Interactive White Boards: Smart Board vs Activ

[Chrissy]

I would like any feedback on interactive white boards. I would love to hear why you like or dislike this product. Is there one that performs better or is more user friendly? We are purchasing our first boards for junior high and I am deciding which kind to go with. I have used this only for a limited amount of time and certainly do not feel qualified without the feed back of others.

[Davo]

Having taught at a secondary school that was 100% promethean and now at a college that is 100% smart board, I'd go with the latter. You don't need to mess around with tracking down the board pen that has gone missing / been 'borrowed'. You don't need to dismantle the pen occasionally to unstick the spring. You can also operate them by hand which makes them a lot more pupil friendly.

Things you loose with Smart Boards, right-click is *slightly* more difficult and you can't really move the mouse around without clicking (in 2 years of teaching with them, I have rarely found either to be a problem).

[Chrissy]

Thanks very much. We have reps coming this week and I am leaning toward Smart, for much the same reasons and because of the vast resources.

[Patrick Chukwura]

As a student i love the smart boards. Especially compared to standard white boards when the markers are running dry. :)

[David Ligon]

Our district has conducted pilot programs on both Smart and Promethean boards. They share the common denominator of engaging students in the learning process, and enhancing instruction for educators. The difference is in the details. Promethean requires the magnetic stylus, and if you lost it the board won't work. I think they each come with 3 pens, but can be replaced at $20 each (5 pack is $100). Smart allows you to write with your finger as well as any pointed object, and comes with a set of plastic implements such as markers representing different colors and an eraser (set is $12 to replace). In this case it is not the objects that generate the effect, but the removal of each one from a tray which activates a sensor. Beyond the mechanics, you need to look at other important factors like power requirements (Smart can draw power through a usb, Prom. must be plugged into a wall). Then you need to look at curriculum resources. Both vendor sites offer links to free resources aligned with state standards. They also both offer collaborative communities to share resources. The development software is also a factor, and I have had good experience with Notebook 10. Training your staff how to use them effectively in the classroom is a key piece, and both vendors offer some sort of training. Finally, be sure to compare warranties and support options.

Ultimately it comes down to what works best for your teachers and students, and they should be involved in the decision-making process. In our case, we solicited qualitative feedback from the teachers after each pilot, and received praise on both types of boards.

[Ben Knaus]

Below is an email that I sent to Mr. Ligon about IWB and the classroom:

Here are a couple of things to think about as well. Promethean and Smart or not the only games in town. ENO is new and promising. Very nice and much less expensive. Also think about going with wireless tablets over boards. Moving around the room is key. I think that both Promethean and Smart make one, Wacom is good too. AVER media has a new pen coming out as does Papershow.

Student engagement, like Mr. Ligon stated, is the key. However, I'm starting to sway against IWBs. The problem is that they are front and center of the classroom. I teach in small, cooperative groups which makes a IWB an expensive board.

A tablet would let me walk around the room, add notes and let students add their own insights to our page. The AVER pen comes in a 5 pack (1 teacher, 4 students). Each of my collaborative groups could have their own pen and their own space on the board. They could add responses to questions and what not.

I'm a bigger fan of student response systems. That is student engagement. There are many ways to do this. One is with Promethean Activexpressions, which I use. Students can text in responses! There are several options, including online tools for you 1:1 computing schools.

Software is something to think about too. I have experience with both Promethean and Smart. Activeinspire (Promethean) is stunning and simple but also has a ton of features. The online support and resources are outstanding. Notebook from Smart is simpler but not as robust. I've been using Activeinspire on a Smartboard for about a year. Yes, that sounds backwards but it's true. They are replacing my board this summer with a Promethean.

The IWB in my room gets plenty of use. Adding the Activexpressions is huge. Having a tablet or pen that I could take to a small group and work with would be even more outstanding.

Thank you to Mr. Ligon for inviting me to this group. I look forward to hearing more on this discussion.