Using uBoard for a Presentation

The uBoard interactive system comes with its own fully featured software called MINT Interactive.
It has all the usual tools and capabilities that you would expect in any modern interactive whiteboard system, but some users may not be aware that it gives you the ability to run engaging presentations very easily indeed.

If you already have a presentation created, you can simply open it in MINT and then you have the power to use the pen and tools to make your presentation very interactive and interesting. For example, you may have a slide show made using PDFs (yes,you can do this!). Imagine how much more engaging it would be if you could interact with your audience by highlighting key points, drawing connections on the slides, or magnifying sections that need emphasis - well, with MINT you can!

It is as simple as starting MINT, clicking on "Open", navigating to your file then selecting import.
The software brings it into MINT automatically and you can then use the full range of tools.

At the end of the presentation, you can discard all the annotation, or save it to show another audience. Very handy indeed!

MINT Interactive whiteboard software

One of the many features of the MINT software that powers the uBoard system, is the built in media bank. It comes preloaded with nearly a thousand images all neatly categorised into folders such as 'Mathematics', 'Science', 'Music' , etc.


But the feature that we like the most is the ability to add our own collection of images, links, documents. This is possible because the software includes a folder called "My Room" which you can use to collect and organise your own content. It is particularly easy to add links to folders on your computer or server which allows a teacher to instantly access all school resources with a couple of clicks - very nice!

MINT software functions

At a basic level, the MINT software allows you to write over the top of any images / programmes that you have running on your computer. The writing, and image it relates to, can be saved for later use - a major advantage of interactive whiteboards in general!

As a standard writing (annotating) tool, MINT is easy to use and intuitive for teachers and students. (It is worth mentioning that the pen itself is smaller than most competitors - around the size of a normal whiteboard pen - and better matches the size of students hands.) The screenshot shows 5 basic colour choices on the left with the option of a full colour palette below.

On the right are 6 size choices from 10pt to 200pt - because the pen is so good, you actually can take advantage of the smallest size for fine work.

The top row in the middle contains pen mode, highlighter mode, and ink mode. The middle row starts with rubber options(choose the size), then erase all, and finally a smart tool where you roughly draw a shape and the software makes it perfect (this is only active on Vista and Win 7 computers).

The bottom row starts with the coloured button that lets you switch between the MINT programme and simply having the pen operate as a mouse. The middle button expands the toolbar to show more functions, and the last button shuts down the programme.

(We have a fullcopy of the software manual under 'Support' on our website - http://www.3pinteract.co.nz/) .

MINT interactive whiteboard software

The uBoard interactive whiteboard system comes with fully featured software called MINT.

(Any New Zealanders reading this will smile as "mint' is used colloquially to mean "very good" or excellent - an appropriate title we believe!)

We'll discuss some of the basic functions in the next couple of posts.

The first thing that you will see, once setup, is the floating toolbar. it can be repositioned by dragging it, or you can change it to a 'strip' type bar with the click of a button. The basic (unexpanded) toolbar gives you quick access to the excellent drawing tools that uBoard is becoming famous for. Our view is that the quality of the handwriting is the best available from any interactive whiteboard system.

uBoard and Active Link

Several people have asked how the uBoard system can can be used without having to install any software. The answer is due to a very clever feature called Active Link®

Active Link® is actually a small usb device that contains all the software. You can still choose to permanently install the software if you want to, but there are several great advantages given by not having to.

Firstly, it means you can use uBoard with several computers without having to worry about the expense and hassle of buying multiple licences. It also means that you can use the system in very security conscious network environments because you don't have to install a programme.

The third key advantage is that it makes the system truly 'plug and play' - plug in Active Link® and start interacting!

Awesome Software

Promethean (makers of ActivBoards) have released a free version of their very popular software that is awesome on wiimote interactive boards. Their 'personal' edition of ActivInspire can be downloaded free. It is a stripped down version of their main product but is still full of highly useful tools and features. One that is really handy in the classroom is the floating clock tool. It can be set to count down or up and can display in both digital and analogue, is completely resizeable and can be positioned anywhere in a window.

Another one that is very cool is the spotlight tool. Using this tool you can draw attention to particular parts of the screen and keep interest high as you reveal the whole image.

Maths software

We are often asked which software to use with wiimote whiteboards. Our answer is usually, "whatever you want to" as the system works with anything that you can run on your computer.

However, there are various programmes that are particularly useful.

If you are a junior maths teacher then you should have a look at Virtual Pinboard.

It allows you to very easily and clearly draw polygons. It also comes with useful tools such as a ruler and protractor. Definately worth having in your favourites folder.

How about some mind mapping?

Mind mapping is a really useful way of organising your thinking and many schools have invested in software such as Inspiration which works brilliantly with an interactive whiteboard. However, the team at 3Pi are always on the lookout for 'no cost' options which are accessible to anyone with an internet connection, and one that is great for mind mapping is a wee Web2 tool from bubbl.us . It is very simple to use and lets students create effective mind maps quickly.
Check it out, we think you will be impressed.

Software that is awesome with the Wiimote

I was teaching a small group of students the basics of Google Sketchup earlier in the week and (of course) used the Wiimote whiteboard as my key teaching technology. This great piece of 3D graphics software is absolutely perfect when used with an interactive board. My students were designing a new mailbox for the school and the ability to create digital 3D models let them experiment with design features and quickly start refining their initial ideas. Check it out at http://sketchup.google.com/