Just recently I mentioned that Promethean had released the beta version of their IWB software, Activsoftware Inspire Edition. Like others, I’ve started to have a play around (Chris Betcher seems to be putting the software through its paces).  Here’s just a few things I’ve noticed that I like the look of:

Did someone give you a SMART Notebook file to view or use?  Whereas you had to previously resort to the SMART Notebook viewer, you can now import the notebook into a flipchart.

Some very common flipchart activities are now available as a quick menu selection, saving you finding the resources in the library to put them together.

Being a Year 1 teacher, I use the hundred chart fairly regularly in Mathematics lessons.  Once I choose “100 chart” from the menu, this dialog box appears for me to make my selection.

Finally, something I have been hanging out for.  Previously I’ve been frustrated, wondering why I can’t simply insert images, etc. in a similar way to Office documents (after all, it is pretty easy and straightforward).  Well now you can, with the Insert Media option.  Not only images, but sound, video and more.

Now it is really quick and easy to insert media files directly into a flipchart page.

I’m sure (in fact I know) there are many new features, but there were the first to grab my attention.  I look forward to using it some more.

Promethean has made the announcement at the BETT 2009 show in London that a brand new version of their IWB software is now available for preview.

Called Activsoftware Inspire Edition, it can now be downloaded my registered users (it’s free) from Promethean Planet. It’s a huge download though (it’s still not 50% done on my computer yet), so those with download limits at home may want to wait to download it at school.  The download is a trial prior to the official release in March

Promethean reports that it is a complete rewrite of its former products, Activstudio (which we use) and Activprimary, so it will be interesting to see what it can do and how it improves on its predecessors.

Our favourite social bookmarking site, Delicious, has a brand new look.  There’s a few new features, and it all looks a bit more modern.  A bit of exploring will see you discover what’s new in the product lineup.

While you’re there, make sure that you check our staff delicious page.  Judy’s forever stocking it up with fantastic new links.

We’ve been using delicious at St. Michael’s for some time now, putting together quite a collection of web resources (mostly from Judy’s hard work and initiative).  Now using delicious is even easier.

Users of other web browsers such as Firefox have had this for a while now; now Internet Explorer users (such as most of the staff and students at St. Michael’s… at least at school) can download and install a delicious sidebar.

The good news and a download link can be found at the delicious blog.

Basically, you can browse your tags and bookmarks, and easily post new bookmarks within the browser; that is, without going to the delicious website.  It makes things much easier to post as you go, and makes delicious a tool you use far more frequently from my experience.  So give it a go.

Last Monday saw the return of Multimedia Monday for 2008.  With a small group in attendance, we were able to tailor things to suit the participants, such as exploring the Internet resources that Judy’s drawn together to support our Term 2 units and uploaded to our grade and staff del.icio.us pages.

I know a number of people have ideas for what they’d like to learn on Multimedia Monday, but we haven’t had any suggestion forms in the box yet, so fill one in this week!

This week, there are two options:

1. Learning the ins and outs of printing to our new colour copier
2. Making a start with using the online application, VoiceThread

VoiceThread is an exciting tool that we’re looking with at the moment with Harlane.  Eager to try her hand with some podcasting in her classroom, we’re now looking at VoiceThread as it’s multimodal, allowing our students to integrate images, voice, sound, text and more.  We’re getting prepared for using it with 5P, so maybe you’d like to try giving it a go too.

Below you’ll find a video from Chris Betcher, teacher and voice behind the podcast The Virtual Staffroom, which provides a short introduction to VoiceThread.

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

You may have seen in the news today that Microsoft launched a new product due for release later this year – Microsoft Surface. From what little I’ve seen of it… imagine a large, table-top touch screen computer.

It seems that it would make things very easy to use, and the clear touch-pad technology is now out there (we’ll also be seeing it on Apple’s iPhone when it comes out) to make new things like this possible.

I wouldn’t be expecting one to roll out into a classroom too soon, though. Some reactions over the net, and even some of the potential use scenarios depicted by Microsoft suggest that it could be a product famous (for a while, at least) for its novelty value.