May 3 – May 7

With the clicker tutorial and video prepared in the last two weeks, I mainly designed my Flash site for this week. I have not used flash for a long time and it is really a good chance for me to refresh memory and learn more about it. Here is the link and feel free to provide any comments or suggestions. Thanks. Link to flash site: http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w742726/fun_with_clickers/main.swf

April 26 – April 30

I started this week with the joint project with David in introducing the functions of ActivExpressions (clickers) as well as the tutorials of detailed steps of using the clickers. I installed the Camtasia in our computer and tried to use it to produce the tutorial. But the frustrating thing is that the poll tool (also called the wonder wheels) can not be recorded in the screen no matter how hard I tried. Then I used another free software, Jing, which is also developed by TechSmith company and it finally worked. David really contributed a lot to the project by putting on the narrations and it sounds great. David is also quite a professional in videotaping. Great thanks to him. I listed the our video tutorials below. I am still working on the flash site to combine what we have and hope to show to you next week.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

April 19 – April 23

For this week, I am still working on the Fun with Promethean ActivExpression Clickers project. Based on the project goal and approaches David and I discussed earlier, we decided to set up a Flash website with an introduction to the ActivExpression Clickers. I will design a website including all the detailed tutorials accompanied by the videos and pictures prepared by David. We will also use Camtasia to capture each step in the tutorials. On Thursday, I also reased and reinstalled the two MAC computers in the office. The tutorial I prepared for the project can be viewed at the following link and any suggestion is greatly appreciated:
http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w742726/Fun_with_Promethean_ActivExpression_Clickers.pdf

April 12 – April 16

For this week, I worked on the “Fun with Promethean Clickers” project with David and we had some preliminary ideas about how the project would be conducted. Also the new Smart Board arrived on Thursday while I was in the front desk and I helped to settle it down in our production lab. The following are some detailed discussions about our project. Great thanks to David for setting a great foundation.

Brief description of project: This presentation is an assimilation of the necessary steps undertaken to set up active board clickers used with the Promethean.

Project Goal: The audience will be informed on the simple process of setting up the clickers in active board. Presentation addresses design implications, technical setup and use of the clickers in record time.

Audience benefit: This piece will create an understanding of the clickers use and the approaches in design, theoretical underpinnings, and the meaningful context of the Instructional Unit for the evaluators, and the general public interested in the constructive use of the promethean.

Target audience: Pre-service teachers, General Public interested in SmartBoard technologies

What are the topic areas: (a)The Pitch, see how easy to setup; (b) clicker Overview; (c) Implementation and Experiences [Lessons Learnt]; (d) FAQs.

Approach: Impromptu PoV camerawork; Animation, Project Graphics; Adobe Macromedia Flash

April 5 – April 9

For this week, I installed Adobe software in the two PC computers in the production lab and also learned how to connect the videorecorder with the Smart Board. For the comparison between Promethean Board and Smart Board, please see the table below:

Similarities	Promethean Board & Smart Board
	Both are interactive and user-friendly whiteboards;
	Both require quite a bit of staff training to enable people to use them well;
	Both have teacher support forum, communities, file sharing site, resources, support and training;
	Both have much more robust software with many more options, functions, and capabilities;
Differences	Promethean Board	Smart Board
Standard sizes	48, 64, 78 inches;	48, 64, 77, and 94 inches;
Hard/Soft	The Promethean ActivBoard is a "hard board" that requires the use of a special pen;	The Smart Board is a "soft board" that you can use your fingers to draw on;
Price	$1,795 for the Activboard package; $4,695 for the Activboard + 2 package.	600 series $700–$2,100; 600i series $3,299– $4,199, including projector.
Warranty	10- year warranty;	up to 5-year warranty;
Downloading	Promethean does allow the download of their software;	The Smart notebook software cannot be freely used by anyone. Their website states very clearly about downloading it and copyright rules; Installation included in price of board.
Installation	Promethean Board is Installed by certified Promethean installers; Installation of board not included in price	Smart Board is a "do it yourself" set up;
Compatibility	Windows/ Macintosh compatible;	Windows/Macintosh/Linux compatible;
Touch Sensitivity	Students can touch multiple areas of the board with their hands and/or body without affecting the response to the board; The new Activarena upgrade enables all Promethean Activboards to support the use of multiple users at the same time;	Touch sensitive (resistive technology) boards can only accept one contact at a time;
Mount	Adjustable mounting system allows teachers to move the board up and down 2 feet for student/teacher adaptations; Steel mount is all one piece;	Smart Board does not have a height adjustable mount;
Right Click Feature	Instantly "right click" by holding down the orange button on pen;	You cannot instantly right click or hover with the tip of your finger. You have to physically click another button or menu item to achieve these options;
Response Time	Fast response time, no delay when writing;	Analog signal: delayed or lag time;
Peripheral Connection	Built-in RF technology lets it communicate wirelessly with other products without additional computer ports, receivers, or drivers;	USB connection out of box, extra charge for other connections;
Lesson Creating	The Promethean is limited and It does not allow you to create lessons	Create lesson material with Smart Board software
Ease and Flexibility	more flexible in that you start with a blank page;	more "child-friendly" with fancy colors and animation;
Purpose	Built for use in an educational setting;	Smart Board originally built for business use;
Finger Touch	Finger cannot be used to operate board;	Finger can be used to operate boards;

