How to Upgrade
Download ActivInspire today
Once you've decided that you'd like to bring the power of ActivInspire to your classroom, you're ready to download! Visit the download page below and we'll walk you through how to get your new software!
Top Tips
Get started with ActivInspire
Take a look at our Top Tips materials for an overview of ActivInspire's hottest features. Read an online version, download the PDF, or watch them in short Activtips videos!
ActivInspire Training Resources
Free online tutorials
Promethean has lots of resources to help you familiarize yourself with ActivInspire, including free ActivLearning online tutorials! Choose from Introduction to ActivInspire, or Migrating to ActivInspire. More courses coming soon!
Talk about ActivInspire
Blogs and Forum
Have something to say about ActivInspire, or want to read what others have written? Share your thoughts and questions in the blog or forum.
Now Every Classroom Can Be an ActivClassroom
Did you know that any classroom can be an ActivClassroom - even if you don’t have an ActivBoard? Even if you have a Smartboard? Even if you don’t even have an interactive whiteboard at all?
With the new ActivInspire software, the possibilities are endless! Whether you're a veteran user of the ActivClassroom, or have never heard of an interactive whiteboard, the latest addition to the ActivSoftware family is sure to make an impact on teaching and learning in your classroom.
In this section, you'll find everything you need to get started with ActivInspire, including:
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Take a look around, and you'll find that we've made it easy for you to bring the interactivity and excitement of the ActivClassroom into any classroom!
ActivInspire Personal or Professional Edition: You choose!
If you already use the ActivClassroom, or any component of it (ActivBoard, ActivSoftware, ActiVote, ActivExpression, ActivPanel), you can upgrade to ActivInspire Professional Edition for free! ActivInspire Professional Edition includes everything you've come to expect from ActivSoftware, and a whole lot more. ActivInspire Professional Edition includes advanced authoring functionality such as creation of action objects (just drag and drop pre-programmed action objects onto a page!), sound and screen recorder, handwriting recognition, creation of containers and restrictors, and enables dual-user mode (for classrooms who have purchased ActivArena).
If you're a non-Promethean user, all you have to do to heighten the interactivity in your lessons is download the free ActivInspire Personal Edition. The Personal Edition lets teachers, students, parents, and others use the feature-rich environment of ActivInspire completely free of charge! Personal Edition users may download and fully interact with flipcharts and resource packs available on Promethean Planet, as well as fully integrate Promethean’s Learner Response devices, ActiVote and ActivExpression.
Non-Promethean users can always upgrade to the Professional Edition through the Planet Shop!
Both versions are available for Mac, Windows or Linux users, even if you have already purchased another brand of interactive whiteboard or don't have a whiteboard at all!
Take a look at the comparison chart below, or download the PDF to see the differences between ActivInspire Personal and Professional editions.
ActivInspire Top Features
Take a look at some of the top features and enhancements included with ActivInspire.
Access free and premium content from Promethean PlanetWith ActivInspire, you can download and use all of the flipchart lessons and resource packs available on Promethean Planet. So, if you've never been able to use these before because you worked with a different whiteboard software package, now's your chance to choose from and use more than 10,800 pieces of ready-made content! You can take also take advantage of the great premium content developed by our partners such as Scholastic and Dorling Kindersley in the Planet Shop.
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Import a variety of file types, including PowerPoint, PDF and Smart NotebookDon’t worry if you've already created lessons in PowerPoint or Smart Notebook. We’ve taken care of that, too! ActivInspire allows you to import them in a snap. Choose to import PowerPoint files as images or objects, PDF, SMART Notebook or Gallery Item files, as well as IMS QTI XML or ExamView XML files. (Import IMS QTI XML and ExamView options only available in Professional Edition.) Of course you also have the option to import all of those great resource packs you've downloaded from Promethean Planet! |
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Customize your interfaceActivInspire allows you to customize your interface in several ways. Simply choose your preferred interface upon launch, or go to View >> Customize, and choose the Layout tab to change your screen setup. You can customize your ActivInspire screen to resemble the program with which you are most comfortable, including the ability to dock tools at the top like PowerPoint, at the bottom for easy access, to the left or right, or use the familiar ActivSoftware floating toolbar. In addition, you can either choose the ActivPrimary or ActivStudio look and feel - all within the same software package! To change to ActivPrimary, go to View >> Dashboard and choose Configure. Then place a check next to "Launch next time using Primary look and feel." Next time you launch ActivInspire, you will see the Primary interface!
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New and enhanced featuresWith ActivInspire, you have access to a wide range of new and enhanced features to make lesson creation easy - and fun! With version 1.2, we've reintroduced the search by keyword feature for your resource library! Choose from a variety of search options to quickly find the resources you need, anywhere on your computer! Professional Edition allows you to drag and drop pre-programmed action objects onto your flipchart page, including Promethean's exclusive Page Notes and Page Reset features, Start/Stop Voting, First Page, Next Page, power tools and more! If you open a flipchart containing these action objects in Personal Edition, then you'll be able to call up these actions in the lesson! If you want to create activities in which you hide objects underneath others on the page, the Object Browser is invaluable, as you can easily see which objects are on each layer, and change their layer order simply by dragging them up or down in the listing!
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Amazing new page templates and resource libraryWith both Professional and Personal editions, you'll get an entire library of professionally designed new resources to help save you time when creating lessons. (Don't worry - if you've upgraded from version 3 ActivSoftware, your resources will still be available to you!). With ActivInspire v1.2, all resources are now searchable by keyword! Now, you can not only insert a blank page from your toolbar, but you are given choices and previews of Activities, Templates (including Dual Mode for use in classrooms that have purchased ActivArena), and Learner Response pages across a variety of curriculum areas.
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Full Learner Response integration (including self-paced learning with ActivExpression)ActivInspire fully integrates Promethean's Learner Response Tools, ActiVote and ActivExpression. Professional Edition v1.2 supports creation and execution of Self-Paced Question Sets for use with ActivExpression. With Self-Paced Questions, students can see each question on their ActivExpression devices and respond in their own time. Whether you use ActiVote or ActivExpression, you'll love the ExpressPoll "Wonderwheel," which includes loads of student contribution options. The Wonderwheel can be used for ad-hoc polling anytime, and with any application, including video! A question wizard makes editing pre-designed questions easy, and you'll find a wide variety of new Learner Response templates and activities for quick lesson creation! |
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As you can see, we've made it easy for you to bring the interactivity and excitement of the ActivClassroom into any classroom!
ActivInspire Developers Share Their Favorite Features
Throughout the development of ActivInspire, Promethean has sought the feedback of our users to ensure that we developed a robust package to meet the diverse needs of educators around the world. Now that the new software has been released, the Promethean Innovations Team was so excited that they wanted to share with the Planet some of their favorite features!
In this article, you'll find links to flipcharts created by our Innovations Team showing off features requested by or inspired by our users. You're sure to learn something new!
More ActivInspire Tips
For more ActivInspire tips, check out or ActivInsipre Tops Tips, either in online, PDF or video format!
Get Inspired Today!
What People Are Saying
Beta Tester Feedback
We thought you'd like to hear what our beta testers had to say about working with some of the specific features of ActivInspire. Reading what others have to say is a good way to learn your way around the new software! Features discussed include:
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Video Testimonials and Blogs
We've also captured some user input on video, and have compiled some of our favorite customer blogs about ActivInspire here: