New Collaboration Software Allows Teachers Students Access From Any Device
New software designed to allow
teachers and students to create and share content on almost any
connected
device has been introduced to the education market. Ormiboard is a digital
platform with lessons, assessment tools and activities.
Designed
by EXO U for real-time
collaboration on any operating system, Ormiboard's shared canvas for
authoring aspires
to combine with device management tools to transform an entire
classroom — or anywhere
a group of people have devices — into a giant, immersive whiteboard.
For
example, in the classroom,
teachers can select a screen from any student's device and share it on
a
display — or multiple displays — at the front of the room. Teachers can
also integrate
Ormiboard with Google Classroom, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote and
other
well-known educational resources.
The
platform will come pre-loaded
with a database of searchable lessons and activities that include six
types of
instant assessment, click-and-drag assignments, games and exams. EXO U
will be
adding more content as it becomes available and teachers can create
their own
games and lessons — and give their students the ability to do so as
well.
There
are two versions, one for
school districts and another for individual teachers.
Go is
designed for teachers who
want fast access on any device via web browser. It allows up to 30
students to open
a browser, enter a PIN, and start collaborating online. It is
offered at a
subscription rate of $89 per year.
Pro
is designed for schools and
districts, delivered as a downloadable or pre-installed software with a
perpetual license ($599). It enables device integration and
collaborative
sharing over existing networks via local WiFi (no Internet access
required).
Pro
is quicker than Go and offers
split-view capabilities for multi-touch panels and tables. It also
gives
administrators dashboard control over buildings, classrooms, teachers,
users
and content groupings.
Both
versions will be available
by August 15 and those who sign up for Go before September 15 will receive a
$30
discount on the first year.
An
online Ormiboard Academy will
offer a series of 30- to 45-minute basic JavaScript lessons for
teachers and
students in the fourth grade or above.
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.