[NeeCee]

Our district has some Smartboards available for $750 through a special grant. My admin is supporting me in applying for it. Here is my problem. I don't really have wall space for a Smartboard to be mounted, unless they relocate my whiteboards. I was in the process of writing a grant for a Mimio and the interactive pad because the Mimio can be mounted on a white board to make it interactive like a Smartboard. My principal says he is doubtful that the Mimio will really function as well as a Smartboard, especially since my whiteboards are on sliding tracks, but he has left the decision as to which one I want up to me.


Please give me some advice! I have to get the new grant written by the end of next week!!

[Socks]

I'd go for the Smartboard, especially at that price! The good thing about the SB is that you get the Notebook software which makes it so much more than an interactive whiteboard. You can create lessons like PowerPoint only way better!

[galinchico]

I have a mimio and it does work just like a Smartboard. The down side of Mimio is they don't have the wide assortment of software and available activities that Smartboard does...
I got lucky and got the software for Smart but own a Mimio, the best of both worlds!!!
PS I do teach in different classrooms and can EASILY take my mimio with me in just a few minutes!!
Hope this helps!

[NeeCee]

I just watched some videos on YouTube for both the Smartboard and the Mimio and it seemed that the mimio had a lot fewer features and interactive ability than the Smartboard. All they talked about was using your computer software and being able to circle things or make them different colors. My teaching neighbor just won a Smartboard and finally got it installed today. She just raved about all of the wonderful things she did today. Also, she told me the district is conducting training classes for using the Smartboard. The district tech guys say not a single soul in the district has a mimio, but they think they are a better way to go because they are so easy to install. I won't likely be moving rooms because I am wired as a technology enhanced classroom and they are not going to move all of those computers, but they might think it's a good idea to move the whiteboards four feet to the right to install a Smartboard.

Seems like the Smartboard is starting to win out.

[crteacher]

I may be getting a mimio and I would LOVE to get the Smart Board software to use with it. Where can I get the software for a Smart Board? I thought you could only get it if you had a smartboard.

[hsummie]

I have a Smartboard in my classroom and it's not mounted on the wall. I have it on a stand and it works great. It's nice because I can move it if I have to. Love it, teaching is not the same----it's much better.

[dramsi]

And I prefer the SmartBoard. The Mimio was great, but the Smartboard if so much more user friendly and a lot of lessons out there are the internet are already designed in the SmartNotebook for you. I also recommend the gallery that comes with the Smartboard software. Just my two cents