Smart vs Promethean

[Dug]

Don't know if anyone else has seen the debate going on on the TES forum:
http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/list_threads.aspx?path=%2fearly+years%2f
You're looking for the 'Whiteboards' thread.
If the link doesn't work, Go to tes.co.uk and then staffroom then early years (under the Staff heading) then look at the 'Whiteboards' thread.
I don't know if any of you have used Smart but your views would be interesting.
(I know we're pretty much dyed in the wool here but...).

[Dug]

I suppose my point here is that one of Promethean's strengths is this very forum. Can you post a link to a similar smart forum for 'compare and contrast' purposes. :-)

[AirSkeeter]

Seabass,

This is a clearly biased forum because it is owned and operated by Promethean.

I would think that there would not be any question about that. I don't think that you will find us here bashing smart, it just isn't the total solution.

What works for you will not work for me, and vice versa.

Dug raises a point that a post of this type stay for long on the smart forum. As a matter of fact, not many folks use the smart forum....even smart users.

[myrtle]

there is also this debate going on...

http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=2217479&path=/Primary/&threadPage=1

[AirSkeeter]

I wouldn't come onto Prometheans forum and start saying how much i prefer SMART to Promethean

Actually you have done just that.

I just happen to prefer SMARTboards and their software

I am using ACTIVstudio and it is fine, but I prefer the microsoft office feel of Notebook, it's just easier to operate.

I'm sorry if I took your joking out of context, but these quotes at an earlier time put it into context as well.

Margaret has offered to get someone out to your school and get the driver situation sorted out, I would take her up on it.

[Dug]

Seabass, where do you find the time for all this evangelising? You seem to be all over the place at the same time. I hope you're on commission.

[AirSkeeter]

We are here to help, just don't come crashing in. I'm always willing to assist.

[Danny Nicholson]

Can you post a link to a similar smart forum for 'compare and contrast' purposes. :-)

Actually Dug, technically I dont think we are allowed to... When I directed a confused Smart user to an alternative forum the link was deleted. I think posting those links breaks the terms and conditions of the forum.

This forum is still the best place to come if you are a Promethean user - I always direct all my promethan trainees here. If you are a current user and want help and advice on Promethean boards and software then this is the place to come.

If you want to discuss the relative merits of all different kinds of board then its not really fair to come here to do it - an independant forum such as the TES one would be the place to do it.

[Dug]

Fair enough, Danny. That is perfectly reasonable.
Seabass, of course we will always help.fellow users. You will find this forum incredibly supportive.
Onwards and upwards!

[Phil Simpson]

Two things concern me:-

1. How heated the discussion can become between regulars on this usually friendly site although if this is simply a reflection of passion for a product and the profession in which it is used, all well and good.

2. As a layperson, I am always bemused when people say that our pen is too difficult to use and therefore SMART's finger or "marker pen" option is the better one. Children live in the real world and I genuinely sympathise with those with special needs which mean that they will go through their lives finding things more difficult than many. However "real pens" used in the real world resemble our pens far more than SMART's so children may feel our pens challenging at first but isn't everything in a child's development from crawling as a baby to A-levels as a young adult?

[daverosthorn]

Two things concern me:-

1. How heated the discussion can become between regulars on this usually friendly site although if this is simply a reflection of passion for a product and the profession in which it is used, all well and good.

2. As a layperson, I am always bemused when people say that our pen is too difficult to use and therefore SMART's finger or "marker pen" option is the better one. Children live in the real world and I genuinely sympathise with those with special needs which mean that they will go through their lives finding things more difficult than many. However "real pens" used in the real world resemble our pens far more than SMART's so children may feel our pens challenging at first but isn't everything in a child's development from crawling as a baby to A-levels as a young adult?

Good call.

[Cliff Farrand]

This forum is a Promethean forum and yes we are going to discuss the merits of what we believe to be the best interactive whiteboard and software - Promethean's - that's our right.

However we recognise our forum users also have rights and opinions, we should however stick to using this forum to support the use of Promethean products and software to enhance the learning environment. I would like to see less reactive comments to a users opinion - if a user thinks product A is better than Promethean then its their right to express it, however if the website forum is sponsored by Promethean then we do reserve the right to edit or remove any remarks which in our opinion is damaging to us.

I hope we never have to get to the stage where we have to monitor all forum messages for negative comments about us as well as covert messages supporting other vendors, lets stick to using this forum for its intended function - that to support all users of Promethean's solutions with help and advice and yes even problem solve the times when things go wrong as they do in all products and software.

Please take this message in the way intended, as forum administrator I want to keep this place a friendly supportive community of users, as mentioned in the messages above wider debate on benefits of various IWB products can occur in neutral forums - where you can feel free to express your views fully.

[Cliff Farrand]

I accept that your intentions are well meaning - I have not read anything you have posted that I would consider unacceptable.

