Textivate is a simple web tool which allows users to automatically generate a range of interactive browser-based activities based on any text of up to 500 words. Once created, students can use the SMARTboard to complete the activity. Because it is a web-based program, you do not need to open SMARTnotebook. Instead, create an account (it takes seconds and it's free) and start creating. To use Textivate you simply type or paste a chunk of text into the text box on the textivate front page and click on the “textivate now” button to see the available exercises that can be generated from that text. The exercises are generated automatically based on the length of your text. You / your students are not expected to attempt all of the activities available for a particular text. You should choose those activities which are most suitable, taking into account the length and structure of the text, the age and ability of the students, etc.
In my example, I used the scientific method. I simply copied and pasted the steps into textivate and then was able to choose from the different assignments available. Examples below show just a few of the options available. In the first, students would come to the SMARTboard and rearrange the steps into the proper order. The second, has students filling in missing letters, and the third, has another option for putting steps into the right order. (See below)
