ActivInspire

At first glance it may look like the student on the left is texting on his phone during class, but he's actually texting on task.  Students in Mr. Van Bloem's AP English class at Walkersville High School are using Promethean ActivExpressions to complete a practice test on George Washington.

Class started today with each student receiving their own ActivExpression registered to their name, a copy of a reading about George Washington, and a paper version of a multiple choice test.  After reading the selection and completing the test on paper, answers are then entered into the ActivExpression.  Mr. Van Bloem's computer collects all the responses, which students submit at their own pace, and a bar graph keeping track of their progress is displayed on the screen.

Once the test is completed the students will receiver their individual scores as well as a chance to review any of the questions for which they entered incorrect answers.  Final scores are also tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet for easy grade collection.

Walkersville High School Science Department is always looking for new technology to improve instruction and engage students.  Under the direction of WHS Science Teacher and Technology Coordinator Nus Hism, the teachers have been using MacIntosh computer stations, ActivSlates, and a variety of software to enhance the curriculum.

Today we reviewed "3 Ways to Use An ActivSlate in Science"
1.  Use it as a mouse to control your computer from anywhere in the room and "annotate over desktop" at any time
2.  Import .pdf files into flipcharts so you can mark-up and manipulate the same papers you'd normally use with the document camera
3.  Download pre-made flipcharts from www.prometheanplanet.com

Click here to download and check out the ActivInspire flipchart we used!

Or check out one of the flipcharts from Promethean Planet used as examples in the list below.
 

Students may accidentally resize objects when trying to click and drag them across the board. Removing marquee handles is helpful to avoid having this problem.

Follow the directions below to remove them from objects.  Be sure to save these settings under profile you have named appropraitely for students.

1. Click File>Settings>Command tab.
2. In the second dropdown menu, select "Marquee Handles."  Now go back to the first dropdown menu and select "Marquee Handles."
3. Select the first option "Stretch Top" or "Stretch Top Left."
4. Click the "Remove" button.
5. Repeat the "Remove" process for each of the marquee handle options. (See the picture below.)

6.  I usually leave the "Freely Move Objects" icon.  When ready to save, click on the icon with the disk and pencil = "Save Profile As."
7.  Save under a name that you will remember to use for students.  Click "Done" when finished.

Presented by:

Kelly Kirby = kelly.kirby@fcps.org (Pinterest)
Michael Hakkarinen = michael.hakkarinen@fcps.org (Livescribe and Pixie)
Cristina Runkles = cristina.runkles@fcps.org (Livescribe and ActivInspire 1.6 Features)

Agenda

o 4:30-4:55 – Whole-Group in Staff Development - Livescribe

o 5:00-5:45 – First Session – ActivInspire, Pixie, Pinterest breakout sessions in labs

o 5:50 – 6:35 – Second Session - ActivInspire, Pixie, Pinterest breakout sessions in labs

o 6:40-7:25 – Third Session - ActivInspire, Pixie, Pinterest breakout sessions in labs

o 7:25-7:30 – Online evaluation
 

ActivInspire 1.6 Features Resources: 

o Instructional Flipchart for this evening

o ActivInspire TRT Page - Resources and Tutorials

o Updating your School Computer to ActivInspire 1.6

o Embedding HTML into ActivInspire 1.6

Dynamic Paper is a new online application from NCTM Illuminations and worth checking out if you teach math.  As quoted on their website,

Equation Editor

1.  To open the 'Equation Editor,' select 'Insert'.

2.  Select 'Equation'.

3.  Click on the page where you wish to insert the equation. The 'Equation Editor' will open. Choose the desired equation symbols and templates.  Click OK to add the equation to your flipchart page.

4.  To edit an existing equation, with the 'Equation Editor' tool selected click on the equation or double-click on it with the 'Select' tool.

Try creating the following sample equation: 

1.  Select 'Insert' and 'Equation.'

2.  Type 'V' in the space provided.

3.  To insert a fraction click on the template indicated.  Enter 4 for the numerator and 3 for the denominator. 

4.  To insert another symbol click to the right of the fraction.

5.  Click on the template indicated to insert a pi symbol.

6.  To insert the power symbol click on the template indicated. In each box type in 'r' and '2'.

7.  Click Ok to add the equation to your flipchart page.

Tip:  Reuse your equations!  If you use a certain equation a lot or derivations of that equation, save it in your Resource Browser by dragging it into My Resources.  When you need the equation, you can drag it out from My Resources to your flipchart page.  Edit the equation by double-clicking on it. 

Page Extender tool

1.  To open the 'Page Extender' tool, go to 'View'.

2.  Select 'Page Extender'.

3.  The tool is displayed at the bottom of the flipchart page but can be moved to any position.  Click on the 'Page Extender' tool and the current page is extended by 10 percent. The 'Page Extender' can be used multiple times on one flipchart page.  Use the scroll bar on the right side of the flipchart page to view more of the flipchart. 

Original Flipchart Page with Page Extender tool:

Flipchart Page After Clicking on the Page Extender:

4.  To close the tool, go to 'View.'

5.  Select 'Page Extender'.

Draw Shape from Center

In ActivInspire, when you use the 'Shape' tool, shapes are created by dragging from the top left.

In ActivInspire 1.6, you can change this setting so that shapes are created from the center.

1.  Go to 'File'.

2.  Select 'Settings'.

3.  In the 'Edit Profiles' window select 'Tools'.

4.  Under 'Shape Tool' click on the drop-down menu.

5.  Select 'Center'.

6.  Click 'Done'.

Notice how when you choose a shape it is created by dragging from the center.

Drawing a shape using right-click will override what has been selected in Settings. Note: This setting applies to all shapes.