Activstudio 2 compared to Activstudio 1

[clappertong]

I have used AS1 for several years and was eager to get AS2. I have been using it for a few weeks but am thinking of going back to AS1. There seem to be so many things that I could quickly do in AS1 that take me time to do in AS2 or I cannot work out how to do them at all.
For example I like to have a digital clock with the date permanantly on my board. I can do this in AS2 but it is so big that it gets in the way. There is a large space that only contains the Pause button. I have tried making the space smaller, making the clock smaller or getting rid of the space and/pause button but without success. Also, I used the use the "draw a straight line" a great deal. Does AS2 have one? There are so many other things but that will do for now. Maybe I am missing something but if anyone could help I would be grateful.
PS. Is anyone else as disappointed with AS2 as I am?
Gary

[Rob Radcliffe]

I have tried the clock - it doesn't appear that big, and fits neatly into the corner on my screen.

As for the straight line, you can right click on the pen tool, and that gives you the option of horizontal or vertical lines, and several other kinds of lines. Alternatively you could use the shared lines in the resources library.

I think AS2 is a very powerful piece of software - however if you have used AS1 for a long time, it does take some getting used to doing some things in a slightly different way.

[sartley]

I understand a little about what you mean with the clock - the space where the Pause button is is where the date would be if you select that "Show date" as one of the clock settings, so you can't make it any smaller.
However, I have to agree with Rob - I've used both AS1 and AS2 and regard AS2 as far superior. Yes, it takes a bit of getting used to, but far from being disappointed, I think it's brilliant. Post other questions here - I'm sure there are a number of "enthusiasts" who will be happy to help.

[Margaret Allen]

I think it is always hard to take on board (no pun intended!) something new, especially when you have felt so comfortable with AS1. BUT I do think you would be missing out if you were to revert to AS1.

I notice that you are a primary school, can I complicate things even more by asking if you have considered ACTIVprimary??

It isn't clear where you are situated but there are a number of effective practice events happening around the country, and it might be possible for you to go along to one of them.

http://www.promethean.co.uk/index.htm
top right hand corner of the screen

Alternatively with your hands on support money have you considered some training?

AS2 has soooooooo many features that are not present in AS1. If you have KS1 users in your school AP is more appropriate.

I have probably given you more than you wanted.

BUT am keen to help if I can?

[Peter Lambert]

Incidentally, the Pause button size is being reduced in the next update to be the II symbol, so it will be much smaller.

[Margaret Allen]

Hi

Sorry things are not as you had hoped. It is just worth checking that you are on the latest build....

http://www.promethean.co.uk/support/studio2.htm.

I think it is great that the forum is beginning to get used more too......

I have always believed that this is the most powerful way to support people remotely. If you are asking a question then there will always be others who need it answered too.

I always used to say that to my children. :D

[Foulds]

Hi
It is interesting to see the forum hotting up, up in Scotland we started back Aug 23rd, I have been banging my head off a wall since then, everything seems harder in AS2. I think things are improving, I was very used to AS1 and partly wished I had never seen it, as AS2 is so different it is almost a different package.
It does have many features that are useful I have been building up a presentation using images clipped from a PDF and moving them around in the page selector and page organiser, that works nicely.
Using stored images off the toolbar doesn't work well at all and my resources side window isn't functioning and crashes my PC on a regular basis.
I am waiting for the next build and hoping for some big improvements aimed at easing use for the teacher in the classroom.

[Foulds]

Hi
Your URL gives a 404, I think it should be
http://www.promethean.co.uk/products/activstudio2.htm
That page does not give a build, mine is 2(build 307), you must have a database of users can you not email them when new builds are available.

[Rob Radcliffe]

The url Margaret gave is in fact correct - apart from the full stop after the .htm, ie

http://www.promethean.co.uk/support/studio2.htm

This will give you the latest build, but I think 307, which you have, is the latest!

It would be very unwieldy, I think, to try to email every user individually - an announcement here on the board would suffice for me (I think this usually happens, but can't remember!) :rolleyes:

[Tiggermet]

AS2 is definitely better than AS1 because it includes many of the features that make Activprimary such as a strong alternative to Activstudio 1, particularly in the primary school environment.

There are so many great improvements to list but the desktop overlay option in AS2 is a fantastic improvement on AS1. This allows for annotations to be made over the top of numeracy ITP’s or other Flash interactive teaching programs such as primary games. This has really improved the interactive nature of our numeracy lessons as we can still use the select tool to pick through the acetate and operate the underlying flash application without losing the children’s ideas or calculations.

I hope the members of the forum who are disappointed with AS2 stick with it because once you have mastered the different ways that you have to do things, you really start to understand the power enhancements it can give to your teaching. graemlins/cloud9.gif

[Margaret Allen]

You may be interested to learn that it is intended to add this feature (desktop overlay) to ACTIVprimary in the near future. graemlins/wave.gif

[Michele Horsburgh]

At first I also didn't like ACTIVStudio2. But now I love it. It does far more and allows me to illustrate new teaching points more effectively than in AS1. When I have had to use AS1 for one reason or another I can't believe how limiting it is, compared to AS2.