Top SMART Notebook Alternatives for Interactive Learning
SMART Notebook is renowned collaborative learning software, designed to bring interactivity to classrooms and engage students with its suite of interactive learning products. However, like any software, it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. Whether you're seeking a more cost-effective solution, different features, or compatibility with various operating systems, exploring a SMART Notebook alternative can open up new possibilities for dynamic education.
Best SMART Notebook Alternatives
Finding the right interactive whiteboard software is crucial for effective teaching and engaging students. We've compiled a list of excellent alternatives to SMART Notebook, each offering unique strengths for different educational environments.
OpenBoard
OpenBoard is an open-source interactive whiteboard application primarily designed for schools, making it an excellent free SMART Notebook alternative. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it boasts features like drawing tools, dual-screen support, handwritten notes, an integrated web browser, real-time collaboration, and the ability to export to PDF, offering robust functionality without the cost.
Gynzy
Gynzy is an all-in-one teaching software that serves as a powerful web-based SMART Notebook alternative. It combines standards-aligned lessons, bite-sized games, and class management tools. Available as a free personal version on the web and Chrome, Gynzy features interactive lessons, Google Classroom integration, Google Login, text-to-speech, and a timer, making it highly versatile for modern classrooms.
Open Sankoré
Open Sankoré is another notable free and open-source interactive whiteboard software, positioning it as a strong contender among SMART Notebook alternatives. Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it focuses on providing an interactive whiteboard experience for educational purposes, embodying a commitment to open education.
Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard offers a freeform digital canvas where ideas, content, and people come together. As a free SMART Notebook alternative available on Windows, iPhone, and iPad, it excels in real-time collaboration and provides an intuitive interactive whiteboard experience, making it ideal for brainstorming and group work.
Explain Everything
Explain Everything is a powerful freemium design, screencasting, and interactive whiteboard tool. Available on Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, and iPad, it allows users to annotate, animate, narrate, import, and export almost anything. Its features include live recording, video recording, Dropbox and Google Drive integration, and PDF import, making it a versatile SMART Notebook alternative for dynamic presentations.
Conceptboard
Conceptboard is a freemium web-based platform that extends beyond online whiteboards, adding real-time collaboration, document sharing, visual feedback, task management, and live meetings. While not solely an interactive whiteboard, its robust collaboration features and integrations with Google Drive, Salesforce, and Trello make it a comprehensive solution for interactive team and classroom work, serving as a powerful SMART Notebook alternative for collaborative projects.
Twiddla
Twiddla is a freemium web-based tool that allows users to mark up websites, graphics, and photos, or brainstorm on a blank canvas. With no download required, it features voice chat and Wikipedia integration, making it a unique SMART Notebook alternative for collaborative browsing and real-time interactive discussions.
Annotate.net
Annotate.net offers a suite of features including iOS + Android Screen Mirroring, a Digital Mobile Interactive Whiteboard, a Real-time Student Response System, and Remote Desktop Control. Available on a wide range of platforms including Mac, Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, and Chrome OS, this freemium tool is a comprehensive SMART Notebook alternative for interactive presentations and student engagement, supporting AirPlay and screen mirroring.
ActivInspire
ActivInspire is a commercial interactive whiteboard software from Promethean, designed for easy, interactive lesson planning and delivery. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it focuses specifically on providing a robust interactive whiteboard experience, making it a direct and feature-rich SMART Notebook alternative for educators.
Flowboard
Flowboard is a freemium storytelling and presentation app available on iPad. It allows users to create side-scrolling publications with images, text, videos, links, and photo galleries. While more focused on presentation creation than a direct interactive whiteboard, its publishing capabilities make it an interesting SMART Notebook alternative for creating engaging and interactive educational content.
With a diverse range of SMART Notebook alternatives available, from open-source options like OpenBoard to feature-rich platforms like Gynzy and Microsoft Whiteboard, educators have ample choice to find the best fit for their classroom needs. Consider your budget, required features, and operating system compatibility to select the ideal software for enhanced interactive learning.