Month: February 2013

Next Tip for Promethean Boards

Mrs SLeave a comment

This prezi was made to explain one way of creating name labels that can be used as objects in Activinspire. I have found that although I can create name labels as objects in Activinspire I have created better ones, that resize more easily, by using other software.

This method uses MSPowerPoint and MSPictureManager to create a set of objects with each student’s name on it plus an image. These can be dragged into yes/no surveys or sign in flipcharts.

 

One point that I forgot to mention in the Prezi is the universal suggestion when working with images, especially when resizing, and that is to use a copy of your originals rather than the originals themselves. If something goes wrong you can then just make another copy and try again. Simply copy the folder and paste it on your desktop or somewhere away from the originals.

I have also used Paintshop Pro and Inkscape to make labels but using the Save and Send JPEG option in MSPowerPoint or MSPublisher can be quite effective and is less intimidating for those just beginning to learn about manipulating images and using a combination of software to achieve an end point.

There would be other software that could be used in a similar fashion.

What would you use? Leave a comment to share your ideas.

Missing Your Browsers Toolbox?

Mrs SLeave a comment

A Prezi with the steps to rediscovering your Browsers Toolbox if you think that it has disappeared. This is a quick tutorial for those just beginning with the Activinspire software that runs with a Promethean interactive whiteboard. Remember you can click on the enlarge button at the bottom right of a Prezi to watch it in full screen mode and then use the escape key to return to the embedded Prezi at the end.

 

What would you need to know if you were just starting out with exploring a new Promethean board? Please leave a comment with some suggestions.

ActivInspire Tips

Mrs SLeave a comment

At my current school we are using Promethean™ interactive whiteboards in our classrooms and this year we will have almost all teachers using a board with their class.

There will be staff at all stages of board use. Some at the very beginning, some having used SMART board™ interactive whiteboards and some having used their Promethean boards for a period of time. Part of my ICT role is to provide support for our staff as we learn to make the most of our interactive whiteboards.

I have started creating some Tip of Day images and will add them to posts here on my blog as they may be of use to others who are travelling the same learning curve.

Looking at the Browsers Toolbox

 

Looking at the Shared Resources Tab

 

Sometimes the Notes tab will have useful information
What would you find useful as a tip when starting to use a Promethean interactive whiteboard? Have you any tips to share? Please leave a comment.

 

World Read Aloud Day

Mrs SLeave a comment

World Read Aloud Day is on the 6th of March this year. Thanks Miss W for the links to this day that I came across from your latest post. It is a day to celebrate the power of words and is used to raise awareness of the need for all people to be able to read.

There are some suggestions for how you can participate in World Read Aloud Day here. If you would like to you can register your event so that the LitWorld group are aware of it and you can feel much more connected to groups all over the world.

Collecting a list of favourite read aloud titles from your class, their families and the staff at your school could be done via a Google Doc form. The results could then be published on a blog or school website. This would be a great resource for new parents.

Mem Fox has some very good information about the benefits of reading aloud on her website.

To list just one favourite read aloud would be impossible for me so here are five of mine:

Once I started searching the bookshelf a few more came to mind but I stopped at five to ask you – What are some of your favourite read aloud books? What is it that makes them your favourites?