Promethean ActivInspire 1.4 update
Promethean have released an update to their ActivInspire software. This is version 1.4.
It doesn’t seem to be available from the Promethean Website yet, but for now you can upgrade within ActivInspire by clicking on Help and then Check for Updates.
Version 1.4 includes the following tweaks and updates:
- Page turn effects
- Multi-page select
- Pen modifiers (shapes, lines and curves)
- Self-paced export to Excel
- 5 new languages
- General perfomance upgrades
After updating, you can add the Pen Modifier tool to your toolbox by going to Edit – Profiles – Commands. Choose the Pen Modifier from the choices on the left and click add to add it to your toolbox. This will give you the same shapes you used to get by right clicking on the pen tool in ActivStudio 2/3.
Page turn effects can be controlled by going to File – Settings – Flipchart. Then select your default page turn effect and the speed can also be set under page turn duration.
Here are two guides from Promthean that cover new features:
I’ve noticed that in recent updates you can no longer export flipcharts in PowerPoint format. I’ve asked Promethean a few times about this and not had a response. I don’t know why they no longer do this. Seems a shame that this is not possible. Is very handy in Smart to be able to do this to share lesson/meeting notes with students as pdf or ppt files. I’m assuming it’s because they want to encourage everyone to download the free version of ActivInspire and access the files that way.
For more information about ActivInspire, and various download options, click here.
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More Etherpad clones
As we head towards the May 14th deadline when Etherpad will close, it’s worthwhile keeping tabs on other sites that are hosting the open-source Etherpad code.
Two new ones to join the list are:
Type with Me : http://typewith.me
and TitanPad : http://titanpad.com/
These join other Etherpads such as Primary Pad and iEtherpad, amongst others.
A full list of other Etherpad sites can be found here: http://etherpad.org/etherpadsites.html
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Loads of Smart Notebook Files
A quick plug for the Wichita Instructional Technology department who have put together an awesome collection of Smart Notebook files.
According to one twitterer (Kelly Reseigh) This site has been dubbed the “Smartboard Motherlode” by some schools.. and it’s hard to argue with that description.
The site contains loads of Elementary / Primary (K-6) Smartbotebook files for Literacy, Maths, Science and Social Studies. There are also some Senteo / Smart Response Quizzes. I lost count trying to see how many there were.
It’s well worth bookmarking the site if you are ever in need of some Smart Notebook files. Thanks to the Wichita Staff for being so generous and sharing their resources.
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Petroc Training Course Materials
Just a quick post to link to some of the resources to support yesterday’s training workshops at North Devon College / Petroc. The Smartboard sessions went really well.
My guides to using Smart Notebook can be found here.
Official Smart helpsheets can be found on the Smart Website.
A version of the “Getting the Most out of your Smartboard” smart notebook file can be downloaded via this blog post.
Download Smart Notebook here. And activate your product here.
Smart Notebook files that I have produced are here : http://www.think-bank.com/iwb/
The USB microphones I demonstrated are called Easi-Speak’s and you can get them via the TTS Group website.
Hope these help!
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Animated Storybooks
Thaks to Anne Marie for making me aware of Frank Asch and his website.
Frank Asch is an author whose work includes the Moonbear picture books . He has a great website which contains five animated story books complete with audio such as I Met a Penguin.
He also has his own channel onYou Tube where you can also access his animated stories.
Watch his animated books here : http://www.frankasch.com/animatedbooks.html
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E-Learning for Kids
E-Learning for Kids is a “global, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children ages 5 – 12.”
They offer free online courseware in maths, science, PSHE (Life Skills), literacy and computing skills.
There are plenty of online Flash-based resources here. Some would work well on an IWB (a full-screen option would be handy), but they would be good for independent study, with pupils working through them at their own pace too. Resources look suitable for KS1 up to KS3.
Resources are available in English and also Dutch, Spanish, French and Portugese. The resources are free – you can donate if you wish, but you don’t have to.
