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Ask Slashdot: Alternate Software For Use On Smartboards?

Posted by timothy on from the if-they're-smart-they-can-write-it-themselves dept.

SmarterThanMe (1679358) writes Teacher here, you can call me Mr. SmarterThanMe. I have a fancy smartboard installed in my room. Smartboards allow me to show students a whole range of other stuff other than just whatever I'm writing. I can prepare instructions and activities before the lesson and just move through the boards. I can pull up some students' work and display it through the projector. I can bring up some stimulus for use in a writing task. So much better than blackboards. Except the software that comes bundled with this particular brand of smartboard is ridiculously clunky. Without naming this particular piece of software, and highlighting its shortfalls, has anyone got any suggestions on alternatives (open source or otherwise)? The main features that I'd like are:
  • Handwriting recognition
  • The ability to make and use templates
  • Grids or guides or *something* to be able to teach measurement

I have gold star stickers for any good suggestions.

3 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What advice can I offer? by webmistressrachel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Believe it or not, I sincerely believe that this introduction was his way of eating the humble pie, in advance - prostrating himself at our altar and asking for help. We should give him a break!

    --
    This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
  2. Re:Ditch the smartboard by edremy · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Don't diss the Surface Pro. Yes, it is *absolutely* a better solution. No, you can't replace it with an iPad- the iPad is like fingerpainting compared to the fine detail you get on a Surface. And why would you want to buy an additional Wacom tablet when the Surface uses a Wacom digitzer in the first place? You can write directly on the Surface rather than trying to master the blind writing skill you need with an external tablet. And if there's a tablet+pen interface better than OneNote on a Mac or Linux let me know, because I've yet to see it.

    We've been buying more and more of them lately simply because they work so bloody well for this sort of task.

    /Waiting for the "Troll" downmods I get everytime I mention that they are far nicer than most people realize.

    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
  3. Re:What advice can I offer? by dreamchaser · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's called 'Ask Slashdot' for a reason. What better group of people to ask than a group of geeks with diverse backgrounds? It's attitudes like yours that keep people from asking for help when they need it.