Please continue to use the forum in the manner it is intended for - thats all I ask - thanks :)

[saha]

At my school , Norcross High School in the suburb of Atlanta, we are piloting 6 boards...from 3 vendors....Promethean, Polyvision and 3M.
Our media center has 2 smartboards. Our Tech ed dept has 2 smartboards.

I am the first person in the school to have the Promethean Board, thanks to a Promethean Enrichment grant.

BUT GUESS WHAT. The smartboards are gathering dust and rarely used.
The 3 teachers piloting the Promethean Board use the board 8 hours a day constantly and swear that they will have their wind knocked out of their board is taken away. I use my Promethean board 8 hours a day.

The other teachers using Polyvision and 3M boards dont have much to say about their boards, and are constantly amazed at what a Promethean Board can do !

Yes you can use a finger to write on a Polyvison board.....but guess what....teaching a class is much more than being able to write with your fingertips...........Promethean is way ahead of its competition!!

[Dave Harrington]

Going slightly off topic, what other forums do people use and like (educationally related of course)? I just discovered that Autograph has a forum - the replies for help seem quick but there isn't much debate going on.


Needless to say this is the best forum around [clap] - even if "some people" don't think the boards are the best:mad:
Dave Harrington

[Phil Simpson]

"The 3 teachers piloting the Promethean Board use the board 8 hours a day constantly and swear that they will have their wind knocked out of their board is taken away. I use my Promethean board 8 hours a day."

We get this all the time from conscientious teachers who realise that a Promethean Activboard has changed their teaching for the better.

[janimcdo]

Ok. This debate is just what I hoped would result. I need to use my Activboard more to possibly dispel this feeling, but after having used the Promethean product, I feel like a Lada driver switching to a Volvo. One question:

At home I have downloaded the ActivPlayer to continue my investigation before I start pushing for Promethean boards over Smart in my school district or at least the inclusion of their products and I was surprised to see the FL Studio come up when I downloaded music flipcharts. What's with that? It actually saved the downloaded flips as FLstudio files. My son has used Fruity Loops etc but is it connected with the software?

[AirSkeeter]

I must be missing something in the translation.... :(

[Daniel Turner]

It could be that the FL Studio uses the same Mime type as Activstudio or it has looked at the first two letters of the extension and downloaded it as FL rather than FLP.

The FLP file is essentially a zip file. Make sure you select flp as the file extension and it should be all ok.


Best Regards

Dan Turner

[paulellis]

... One question:

At home I have downloaded the ActivPlayer to continue my investigation before I start pushing for Promethean boards over Smart in my school district or at least the inclusion of their products and I was surprised to see the FL Studio come up when I downloaded music flipcharts. What's with that? It actually saved the downloaded flips as FLstudio files. My son has used Fruity Loops etc but is it connected with the software?

Don't confuse what Explorer, etc. says is the filetype with its actual format. All Windows uses is the file extension (the .flp). There are several programs that use .flp including Macromedia Flash, Fruityloops, GIFLine, Family Lawyer and Promethean. Only one will be registered with Windows to start when you double click it in Explorer and that is the one Windows reports as the file's type. You can see and change the list by using Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options and then look on the File Types tab.

Paul

[seabass]

Or just right click on the file and choose opens with, select the program you want then choose always choose the selected program to open this type of file.

[janimcdo]

Thank you all for clearing up the FLP file extension and my 'accidental' Fruity Loops' appearance. Another question:

I used Activboard for first time today and found the pen ackward. I found I had to slow down my click and I kept hitting the right click button. Do you have students, say 5 to 9 years of age using the board a lot? Or, would you say that your students use the tablets more and the teacher uses/works at the board most?

[AirSkeeter]

Teachers use the slate and children board and slate.

If you find that yoy are having problems right clicking too much, you can go to the tool store and drag the button to your toolbar that looks like a mouse. When selected, it disables the right click.

You will find that with more practice, you will be able to avoid the right click. It just takes a few times.

Good Luck...

[Dug]

I didn't know that about disabling the right click. This is very helpful as our 3-6 year olds do occasionally send the pentray to the top of the screen with inadvertant rt clicks. On the whole, regular usres (kids and adults) very soon get used to the 'click' of the pen.

[AirSkeeter]

Dug,

Always willing to help expand your AS2 IQ. :)

[Alison]

I work with infants (4-7 year olds) mostly and they're fine once you've explained not to click the little button. If you're out of design mode, there's not that much they can do anyway. Also, if they do inadvertantly move the toolbars they're very adept at simply going to the computer and using the mouse to right click it back! +wave+

[Margaret Allen]

Hi Alison....

Happy Birthday to you H a p p y B i r t h d a y t o y o u [clap] [clap] [clap]

Best Wishes

Margaret

[Alison]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Thank youuuuuuu!!!! +wave+

Just had a staff meeting (On my birthday!! :eek: ) and it was all on assessment and learning. Been telling them about some of the new features on AP, such as the sticky note & the tickertape. Cue 'ooohs' and some very excited teachers!