Participants Will Learn Advanced Techniques Using Activstudio Version 3

Promethean

ActivExpression

Student Tutorial

Goal: "Using the Promethean ActivBoard, with ActivStudio AND ActivExpression software resource tools and interactive lessons, teachers will learn to differentiate instruction to enhance their daily curriculum while focusing attention on student learning, engagement and understanding."

Objectives:
Students will learn how to install the ActivExpression software, How to register Expression devices in anonymous and named modes, how to use the wizard to create questions of many types, and how to use this software in conjunction with ActivStudio software.

Madera Unified School District

Madera, California

What you will Learn:

1. Software Install

a. Mac Install

2. Device Registration

a. Anonymous Mode

b. Named Mode

3. Tool Bars

a. Get to know the tools

4. Question Wizard

a. Creating Question Pages

b. Follow-on Questions

5. Using ActivExpression and ActivStudio Together

a. They are not two parts of the same program

b. Both open/switching back and forth.

Section 1: Software Installation

a. Mac Install

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LATEST VERSION OF ACTIVSTUDIO, OR AT LEAST HAVE THE LATEST DRIVERS!

Insert the Install disk and follow all instructions. You should not have to worry about Serial numbers or registering the software.

This software is a stand-alone application that is installed into the Applications/Promethean folder along with the other Promethean software. More about that later.

Section 2: Device Registration

a. Anonymous Mode and b. Named Mode

First Steps

Plug in the Activhub

The Activhub is needed to communicate between Activexpression devices and your computer.

Insert the Activhub into a USB socket on your PC. Use the 1.8m (6ft) USB extension cable if necessary.

Optional tips for best use of the Activhub

Connect the USB Activhub to the 1.8m (6ft) cable, place in the holder and position in clear view of the devices.

Raise the antenna.

Here we explain two techniques:

1. Register a complete set of devices

2. Add more Activexpression devices to your current list of devices

1. Register a complete set of devices:

Note: Make sure the Activhub is plugged into your computer before opening Activexpression software. Here we show you how to register a full set of devices, deleting any devices you currently have registered.

Computer

1. Open the Activexpression software. Click

on the Device Registration button on the

Main toolbox.

2. The Device Register box opens. Click

Activhub under the 'Device' heading.

Click Action > Full Registration. If devices

are registered, you are told that currently

registered devices will be cleared. Click OK.

3. A Full Registration box opens.

In the Activexpressions box, click the arrows

to select the number of devices you want

to register.

4. Select the Named checkbox.

Note: When you select Named, as we explain

below, users can input their name along with

the code. If you don't select Named, users

only have to input a code.

Click OK. You are given the option to limit the name style. Click OK.

A PIN number appears on screen.

Activexpression devices:

Switch on the Activexpression devices, using the on/off button.

Click the Menu button in the bottom right of the device.

Options appear on the device's screen. Select the hot key for the Register option.

Type the PIN number into each device using the hot keys.

Type a name for the device using the keypad. The keypad works just like a mobile phone. Use the a/A/1 button on the bottom left of the device to change case.

Click the Send hot key to finish registering the device.

When all devices are registered they appear in the Device Registration box.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Registering in Named mode with ActivExpression is not the same as Named mode with Activotes. It appears that ActivExpressions need to be completely reregistered if you want to change their names. It seems like a longer process. For elementary, Multiple-subject classes, this would not be a big deal but for single subjects, it may eat up too much time.

3. Toolbars

Please note that the Toolbars in ActivExpression are not the same! So far, the toolbars in ActivExpression are NOT customizable and have many different tools.

1. The Main Toolbar

Some of these tools will be familiar and work the same way.

Some notable differences are:

Connector tool – Allows you to draw a connection line between two image objects.

ExpressPoll tool – Starts a polling session and allows you to specify the type.

Results browser – shows the results of polling sessions.

4. Question Wizard

The Question Wizard allows you to prepare questions and Follow-on questions in advance.

It is accessed by pushing the button on the Sidebar.

If there are no questions on the page, you will get the following window first.

The series of screens you get next will depend on which question style you selected. Each one will require some degree of decision-making and data entry on your part to achieve on the desired outcome.

If there is already a prepared question on the page you will get this screen:

A Likert Question involves the respondent selecting where he/she is on a continuum, i.e. "On a scale of 1 to 5, how well do you understand the concept?"

If there are already a main question AND a follow-on question on the page, you will be presented with 4 options allowing you to edit or remove both questions on the page. Remember that Follow-on Questions remain invisible on the page until you specifically choose the reveal them.

5. Using ActivExpression and ActivStudio together.

ActivExpression is a stand-alone software solution and is NOT just a part of ActivStudio!

Because of the above fact, ActivExpression and ActivStudio do not communicate with each other and any way. The only way to use them together is to have them both open and switch back and forth between them.

Remember that ActivExpression is mainly just an information-gathering tool and is not (currently) a teaching tool although it has limited functionality in that respect. ActivStudio/Primary will remain as your primary teaching resource.

A Product of the Madera Unified School District Educational Technology Office.

Kim Imrie, Director

For more Tutorials and other materials, please visit the Educator's Toolkit website at

http://www.madera.k12.ca.us/imrieweb/resourcetoolkit/

If you discover problems with the content or directions in this tutorial, please contact

Disclaimer: Some material in this tutorial was copied from the ActivExpression Help files. Such materials are generally those where, in the tutorial, the headings are in orange.