Note: Information collected from Promethean Board and Smart Board offical websites and discussion forums.

March 29 – April 2

For this week, I installed Adobe software in computers in the production lab and also had a dicussion with David on our project direction and we will be completing the project in the next several weeks. But I focused mostly on the comparision between Promethean Board and the Smart Board. Below are some prelimiary findings from searches of various sources:

Promethean Board:
·Design of hard surface makes the board very durable for classroom environments;
·Students can touch multiple areas of the board with their hands and/or body without affecting the response to the board;
·Fast response time, no delay when writing;
·Built-in RF technology lets it communicate wirelessly with other products without additional computer ports, receivers, or drivers;
·No glare that could prevent headaches and seizures (Promethean prevents glare);
·48, 64, 78 inches;
·Adjustable mounting system allows teachers to move the board up and down 2 feet for student/teacher adaptations;
·Steel mount is all one piece;
·Instantly “right click” by holding down the orange button on pen;
·Instantly roll over areas such as a web page and have information automatically appear without having to click on an additional button or menu item;
·Fine tipped pen allows user to be very precise and the pen mirrors the writing utensil that students are taught to use and write with in the classroom;
·The Activboard + 2 includes an adjustable mount, short-throw projector, and interactive whiteboard;
·The new Activarena upgrade enables all Promethean Activboards to support the use of multiple users at the same time;
·Windows/ Macintosh compatible;
·10- year warranty;
·$1,795 for the Activboard package; $4,695 for the Activboard + 2 package.

Smart Board:
·Standard sizes: 48, 64, 77, and 94 inches;
·Touch sensitive (resistive technology) boards can only accept one contact at a time;
·Smart board reacts to the first input if a student touches the board in more than one spot, making it difficult for students to write like they would normally write;
·Analog signal: delayed or lag time;
·USB connection out of box, extra charge for other connections;
·600i is their form of the all in one, modeled after Promethean’s, but does not have a height adjustable mount;
·Unifi 45 projector: 2,000 lumens with 16.7 million colors, 1,500 ANSI lumens;
·You cannot instantly right click or hover with the tip of your finger. You have to physically click another button or menu item to achieve these options;
·Something must sit in the “tray” in order for the board to operate;
·Anything can make a mark or a command on the Smart Board: cannot touch/point without a response;
·Smart Technologies offer a full line of interactive whiteboards, from its 600 series (freestanding or wall- mountable) in a variety of sizes;
·Wireless access for front-projection models is an available option, as are integrated USB speakers;
·Senteo interactive response system (a clicker response system) is one of its newest features;
·Windows/Macintosh/Linux compatible;
·Up to 5-year warranty;
·600 series $700–$2,100; 600i series $3,299– $4,199, including projector.

Preliminary summaries:
·Both have supportive communities and both seem to have software capable of similar functions; ·Both require quite a bit of staff training to enable people to use them well;
·The Smart board is a "soft board" that you can use your fingers to draw on; the Promethean Board is a "hard board" that requires the use of a special pen;
·The Promethean software is more "child-friendly" with fancy colors and animation, but the SMART Notebook software is more flexible in that you start with a blank page;
·The Smart notebook software cannot be freely used by anyone. Their website states very clearly about downloading it and copyright rules. On the other hand, Promethean does allow the download of their software;
·Promethean Board is Installed by certified Promethean installers, while Smart Board is a “do it yourself” set up.

March 22-- March 26

I'm sitting at the front desk now:)

For this week on Monday, I firstly installed Spore (Galactic Adventures) software on new PC computers in the lab as requested by Yeonjeong. It surprised me that the software can only be installed in 5 computers because of the authorization issue.

At the same time this week, I am still working on the ActivExpression (Clicker)of our Promethean board. Besides listing the ActivExpression's basic functions, I also added a detailed overview, technical secifications,general secifications,and minimum computer requirements. Instead of listing long text here, I have it uploaded and you can click this following link:
http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w742726/Promethean.pdf