Interactive whiteboard/touchscreen software recommendations

[AV-Tech2]

I'm looking for recommendations for hardware-agnostic interactive whiteboard software.

 

Our current situation: Most of our classrooms currently have Hitachi whiteboards installed, running their Starboard software (I know they've now sold it off). As classroom projectors reach end of life, we're likely to replace with touchscreens. We don't want to get tied down to a particular brand; this is a very long term project and we don't want to find ourselves up a dead end.

 

What we absolutely can't do is buy Brand X screens with their own software one year and then Brand Y with their own different software the following year and end up with different classrooms having totally different user experiences. What we'd like to be able to do is roll out one standard piece of software across all existing and future classrooms that will work on older interactive touchscreens as well as new touchscreens.

 

We had a very unsuccessful trial of Oktopus on our first batch of touchscreens - the teachers hated it. We replaced that with Hero which they're getting on a little better with. Those using Starboard in the older classrooms get on OK with that but there isn't currently a site licence option available for that.

 

I'd love to be able to say "Here's a list of the features that the teachers want in their interactive software" but that's not something I've ever been able to get out of them. Unhelpful I know!

 

Smart and Promethean are not in the running because of their licensing arrangements.

 

It seems like there's a huge gap in the market for a standardised piece of software available on a site licensed basis but I've yet to find anything suitable.

 

Can you recommend anything?

[fiza]

Never used it myself but EasiTeach?

 

RM Easiteach ? Whole-class teaching whiteboard software for schools

[chazzy2501]

We just standardised by using Powerpoint works on all IWB can easily be edited etc. Annotation tools during a powerpoint or even making blank powerpoint on which to annotate.

[christhetech]

We're currently working on getting some Genee G-Touch purchased and installed over the Summer. We did look at a number of different models and the one that the teaching staff here decided that they liked the best was the Genee 4K model. I would have been quite happy to go with the standard HD models, but SLT wanted 4K for futureproofing. When we got them in for demos, I got a few of the more difficult teaching staff to sit in on the demos and in a couple of cases got the manufacturer to leave a unit with us for a few days to trial. The Genee unit got the vote simply because the teachers loved the inbuilt software on it and found it really easy to use.

 

Obviously, everybody will have their own personal preferences, so I would sit down with a few of the decision makers before pulling the trigger and tell them that you are going to request a number of demos before investing in a particular brand/model and request some buy-in from the SLT when it comes to getting the staff involved in the demos, as ultimately they will be the ones who give you the most grief if the project goes pear shaped and they find issues with the day to day use. Take into account the other aspects such as the software licensing model, the long term support and the warranty offering. Some manufacturers offer 3 years, others 5 years onsite.

Get yourself engaged with a reseller and let them do all of the donkey work, getting demos set up, negotiating discounts with manufacturers etc, then once you have settled on a particular brand, then shop around for best pricing. I can recommend one or two of the resellers that I deal with quite regularly. They are always really helpful, understand what we need and don't get all stroppy when we start asking for a number of demos, they are just keen to help wherever they can. A good reseller can also give you a few pointers when it comes to squeezing manufacturers on pricing. Most manufacturers will ask who they are up against and pitch their pricing accordingly. Resellers know what they can get from different manufacturers and will help you with that side of things.

[altecsole]

Any suggestions for Genee resellers?

[christhetech]

Any suggestions for Genee resellers?

 

I've PM'd you details of a contact that I have.

[sfinley]

Can you tell me if your teachers have had issues with the StarBaords? My teachers say they don't stay calibrated and that when running a PPT on the board, it changes the PPT on the computer. I think that these are software issues but the teachers want them replaced.

Thanks for any insight.

 

Susan

[yac2016]

I've PM'd you details of a contact that I have.

 

I would be worried about buying Genee products...you sure they will be around in the next couple of years?

[robyholmes]

Have a look at Prowise Presenter

https://www.prowise.com/en/presenter-software/

[SamanthaD]

Are you on Windows 10? Microsoft Ink and the Whiteboard app work quite well!

[mikemcsharry]

Interested in the Microsoft Ink feature. I have a requirement where the screens are from Samsung and include built in annotation. Problem we have is that the teacher needs to use screens with a package like netop or lanschool.

This means that what they draw / mark / annotate over a programme they are demonstrating needs to feed back to their screens, the samsung stuff is running on a captive CPU so doesn't talk with the actual PC screen.

[mikemcsharry]

Hi Sam - quick question- where do I find the whiteboard app and ink?

[mavhc]

App store https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/microsoft-whiteboard/9mspc6mp8fm4?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab