What does SMART Sync do?
SMART Sync 2009 enables you to do the following:

• Monitor activity on all student computers from your desktop
• Lock student screens and restrict Internet access and selected applications
• Broadcast your screen or any student screen to the entire class
• Interact with students through questions, chats and surveys
• Coordinate activities for small-group student collaboration

Why did the software’s name change from SynchronEyes software to SMART Sync?
SMART Sync is a simple, memorable name that makes it clear that the software is one component of a broader SMART solution.

What’s new in SMART Sync?
New features of SMART Sync 2009 including the following:

• New student collaboration tools
• Refined user interface
• Internet rule sharing capability
• Improved Internet blocking rules
• Redesigned student chat menu
• Expanded multilingual support
• New administration tools
• Active Directory integration

Why doesn’t SMART Sync have a quiz feature?
Previous versions of SynchronEyes software included a basic quiz feature that allowed teachers to create and administer interactive quizzes. SMART Sync 2009 retires this feature and will soon replace it with optional SMART Response integration. SMART Response is interactive assessment software that pairs accurate evaluation and instant results with the power of SMART Notebook SE (Student Edition), which offers coordinated file management and multimedia authoring.

What are the advantages of SMART Sync?
The software offers teachers many advantages, including the following:

• SMART Sync has a simple, intuitive interface, which translates into a faster learning curve and higher adoption rate by users
• SMART Sync boasts a unique student collaboration feature that is based on the think-write-pair-share model for small-group collaboration. This feature enables you to improve lesson comprehension and help students develop teamwork and consensus-building skills.
• SMART Technologies has earned worldwide recognition and trust by creating innovative and easy-to-use products, and SMART Sync is no exception. SMART’s dedication to research and development ensure that SMART Sync will be continually enhanced and that first-class, long-term product support will be provided to customers.

What are the benefits of using the collaboration feature?
SMART Sync’s collaboration feature allows you to randomly organize your students into small groups to work together on assignments. One especially useful way to take advantage of this feature is to use the think-write-pair-share learning model:

• Think – Students work independently on a task
• Write – Each student individually decides on an answer and digitally submits it
• Pair – Students are randomly divided into groups of two or three
• Share – Students present their ideas to other group members by sharing screens, and they work to come to a consensus. Once each of them agrees on a shared answer, one student submits the file digitally on behalf of the group.

Using the collaboration feature will enable you to improve comprehension of lesson material and help students develop teamwork and consensus-building skills.

How can SMART Sync help with one-to-one learning or mobile learning initiatives?
One-to-one learning focuses on tailoring education to individual needs. It is offered in learning environments where every student has a computer or other handheld device. SMART Sync supports this teaching approach by promoting effective classroom management, emphasizing student confidentiality and enhancing teacher-student communication in such classrooms.

Can I use SMART Sync with my SMART Board interactive whiteboard?
Yes. SMART Sync was designed to take advantage of the collaborative features of the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. When both SMART Sync and the SMART Board interactive whiteboard are used together, they provide an enhanced interactive experience for students and teachers. However, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard isn’t required to use SMART Sync.

How do students connect to the correct teacher computer?
SMART Sync offers you the following options for connecting student computers to a teacher computer:

• Create a set of unique teacher IDs during installation. When students launch SMART Sync, they can select the appropriate teacher from a drop-down menu.
• Create class lists that automatically connect the right students to the right teacher
• Set up individual student computers to connect automatically to the appropriate teacher ID when students log on

How can I prevent students from closing SMART Sync software?
SMART Sync enables you to set a preference to never allow students to disconnect. This feature ensures that student computers remain connected throughout the day, even when several different classes use them. It also prevents individuals from logging off to avoid being observed.

Do students know that SMART Sync is running on their computers?
This depends on whether you choose to install the software in hidden or visible mode on student computers. In hidden mode, students will only become aware of the software if you initiate a poll, broadcast a desktop display or lock their computers. If you choose this mode, SMART Sync connects automatically when a student logs onto a computer. You can instead choose visible mode if you would like your students to be aware that SMART Sync is running.

