Open-Sankore is free interactive whiteboard software that is compatible with all types of IWB. It’s based on what was previously called Uniboard software. It’s been in beta for a while, and from what I can see this is a recent release, although it still needs some work.
The basic tools that you would expect are here. You can write with a pen (4 colours only) and a pencil. There’s a rubber tool, lines and text. Annoyingly you can’t move anything written with the pens – they seem to be fixed once you’ve drawn them onto the page.
The sidebar gives access to shapes – but you can’t group shapes with text. So a speech bubble with a text box over the top will remain separate objects. You also can’t fix layers either – so if you click on the bubble it will pop over and hide the text.
The sidebar also gives access to different apps such as timers, protractors and rulers. There are folders for clip art and videos, but these seem blank right now.
You can choose from 4 different backgrounds – one plain, one dark and then a dark and light grid. The colours of the pens change automatically when you choose a dark background.
In terms of dealing with files – Open Sankore will let you export as it’s own ubz file type. I’m not sure anything else will open that. You can also export as pdf. It will apparently open .iwb files but the two I tried did not import very successfully – I only got text and none of the images or annotations.
I’m really hoping that eventually we’ll get a decent open-source alternative to the big two for users of other boards, interactive projectors,and for teachers who want to write platform-independent resources. We’re not there yet with Open Sankore, but maybe in the future it will get there. But for now it’s just too clunky and lacking in features. As an alternative to Smart or Promethean you’re still going to have so buy Easiteach for now.
You can check it out at http://open-sankore.org/ The download page is in French, but the software will work in English once downloaded.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Hi Danny – thanks for the review. I had high hopes win I clicked through to your article from Twitter, but it doesn’t seem like a viable option…yet. I also run IWB training sessions for teachers – just music teachers though, who are happy to come to an IWB workshop which is specific to their subject. I often run the workshops as BYO laptop sessions and have the teachers (who are all from different schools) bring along whichever IWB software they use at their school, so I usually end up with a mix of Notebook, Activinspire, Easiteach and a couple of other odd ones (I like living on the edge!). It would make things so much easier if there was a good open source alternative. An open-source alternative would also make it easier to create some ready-made resources that are editable by teachers.
Hi Katie – I feel your pain 🙂 A BYO IWB software session is definitely going to be a challenge.
But I still hope we’ll get a decent open source/cheap alternative platform that does all the basics.
I’m still don’t understand why Microsoft hasn’t added a “whiteboard mode” to PowerPoint which would be a viable alternative.
If you find one, let me know!
Just to let you know we translate the website in English now :).
Perdrisat – thanks for that 🙂 Any word on when the software will be updated with more useful features – like being able to move what’s been written etc?
Yeah, we can move objects and text object but still not what is written with the pen. It’s one of the biggest issue and dev are working on that.
Cool – good luck with the update. Look forward to seeing it.
Hello, thank you for this review… we are preparing a version 1.4 that will be available within the next week and an upcoming version (for the end of the summer) will bring long awaited feature such as objectification of writing and object management. Let me know if you want to access the beta for the version 1.4 I’d be more than happy to send it to you.
I have just started to use open-sankore for my students. I have noticed that after 2-3 minutes the recording slows down dramatically, that is I have to wait for long seconds to see the line I have just drawn. Is there a remedy for it other than buing a new laptopt? Thank you very much!
How do you save work on Open Sankore?
How can I draw a grid of say x rows by y columns?
Can I upload my work on to You tube
Thank you … 19th Feb 2013
Probably worth getting version 2 if you haven’t already.
Saving work – Go to top right corner and click on Documents. Then look for Export – save as a IWB file.
Drawing grids like that – don’t think it will do it.
Upload to youtube, the Podcast feature should let you do that. Haven’t played with it much though. I tend to do that in Smart Notebook with the screen recorder tool.
I have just changed computers. I have been trying to download Open Sankore,verion2 or even version 1.40 but with no success. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you all
John