a final response together. During the collaborative process, the instructor can monitor each group. SMART Sync 20 December 20, 2010