Promethean 101 Class

TOOLS:
 
Promethean Board Tools: please see complete toolbar image below: (PB toolbar PDF)

TIPS:

1.  ActivInspire Dashboard: When the ActivInspire Dashboard comes up, you are now looking at a new flip chart (which is the ActivInspire name for a presentation or slide show). Do not click on �new� again or you will have 2 flip charts opened on the desktop.  If you wish to open one that you have already saved, then click on �open flip chart�.

2.  Importing files into Flip Chart:  Open ActivInspire to a new or already saved flip chart (after reading the previous tip).  The unit you are currently presenting is on the �U.S. Constitution and 3 branches of the Federal Government� for your social studies class.  You will need several different types of files in this unit, word documents, slide show, graphic organizer, test files, a database, etc.  You may already have these files created or maybe you are in the process of creating new files. No matter what, you need each and every file saved before importing. You will need to save each and every file saved one more time as a �PDF file�.  (Your original will remain in the original file format when doing this process.) Open a file for this unit and go to File-> Save as -> keep the same name or change it, give it the same place to reside or give it a new place inside a folder containing the name of the unit. So, you have gone to File -> Save as -> File type: choose �PDF�. All files must be converted to PDF files to import into a flip chart.  You have previously opened and saved a flip chart �USCons&3Bran� so you need to open it. (If you have not already opened and saved this flip chart, please do so now.)  With the flip chart opened (USCon&3Bran) you will go to the menu bar -> File -> Import -> PDF -> �USCont&3Bran�.  The file is now in front of you as a PDF file and ready for annotating over on the board or using the pull down screen to display only half. What you can do with this file now is endless. And you can follow these same steps with a Power Point slide show.  Go to File -> Save as -> and convert to flip chart as the file type.  Once you have created a file and all of the work involved, saving and importing is the super easy part.

3.  Working with Imported files and ActivInspire: Once you have a file imported into a flip chart and it is projected on the board, class discussion should follow.  One of my favorites is opening a graphic organizer program and have it going at the same time you are having that class discussion.  At the bottom, you will see a tab for each file that is opened.  Hopefully, you have already played with the tools in the toolbar and feel fairly comfortable using them. If not, now is a good time to do just that. It only takes about 15 minutes until you are quite good at it and comfortable in front of your class. You can choose the pen tool to circle items, switch over to the graphic organizer and insert an answer to a question that you threw out to the class, either with copy and paste, writing with the pen or pulling up the on-screen keyboard. Once you have demonstrated, walk to the back of the class and have a student direct the discussion.  If the imported file is constructed in an outline format, then students will be able to follow rather easily.

4.  Browser section: Once you are familiar with the tools in the toolbar, how to reposition the toolbar and dig for additional tools, you may want to look into the Browser section on the left.  Make sure you click on the tiny little stick pin up top to �unstick� the pin so that the browser bar can come out or be hidden, depending on what you need. And since this is an introductory class, I will continue to go into further explanation of all of this as this site is updated soon.  But for now, you first noticed how the flip chart shows the slides as they are developed just like a Power Point slide show lists the slides on the left.  The is the page browser and is an excellent tool to see where you are in constructing the flip chart and what needs to be added in which page.

LESSON PLANS:

1. US Constitution: below is a saved lesson plan:  'USCon&3Bran.PDF' social studies class.

2. Slavery and the Underground Railroad:  below is saved  lesson plan:  'LP Slavery & RR.PDF'