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.

USB Flash Drive

Originally uploaded by Ambuj Saxena

Following my recent post, I’m now pleased that I received delivery of my new flip ultra video camera on Friday.

So why does this post have a picture of a USB flash drive?  Because it has everything to do with what I’m now going to do with my flip ultra.  The children in the class have speeches to present in the next couple of weeks (it’s an annual, whole-school initiative).  Mine will be the first class where the students’ presentations are recorded (using the flip).

This will not only provide us with a record of the speech to support our assessment data, but I’ll also be sending home each child with their speech on a USB flash drive.  The parents can then see exactly how their child went, and even copy the file to their home computer.

Now yes, I know, this could be very easily posted to the web in this Web 2.0 world.  We could even provide password-restricted access to them if we wanted.  We have given the parents some access to the Web 2.0 world this year, with our class’ homework blog, Travelling Trevor.

This project, however, may help to ease our parents in a little at a time rather than confront them in a huge way.  The way I intend it at present, it’s all pretty easy and non-threatening – play it on your computer, praise your child, save a copy if you want, and send the stick back to school.  Next term, I intend (with some colleagues from other grades who also attended the IWB conference), to prepare a much more technologically-rich learning unit with a digital portfolio as part of the deal.

So, for the rest of this term, I might work bit by bit to lead them up to that.

For me, this is my 2nd IWB conference, the first being two years ago at Castle Hill when we knew little of the tool and were looking forward to installing our first one in the library.  I’ve now worked with an IWB for about a year.

The hope for myself then, is that I can take myself further and go away with ideas to use the IWB to encourage even deeper and more effective learning in my classroom, rather than get the starters (although that’s where my colleagues are at, and we’re taking some different workshops accordingly).

I also hope that this conference is also about more than just the board.  Castle Hill was great two years ago because it had a broad spectrum of content that looked at a range of applications of technology in the classroom.  It was in a workshop led by John Pearce at that conference that I signed up to Edublogs and started up what is now Learning Curve (it didn’t have such a catchy title then; which means you’re now thinking “good grief, what on earth was it?  Surely it couldn’t have been worse!”).  I was introduced to blogs, wikis and podcasts – things I have used since and seen the difference they’ve made in the classroom.

Finally, I hope I can continue to stregthen existing, and make some new connections out of this experience.  I’ve already met up with colleagues I was introduced to at Castle Hill, and hope to meet some more people sharing the same journey.  The networks are what really helps us as professionals in feeling supported, encouraged and motivated; not to mention broadening and extending our own learning.

I was alterted this week to the March 2008 survey results for the Top 100 Tools for Learning via Judy O’Connell.

Here are my quick, initial observations (I’m sure I’d have more given the time):

• Really pleased that del.icio.us is #1
• Really pleased that I use 9 of the top 10 (sorry Skype!  I might get there one day)
• It’s good that the list is a top 100 and not a top 10; simply because there are so many good tools from 10 down that to only do a top 10 would be an injustice
• Facebook slid from equal 17th to equal 28th.  Am I surprised?  Not really; I know my interest in it has waned somewhat
• Every Microsoft Office Application, yes every Microsoft Office Application has slid down the list…
  Word was 10th, now equal 22nd
  Excel was equal 22nd, now equal 48th
  PowerPoint was 5th, now 7th
  Publisher and Access don’t get a look in

  I think this says something about a decreasing reliance on these apps for learning, especially given the multitude of Web 2.0 tools (just scan the top 100 list) and the rise of online work products such as Google Docs and Zoho (11th and equal 36th respectively)

• Finally, one can’t ignore how many of these Top 100 tools are free.  Software developers take note: school budgets are tight.  Thanks to Web 2.0, etc., your products inspire very cheaply-available replicas.  There are also many other exciting products out there that you can’t buy off the shelf.  Teachers will keep looking for cheap, exciting and useful tools to maximise learning.

I made my humble contribution to the discussion in the comments, but also offer this funny reflection on PowerPoint use.  I must use this one day with the teachers at my school to hopefully get some minds ticking over in a humorous way.

This week, a new cohort of trainees begins shadowing the existing team in preparation for their start next year.  Being at a fairly nearby school today, our current trainee, Nathan brought the new trainee who’s shadowing him around to meet everyone.

So Nathan walks him into my classroom – meet the learning technology coordinator.  By absolute fluke, here were thirteen computers in my room, with pairs of students at each one, completing their slide shows to communicate their knowledge of simple machines.  Every computer was functioning.  Every student was working.  Our new trainee (at least for the rest of the year) got a very quick idea of how we like to put the system he’ll maintain and manage into action.

And they say that first impressions…?

While this conversation took place, the evolution of using technology for learning continued.  We’ve developed clearer understandings of why we use computer-based technologies in our classrooms in the first place, and the technology skills are increasingly becoming an intrinsic part of the bigger picture of learning.

So what skills do teachers still need to possess and develop?  Do they need to be competent in word processing, spreadsheets, Web 2.0, etc., or do we expect more?

The Department of Education in Victoria offers an epotential Continuum that allows teachers to assess their technology use for teaching and learning across several key areas, and offers ideas and resources for improvement.  Unfortunately most of it is locked away under passwords, but it still could be useful for identifying needs for professional learning.  I like how it provides a “bigger picture” approach rather than “pigeon-holing” skill development into types of software (e.g. database, email) or specific tools (e.g. digital cameras, data projectors).