Smart Boards (an interactive whiteboard) are being utilized in schools more and more! A Smart Board is a great tool that helps teachers incorporate technology into their daily lessons. It helps make learning more fun and interactive. The problem is teachers do  not know where to begin with connecting a Smart Board. This blog shows a step by step instruction on how to get started with your Smart Board and most importantly how to connect it to a laptop. 

Follow these few steps to start using your Smart Board!

Step 1- Set Up Smartboard!

Make sure Smartboard is set up correctly in classroom! It should either be hanging on the wall or assembled on the floor stand. The "pens" should be in the correct color spot, as well as the eraser.

Step 2- Install Software

2A.Install the Smartboard software into your laptop. A disc is provided with the Smartboard and it is also available for download at the Smartboard website.

Website: http://smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Download+Software



Step 3- Start to Connect

There are two ways to connect your Smart Board to your laptop. You can either use a Serial- Serial Cable connection or a Serial- USB Cable Connector. Decide which cable you are using below and skip to that step for step-by-step instructions.

Step 4- Serial-Serial Connection

Connect Using a Serial Connection!

4A. Insert the short connector of the Smart Board serial cable (the long cord) into the 9-pin serial port under the lower right side of the Smart Board and tighten the screws.

TIP: Keep laptop OFF while attaching power cord!

4B. Insert the long connector (the other end) of the Smart Board serial cable into the back of your laptop and tighten the screws. (Match up the female end of the connector to the male port to determine where to insert it. There is only one match.)

4C. Insert the small, round power plug of the adapter into the socket on the right side of the back of the long connector previously connected to the laptop in step 4B. (This step is normally already done- but always check.)

4D. Skip to step 6!

Step 5- Serial-USB Connection

Connect using a Serial-USB Connection!

5A. Insert the short connector of the Smart Board serial cable (the long cord) into the 9-pin serial port under the lower right side of the Smart Board and tighten the screws.

TIP: Keep laptop OFF while attaching the power cord!

5B. Insert the USB connector (the other end) of the Smart Board into an available USB port on the back of your laptop.

5C. Skip to step 6!

Step 6- Turn Computer On

6A. Turn on laptop once cords are connected.

6B. While your laptop is starting, the ready light of the Smart Board (located on the bottom right-hand corner on the side of the Smart pen tray) flashes between red and green. 

• Once fully powered, a steady green light indicates the board is fully functional and the hardware and software are installed and integrated
• A steady red light indicates the board is receiving power, but is not fully functional. (Go to Tips page at top)

Step 7- Tool Bar

7A. Once your Ready Light is green, your interactive whiteboard is now touch sensitive!

7B. Open the Smart Board tools by going to Start > Programs > Smart Board
Software > Smart Board Tools. (Usually it should appear automatically.) 



7C. The Smart Board icon appears in the system tray. You can now use a stylus from the pen tray to write over any projected application.

Step 8- Final Step!

Orienting the Touch Screen!
(To provide an accurate and appropriate response to your touch, the Smart Board driver needs to know exactly where the projected image from your computer is located on the interactive whiteboard screen.)

8A. Right click or press and hold for 3 seconds on the Smart icon in the system tray (blue square with white circle). When the menu appears, click Orient (when connected to a Smart Board, Orient will not be grayed out).

8B. Select the Fine Orientation and press Apply and then Ok. (The Boards tab appears.)

8C. Press the Orient Button.

8D. Firmly press the small yellow square in the center of each red cross. (After you press the final red cross, the orientation screen disappears.) Press OK.