smart board

[kaoyang]

Hi everyone.

 

We just received our grant and we're going to purchase some. 5k for three classroom setup. I'll just want a feel of what people has used and what has worked and didn't work. Looking for feedback on tech support, warranty, ease of use, teacher curriculum/lesson plans, features. Looking into mobile board as it'll have to be moved around.

 

Some of the brands I'm looking into are: Smart, Numonic and Promethean.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

KY.

Edited October 6, 2009 by kaoyang

[Edu-IT]

We use Smart, great products in my opinion and I cannot fault the email support. When they're used to their full potential I think they're ideal for the classroom.

[laserblazer]

I was about to say I could let you have a trolley for a portable Smartboard and then I saw your location. We've been using Smartboards for nearly 10 years now, with very few problems.

[FN-GM]

I have used Smart and Promethean. I will use Smart all the way. I have never ever had a problem with a Smartboard itself. I have had 4 Promethean die on me. Teachers seem to like Smart better than Promethean as well.

 

With smart i like the idea that you can use it without a pen and you have all the colour pens there and you just pickup the colour you want. I also find Smart software better to use and easier to install.

[t_h]

Another vote for Smart. The software doesn't cause me any major headaches and I'm always quite impressed with how robust the Smartboards themselves are.

[SimpleSi]

When my schools 1st started off with interactive whiteboards, they also had them on trolleys with non-fixed projectors.

 

This wasn't a good idea

 

Pick places where it will get the best use - better to put in a classroom with a teacher that wants to/will use one than in a communal area that everyone dabbles in.

 

Smartboards can have calibration issues but are generally considered better/easier to use (as they are most similiar to normal whiteboards) than others.

 

regards

 

Simon

[Cache]

We've had this discussion fairly recently after deciding to replace one of our existing boards of another brand and eventually decided to go with Smart over Promethean. In the end to use there wasn't much difference other then I'd used Smart before but not promethean, although that wasn't a big consideration, the main one being that in our area the majority of schools used Smart so it would probably be easier for staff to grab resources to use if need be.

 

Saying that, we must have had a dodgy batch of boards as 3 failed within a week, but hats off to Steljes that after running through the usual diags they came out and replaced all 3 the following day after it was decided there wasn't anything else I could do.

[enjay]

We use Smart here - the finger-control rather than having to use a pen is a definite plus, as the batteries in the pens run out or get removed, or the pens get lost. If a teacher loses all their fingers they have greater things to worry about!

 

The software installs beautifully across the network, and is licensed for staff and students to install at home meaning lessons can be prepared at home, and even homework set using it.

 

I don't have any experience of the mobile ones, but I can imagine that the added hassle of setting them up would mean they wouldn't get used so much (or mean that you'll be constantly setting them up!).

 

When we first got ours, we put them in open/communal rooms rather than one specific teacher's room, which with hindsight (always 20/20) I think was the wrong decision, and we should have given them to one teacher to reallyl get to grips with and then train their colleagues.

 

I'd love to know where you're getting 3 boards for 5k from, especially since you're presumably talking USD. We pay around £2500 for one...

[enjay]

Also, if you're a Primary, then I would recommend spending the extra few hundred on the height-adjustable ones, as they make it much easier for 3-foot pupils and 6-foot teacher to use it together.

[SimpleSi]

and is licensed for ... students to install at home

 

I didn't know that - are you sure?

 

regards

 

Simon

[pritchardavid]

why would you need to install it across the network? and let students take the software home too?

 

You make the students do the work on Microsoft Office etc, there is no need for students to be using expect only when using the borad in the classroom, thats connected to the teachers laptop

 

 

I just dont get why you install it on the network for?

[Cache]

I didn't know that - are you sure?

 

regards

 

Simon

 

Smart have a Student edition of Smart Notebook available now: SMART - SMART Notebook Student Edition

[timbo343]

I didn't know that - are you sure?

 

regards

 

Simon

 

This is true, as long as you own a smartboard product you can install install it on any machine... have a read of the License agreement when you install Smart Notebook V10, though this is the First license agreement ive printed off and highlighted. When I get in tomorrow, ill post what it says.

 

Tim

[enjay]

why would you need to install it across the network? and let students take the software home too?

So that people can prepare resources from any PC in the school or at home, rather than have to work in their classroom.

 

You make the students do the work on Microsoft Office

What if their homework is to create a Notebook file on a particular topic?

 

there is no need for students to be using expect only when using the borad in the classroom

Just because you can't see the need doesn't mean there isn't one.

[enjay]

Yes, I'm sure it can be used at home:

 

2.2(a)******* Licence Restrictions.* For so long as End User owns SMART Product, End User may Use the Software (i) on an unlimited number of computers owned and controlled by End User; and (ii) if End User has employees, consultants, or students on an unlimited number of computers that may be personally owned by End User’s employees, consultants, or students for so long as they continue to be End User’s employees, consultants or students.

[gshaw]

Another one for Smart here, notebook software is very good as well

[p858snake]

why would you need to install it across the network? and let students take the software home too?

Because not everyone installs everything on their SOE images and only want it on certain locations or to save space in their images.

 

You make the students do the work on Microsoft Office etc, there is no need for students to be using expect only when using the borad in the classroom, thats connected to the teachers laptop

Because not all schools use the teachers laptops for the smart boards and teachers don't/aren't always at the same system so they wont always have the application.

[teddybear]

We're probably 95% promethean and the other smart boards.

 

I've never been called to a problem with the smart boards, they just work!

 

Promethean on the otherhand.....

[witch]

I have one school with Smart, one with Promethean. The Smart boards rarely cause trouble---but the prometheans - forever going wrong and losing their grip on anything.

Smart every time!

This question has been asked before, if you search the forums you may find more useful info

[BaccyNet]

I've installed the SMART software on all teacher computers here, regardless of if they have an iwb or not. Some of my teachers use the software with a wireless mouse or graphics tablet, thus they are able to share resources with their iwb colleagues.

 

We have gone completly SMART here as well. Their tech support were fantastic both times I've needed to use them. Its also handy that they are USB powered meaning one less power socket wherever you have them installed.

[kaoyang]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

 

Decided to go with SMART. Our four boards just came in yesterday and I was able to unpack, install it fairly quickly with the mobile stand. As for the software and drivers, it installed with no problems. Haven't got any errors yet with the software. One teacher with experience is using it already. The kids love it!

 

I'll say I'm happy so far from the technical view.

 

KY.