App review by Stacy Zeiger, Common Sense Education | Updated February 2014

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Splashtop Whiteboard

Name: Splashtop Whiteboard
Item: Splashtop Whiteboard
Rating: 2
Author: Stacy Zeiger

Confusing alternative to popular tool is no match for the real thing

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Community rating

Based on 3 reviews

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Grades

6–12

Subjects & Skills

Communication & Collaboration

Great for

Productivity, Presentation

Take a look inside

4 images

Requires downloading additional software on your computer.

Multiple tools allow teachers to create and annotate content.

Pros: The large selection of tools and pre-created templates are designed to engage students and promote critical thinking.

Cons: A confusing design and slow response times make it frustrating to use.

Bottom Line: Teachers who don't have access to an interactive whiteboard may appreciate many of the app's features, but the smaller scale and confusing interface keep it from reaching its potential.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use Splashtop Whiteboard in a classroom where they don't have access to an interactive whiteboard or when working with students in a temporary environment. The available tools make it best for whole-class instruction, where teachers may want to present information to the class and call students' attention to specific points. It may also work well for individual or small-group presentations by students.

What Is It?

Splashtop Whiteboard creates an interactive whiteboard by connecting a tablet to a computer. First, teachers download and install the Splashtop Streamer application on their presentation computer and the Splashtop Whiteboard app onto a tablet. Teachers can then use the tablet like an interactive whiteboard to control the computer's display. The tools allow teachers to annotate or draw on top of websites, videos, text files, PowerPoints, and other digital content. Within the app, teachers will also find a selection of pre-created templates and graphic organizers, which they can use to take notes or display information for students.

Is It Good for Learning?

For teachers without an interactive whiteboard in the classroom, Splashtop Whiteboard may provide a cheaper and effective alternative. When it works, that is. Occasionally, slow response times and a confusing design can make it more frustrating than engaging. And while the design features a wealth of tools and functions, it lacks intuitiveness and precision. This means it will take time for teachers to get used to swiping, pinching, and other hand motions to control the tools. However, if teachers and students can figure it out, Splashtop Whiteboard has the potential to make instruction more interesting, interactive, and entertaining, just like a full-size interactive whiteboard. It will not, however, provide students with the same feel as an actual interactive whiteboard.

Learning Rating

Overall Rating

Engagement

Confusing design and lack of responsiveness make it difficult to fully embrace the large selection of tools.

Pedagogy

Tools allow teachers and students to annotate content and encourage critical and creative thinking, but execution falls short.

Support

On-screen tutorials guide beginning users, but fail to provide help for specific problems they encounter.

Common Sense reviewer

Stacy Zeiger Homeschooling parent

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Featured review by
Celine P. , Technology coordinator

Technology coordinator

Horizon Middle School
Aurora, United States

Interactive Mobile Whiteboard at a Low Cost

Most of my teachers love this tool. Not all of them use it to its full potential. Some only use it as a wireless remote, but even then, it moves them form the front of the classroom to a place where they can monitor and interact with their students more effectively. The tools that come with Splashtop Whiteboard itself are very basic and limiting, but when the tool is used in conjuction with a tool like SmartNotebook and some training, it can be an extremely powerful teaching tool.

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