Hi There,
I have had my SmartBoard for 2 years now. What I did right from the beginning, (even before I got my board), was to download Smart Notebook to my home computer. I spent a lot of time just playing around with the software. When I couldn't figure something out, I would "Google" it and there was always a video tutorial somewhere that explained how to do what I wanted to do. I don't think there was one specific site that I used, but I spent MANY hours reading, watching, and experimenting.
If you do not have the newest version of Smart Notebook, Notebook 11, I would recommend updating to it, as it has some features that make it easier to use.
I know it's hard to find the extra time to learn how to best use your SmartBoard during the school year, but summer is coming and usually it's not as hectic a time as the school year. Creating interactive files is all about ordering, grouping, and using the object animation tools in the properties menu. It is time-consuming, but I find it creatively rewading. It's like scrapbooking to me!
Good luck learning how to get more out of your SmartBoard. It is an amazing tool, and I can't imagine teaching without it! If you have a specific question or topic that I can help with, please let me know. I have recently started a teacher blog, and I am planning to include some SmartBoard tutorials there.
Thanks,
Cathy
April 20, 2013