ACTIVboard Hardware Introduction

[csloan]

Hello all. Is there any video introduction to the ACTIVboard separate from using ACTIVstudio? The problem at our school is that most of the faculty thinks that you can't use the ACTIVboard at all unless you're using ACTIVstudio. Well we all know this is not the case.

I'm trying to put together a resource library for our faculty, and I need a video that introduces the board separate from the software (we get into ACTIVstudio and PowerPoint later). Does any such video exist anywhere?

-Chris

[LisaD]

It really depends on what they are doing on their computer. They have to be doing something. For example, I would just show them some website and how the Activpen works like a mouse to click on things on websites.

What age students do they teach. I would try to show them something age-appropriate and simple.

A very simple site is:

http://starfall.com

Try this lesson:
http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/long-i/load.htm?f

If they teach primary school children, they will love its simplicity. Crisp, clean, good use of sound.

(But, I will say that I would still use Activstudio as the place to link to the various web-based activities.)

Lisa

[Dug]

Mmmmmmmm
Primary children.....ACTIVstudio?
ACTIVprimary surely!;)

[LisaD]

I agree! I don't think Activprimary is as well known in the states as in the UK!

Not sure why. Perhaps it is because there are not many "just" primary schools. Most US schools go from Pre-K through 5 covering from 4-5year olds all the way through to 10 or 11.

But I do love Activprimary! (And I don't know where this person is from either!)

Lisa

[Dug]

My school uses ACTIVprimary from our 3 year olds through to our 11 year olds. Kids then move to secondary school where they use Studio. We tried Studio with the 10/11 year olds a few years ago and asked the kids what they preferred and the kids unanimously voted for ACTIVprimary.

[csloan]

I work at North Greenville University. Our faculty teaches college students. We do not have ACTIVprimary. In fact, I've never seen it.

To ensure that the faculty knows how to use these things, I have to somehow distinguish the hardware from the software...to let them know that the board is not useless without ACTIVstudio...to let them know that they can also use PowerPoint or any other software package they want to use.

They do not understand that the board is an input device. They think it is packaged with ACTIVstudio and that if you don't use ACTIVstudio for your lesson, then you can't use the board.

That's why I'd like to get my hands on a video that shows a teacher using PowerPoint with the board, or something other than ACTIVstudio.

[LisaD]

Here's a link to a page that has a video of someone using Inspiration on an Activboard.

http://inspiration.com/productinfo/supportingtechnology/index.cfm

(Activstudio is open as well but only to show how the handwriting recognition works with Inspiration)

Lisa

[saha]

Maybe then you need to approach your faculty with the concept that without ActivStudio ,an Activboard is just like a huge tablet and the Activpen or ActivWand is the stylus.

If they so prefer, then just install Activdriver and let them do what they want with the board.....powerpoint, word, anything they want.

[Dug]

I explain it terms of 'the board is like your computer monitor, the pen is your mouse'.