I’d like to share with you an exciting new interactive whiteboard product from Learning Resources called now!Board™! The now!Board™ turns any flat surface into an interactive whiteboard. It’s portable and easy to set up, and best of all, it’s inexpensive compared to other interactive whiteboards! If you are unable to purchase a SMART Board or Promethean ActivBoard due to budget constraints, this may be the alternative you are looking for.

Benefits

The now!Board™ components

It’s a valuable classroom resource! You no longer have to stand at a laptop and projector cart to teach your lessons! You and your students can interact with your computer from the front of the classroom.

It’s portable! This is a perfect system for a teacher without a homeroom class or those who have to travel in order to present. The now!Board™ comes in a small case that is easy to grab and go.

It’s easy to use! Simply install the software, connect it to your laptop/projector, calibrate it (However, this step was a

little tedious) and you’re up and running. Make sure you have a nice sized area to project on to, such as an empty wall (as seen in the photo) or a traditional whiteboard. The now!Board™ does require the use of a stylus.

It’s cost effective! Unlike other interactive whiteboards that cost around $2,000, the now!Board™ is available to you for only $499! This is an affordable alternative for teachers, districts, and families who homeschool who wish to have touch technology without the cost associated with the SMART Board and the Promethean ActivBoard.

The now!Board™ in use.

now!Board™ Software

The software that comes with the now!Board™ is free for anyone to download directly from their website. You can even download it without actually purchasing the product if you’d like to see everything it offers (although it will not be touch-sensitive until your product is connected). With the now!Board™ toolbar, you can draw lines, shapes, take screenshots, and more.

For more information on the now!Board™, please visit the now!Board™ product page on the Learning Resources website or visit them on Facebook. I highly recommend watching the demonstration on YouTube video and reading other customer reviews before making a purchase.

Thanks to the folks at now!Board™ for sending me one to try out!

The web-based, slimmed down version of Notebook Software has launched. This version of Notebook will allow you to open and edit a Notebook file from any computer that has internet access.

Here is the description from the site:

SMART Notebook Express is the new lightweight, web-based version of SMART Notebook software, and is the latest addition to the SMART Notebook family of products. It offers open access to some of the same delivery and editing features that have made SMART Notebook the world’s most popular collaborative learning software. You don’t need to log on and there’s no software to download – all you need is access to the Internet.

The tools available at this time are the Page Sorter, Text-editing tool, Pen Tool, and Single object selection, move and delete. Please click here to launch the application, or visit the SMART Tech site to learn more.

SMART Notebook Express

Today I Googled “free preschool software” to see what I could find for my 3 year old. I was specifically looking for software so that she can play without being online. I came across an Educational Freeware website, which led me to Sebran’s ABC and Minisebran. I downloaded them and soon we were both playing! I plan on downloading Sebran’s ABC in the lab, and hopefully I can get Minisebran installed in the PreK classrooms.

Here are the descriptions and screenshots. Visit the website for more.

Sebran’s ABC: Sebran’s ABC is a freeware collection of 12 different activities for kids 4-9 years old. It includes counting games, a Hangman game, Memory games, typing games and much more. Sebran’s ABC is multilingual and runs in 28 different languages, including French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Greek and many more.

MiniSebran: Minisebran contains alphabet exercises, number exercises and doodle activities. It is perfect for toddlers and kids up to 5 years old who are learning the basics of using a computer, keyboard and mouse.