Is it possible to broadcast one student’s desktop to another?
Yes. You can broadcast a student’s screen to another individual, a group, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard or the entire class.

Can I change the lock-out message to something other than Eyes to the front, please?
Yes. You can easily customize this message and its background color to make it more relevant for your students.

Can I allow select students to participate in chat sessions, and can I monitor the sessions?
Yes. SMART Sync lets you chat with all your students or with a selected group of students. You can also allow them to initiate chats with everyone in the class or with a group, saving the entire chat history. The chat feature helps you keep classroom noise to a minimum and enhances student collaboration. You can monitor every chat session and disable the chat feature to prevent distractions when students should be working individually.

Does SMART Sync work for distance education?
No. The software is designed for use within a physical classroom. We suggest that you consider SMART's Bridgit conferencing software for your distance education needs.

Which languages does SMART Sync support?
SMART Sync supports the following languages:

• English (U.S.)
• English (U.K.)
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Dutch
• French
• German
• Greek
• Italian
• Portuguese (Portugal)
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Russian
• Spanish (Spain)
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Turkish

Can I use SMART Sync to monitor a student’s computer in another room?
Yes, as long as both computers are on the same local area network (LAN).

Can I monitor both desktops if students have dual monitors?
Yes. In thumbnail mode, both student screens will appear side by side.

Can more than one teacher connect to a class?
Yes. When given permission, teacher aides or administrators can simultaneously monitor student computer screens.

Can SMART Sync run on wireless networks?
Yes. The software has been designed to work on both wired and wireless networks. Enhanced security features such as authentication and TLS encryption keep classroom communications safe from outsiders.

How many and what kind of access points do I need if I use a wireless network?
We recommend connecting a maximum of 30 mobile devices to each wireless access point (AP). A commercial-grade AP should be used, rather than a consumer-grade one. Consumer-grade APs are not capable of handling large numbers of student connections. For further information on how to set up a wireless network, please see our knowledge base article.

How do I deploy SMART Sync across my whole school?
Installing SMART Sync on a wide-scale basis is quick and easy – your network administrator can automatically deploy the software to all computers using an .msi file.

How many students can be connected simultaneously?
The number of students that can be connected simultaneously through the software is determined by the bandwidth of your network:

• 10 MB network – up to 40 student connections
• 100 MB network – up to 80 student connections
• Wireless network (single 802.11 a/b/g access point) – up to 30 student connections

The number of possible connections may also be affected by the processor speed and memory capacity of the teacher computer. Minimum system requirements can be found at www.smarttech.com/syncrequirements.

Do I need other SMART software products to use SMART Sync?
No. Although SMART products are designed to work well together, you do not need to have any other products from SMART to use SMART Sync.

How can I try SMART Sync?
If you would like to test drive SMART Sync, you can download a free trial. Start by installing the teacher version of the software on the teacher computer and then install the student version on several student computers. When you launch SMART Sync, you will immediately see thumbnails of the student screens on your monitor.

Is product training available?
Yes. SMART offers a variety of training resources and services to help you get the most from SMART Sync. Whether you choose to learn at your own pace with our free online materials, or through instructor-led sessions or the reseller who sells you the software, you'll find the tools to suit your needs. Visit SMART’s training center.

Several of our teachers share a single computer lab. Do we need multiple licenses?
No. You can create multiple teacher profiles that can all be accessed from a single computer in the lab.

Does SMART Sync have flexible pricing options?
Yes. The SMART Sync pricing model is based on the number of student computers you have, so you can tailor a solution that fits your specific needs. Education and volume discounts are also available.

Where can I buy SMART Sync software?
For all purchase and licensing questions, please contact the SMART software sales group by phone at 1.888.42.SMART or +1.403.245.0333, or by e-mail at software@smarttech.com. To find an authorized SMART reseller, visit www.smarttech.com/buysoftware.

Try SMART Sync today. Download a free trial.