Some Useful Vocabulary

ActivBoard - With built-in speakers, an integrated amplifier, and two USB ports, the ActivBoard is an interactive whiteboard that creates an interactive multimedia experience. When the ActivBoard is connected to your computer you can view your desktop and navigate as you would on your computer.

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ActivInspire – This is a software program that allows teachers to create flipcharts to use during their lessons. Flipcharts are essentially slideshows that can come to life in full-color video, sound and graphics with the tools in the ActivInspire program. ActivInspire is more than just a pretty interface. Fully functional, integrated tools like protractors, rulers, dice and shape recognition make the on-screen experience a real-world example unlike any other.


- ActivInspire Icon


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Flipcharts – Flipcharts are slideshows that can be created in the ActivInspire program. Teachers can create lessons in a flipchart by adding pictures, videos, links, questions, and interactive math tools such as rulers and protractors to make lessons come alive.

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ActivPen – This is a battery-free, wire-free pen that functions as a mouse to navigate through the computer. When using the ActivInspire software it functions as a pen that is highly accurate and precise. It can be used to measure and mark on screen to the millimeter or degree.

Step 1: The Problem

Problem: During my lesson I was teaching from a flipchart, and the ActivInspire program suddenly froze. On the ActivBoard, I only see my desktop with the ActivInspire program minimized in the taskbar, labeled as “Not Responding.” My ActivPen is no longer functioning. How can I correct these problems and resume my lesson?

In the classrooms that I have worked it in, it has been very common for the ActivInspire software to unexpectedly freeze along with the ActivPen while a teacher is giving a lesson from a flipchart that he or she spent hours preparing.  The problem usually occurs when the instructor is not allowing enough wait time for things to load (ex: clicking from the pen to the eraser function over and over because the eraser is not coming up fast enough.) This problem could possibly be avoided by clicking certain buttons in ActivInspire only once, or by having your IT department reinstall the software which might fix the problems that are occurring in the future. As we all know, there's never a minute to waste during instructional time, and when this situation occurs it can throw off an entire lesson. Putting in an IT request could take a few days, so below this post is a trouble-shooting guide that has been provided to correct this problem as soon as it occurs.   

Step 2: Restarting the Computer

1. In order to fix the problem, the computer must be restarted. Since the ActivPen is not working we can use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete command on the keyboard.

In doing so you will receive the following message:

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2. Select the Shut Down option, and you will receive the following message:

3. Select Restart from the dropdown menu and click OK.

Step 3: Calibrating the ActivBoard

 

1. Once the computer has restarted, you will prompted to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete in order to log onto the computer.

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2. Before logging on, the ActivBoard must be calibrated in order for the ActivPen to work properly.  To do this you will need the ActivPen and the calibrate button in the upper left hand corner of the ActivBoard. This button has the ActivInspire flame logo on it and has a purple light coming from it.

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3. Hold the tip of the ActivePen directly over the calibrate button. Once the board recognizes the ActivPen, the button emits a blue light rather than a purple one.  Continue to hold the ActivPen over the button until the following screen appears:

4. Using the ActivPen, click anywhere on the surface of the ActivBoard to begin.

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5. After you click on the surface, a crosshair will appear on the screen in the upper left hand corner. 

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6.  Use the ActivPen to click the cross-hair, and another cross-hair will appear in another location on the screen.  

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7.  Click the next cross-hair that appears, and the cross-hairs will continue to appear clockwise around the ActivBoard until you have clicked each one.  

  

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8.  Once you have clicked all eight cross-hairs that appear, the login screen will appear again. The ActivBoard is now calibrated and the AcitivPen will function properly.  

Step 4: Logging On

1.  After the ActivBoard has been calibrated, proceed to Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. 

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2. Log on to Windows with your username and password.

Step 5: Restarting ActivInspire and Recovering a Flipchart

1. Click on the ActivInspire icon on the desktop:

The program will take a few seconds to load.

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2.  Once the program has loaded, a message will appear:

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3. Click Yes, and ActivInspire will recover the flipchart that you were teaching from.