Collaborating at the board

There are many ways in which you can encourage your students to work together at the board. Usually this means they have to take turns with the ActivPen or ActivWand.  

ActivInspire takes collaborative working a step further by allowing two people to work interactively with the same flipchart. We call this way of working 'Dual User' mode, because each collaborator uses their own ActivPen Or ActivWand, and ActivInspire toolbox to work on the ActivBoard.

  • Only the teacher can enable Dual User mode.

  • Starting Dual User mode enables the Dual Toolbox, which contains a subset of the tools available in the Main Toolbox.

  • The person using the Dual Toolbox can only work on the current flipchart page.

  • Only the user of the Main Toolbox has full access to all ActivInspire's functions.

  • The Dual Toolbox remains under the control of the person who is using the Main Toolbox.

  • Access to the Dual Toolbox can be revoked from the Main Toolbox at any time.

You need ActivInspire Professional to use Dual User mode.

Tips for working in Dual User mode

Here we have compiled some quick tips to spark your creativity when working in Dual User mode.

Two ActivPens are better than one

Encourage students to work towards one goal. Make sure students are constantly communicating and sharing with each other. This could involve working out a puzzle or pooling knowledge to answer questions on the ActivBoard.

Swap roles

Swap roles half way through the activity so one student doesn’t get trapped in an area they do not know well.

Teacher back up

The teacher can keep control of the Main Toolbox, annotating students’ work as they come out to the ActivBoard, to help boost students' confidence.

A new workspace

Dual User mode opens up a space where two students can work, together or individually, at the ActivBoard, making the ActivBoard a workspace in itself.

Constructive pairwork

Pair a stronger student with a weaker student. The stronger student teaches the weaker student. The weaker student strengthens the stronger student’s knowledge.

Joint presentations

Encourage students to create presentations in pairs, so they can discuss which role to perform and how they can work together at the ActivBoard.

Encouraging creativity

Two groups can now write their ideas on the ActivBoard at the same time. By seeing the other group’s ideas, students can inspire each other, helping their creativity.

Taking roles

Give students different roles to perform at the ActivBoard, so they can see the results of effective teamwork. For example, one person could be in charge of text whilst the other is in charge of images.

Appreciating another point of view

Two points of view can be displayed and discussed, simultaneously at the ActivBoard. Students can then identify where ideas overlap and diverge.

Encourage clear thinking

The class reads instructions to two students working back to back, to see whether both students understand the instructions in the same way.

 

For more details, see Working in Dual User mode.