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/
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Free teacher resources
A very popular website for printable teacher resources in recent years was Sparklebox. Recently, following the imprisonment of its creator many schools no longer feel that is appropriate to be using resources from the site.
Here are three websites that are filling the gap left by Sparklebox – all of them provide free printable worksheets and display materials that teachers might find useful.
Twinkl : This is a brand new online resource centre created just for teachers. Resources for Literacy and Numeracy are already online, I’m hoping they’ll start to cover Science and other subjects to follow soon.
Primary School Teaching : Primary School Teaching is a platform for sharing and ranking teaching resources and ideas. Lots of subjects covered and a useful search facility.
Teachers Pet : Another new website with a growing bank of PDF resources to download. It was only launched this week – so give it time to grow. IWB resources are on their way apparently. The website is totally built in flash, which is a little annoying. It would be nice not to see sections that are empty. I had a bit of a frustrating time looking for Science materials. Don’t think there are any there yet. Once more resources get added this wont be an issue.
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2Simple’s Purple Mash
Those very clever people over at 2Simple have revamped their online tools to produce a new resource called Purple Mash. Purple Mash is an exciting mash up of the creative Online Tools, curriculum focussed APPtivities and programs to support and inspire children throughout the curriculum!
The good news is that there is “free-range mash” that is open to everyone, which means you can try it out and generally have a play with the tools.
If you like it, there is “gourmet mash” for those schools that purchase an annual licence. If you do that, you will also get the suite of Online Tools, plus Simple City, 2Type, Maths Games, 2Investigate online and more! Prices start at £500 for a one-year licence
To find out more about 2Simples Purple Mash, visit Anthony Evan’s blog and take a look at the short video tour he’s posted there.
2Simple have always made fantastic software for Early Years and Key Stage 1, and Purple Mash looks like it is continuing this great tradition.
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Great Plant Hunt Week 17 – 22 May
Get ready for Great Plant Hunt Week 17 – 22 May 2010! This is a great way of getting your students participating in real scientific research. Take part in this special thinking walk activity between the 17th and 22nd May, looking for 10 easy to spot plants and simply take a photo of the ones that you find in flower!
With schools across the UK uploading these photos to a map on the website, you can look at how the flowering in this small snapshot of time may differ geographically – maybe look to see if the dandelions are flowering in your neighbouring school? You can also compare this year’s data to last, click here to see the results from the same week last year, do you think there might be different results this year?
Visit the Great Plant Hunt Week website to find out more: http://www.greatplanthunt.org/gphweek
New Resources for Foundation Stage
The Great Plant Hunt website has added to its range of primary school activities and has released a set of new activities for 3-5 year olds.
Now freely available for download from the website, along with supporting materials, these three activities will get your foundation classes out exploring the natural world, getting creative and preparing for a colour themed party! As always the activities enjoy close links to the curriculum in areas such as observation, colour, counting, sorting and creative development.
Find out more about these brand new resources and get your class plant hunting – you’re never too young to learn from the great outdoors!
Resources for all other key stages, and also teachers guides, can be found on the main site: http://www.greatplanthunt.org
| Get ready for Great Plant Hunt Week 17 – 22 May 2010
The Great Plant Hunt Week Phenology Activity is a great way of getting your students participating in real scientific research. Take part in this special thinking walk activity between the 17th and 22nd May, looking for 10 easy to spot plants and simply take a photo of the ones that you find in flower! With schools across the UK uploading these photos to a map on the website, you can look at how the flowering in this small snapshot of time may differ geographically – are the dandelions flowering in your neighbouring school? |
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How about on the other side of the UK? You can also compare this year’s data to last, click here to see the results from the same week last year, do you think there might be different results this year? | |
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About Me
Danny Nicholson : Educator, Science teacher, ICT Consultant, PGCE lecturer, Author and Web2.0 / SMART Masters/ Interactive Whiteboard Trainer. Contact me for any training requests. 
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