Learn Openboard

From Open Educational Resources

Introduction

Openboard is a software that combines the simplicity of traditional teaching tools with the benefits that the ICTs bring in education. Openboard is a true rich-media authoring application. It enables essential benefits from handwriting while adding visuals, images, graphics, videos, or browse the Internet.

Basic information

ICT Competency
Educational application and relevance
Version Openboard 1.3.6
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Development and community help Openboard

Overview of Features

Installation

  1. The application is not part of the current Ubuntu custom distribution 16.04 Kalpavriksha.
  2. Download application from this link.
  3. Double click on the downloaded "openboard_ubuntu_16.04_1.3.6_amd64.deb" file and this file will open with Ubuntu software center.
  4. Now click on the "Install" icon and Enter your Ubuntu login password.
  5. Once the installation is complete, you can find this application under "Applications -> Education".

Working with the application

Openboard Main window

A simple look at the icons should allow you to quickly understand how OpenBoard works.

A) Shows / hides the Stylus Toolbar

B) Basic tools (color, line width, eraser)

C) Advanced tools (backgrounds, undo, redo, pages, previous, next, delete and group)

D) The library (right tab)

E) The flatplan (left tab)

F) Lets you use the integrated web browser OpenBoard.

G) Documents Mode: organize, import and export your courses.

H) Displays your desktop while keeping the functionalities of OpenBoard.

I) The "OpenBoard" button provides access to the application settings and exit.

Stylus toolbar

This toolbar contain many basic drawings tools:

A) Writing pen tool.

B) Erase tool : is used to erase any content drawn by pen tool.

C) Highlight tool: is used to highlight passages providing a certain level of transparency.

D) Select and modify objects tool: is used to select an object on your page to move it and apply changes (selection, resizing, deletion, rotation ...).

E) Interacting with objects" or "Magic Finger" tool: allows you to perform actions on objects without displaying the editing options.

F) Move page tool: allows you to move within a page. You can center the view directly by clicking twice on this icon.

G) Zooming in/out tool: can allow to enlarge or reduce the area on the screen.

H) Using the laser pointer: activates a virtual laser pointer (It writes nothing) as a big red dot.

I) Draw a straight line tool: allows you to draw a straight line.

The library

The tab "Library" lets you organize and access your library of sounds, videos, images, shapes, animations, inter-activities and OpenBoard applications (called Apps) as well as perform web searches.

 

To access your library, click on the "Library" (1). To resize the pane, click the tab and hold, drag it to the left or right to resize the window as desired, and release the click.

The library is organized into different elements:

A. Return to main menu (Home) library

B. Audios

C. Movies

D. Pictures

E. Animations. This folder provides access to Flash movies (.swf documents) previously inserted into this directory.

F. Interactivities

G. Applications

H. Shapes: This file provides a list of standard shapes that you can add to your document in the same way as images. It’s not possible to import new forms, create personal libraries or remove forms from the library.

I. Favorites

J. Web search

K. Trash: to delete files from your libraries with a simple drag and drop on the icon of the Trash.

L. New Folder: To create one or more subfolders, first click on one of the libraries (audios, movies, pictures, applications and interactivity) and the icon "folder +".

M. Search field