What really sets the FizzBook Spin 10.1 apart from all the rest is its endless functionality in the classroom.

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If you buy enough (currently 18) SMART have licensed a range of their best selling classroom packages to be included and pre installed.

Imagine creating the lesson framework in Word or Notebook that you send out over Wi-fi to all the FizzBooks in the classroom. The pupils write notes and complete activities and submit them back to you live. The teacher can see all the FizzBook screens from her computer and turn them all blank or throw up one to the Whiteboard for a pupil to explain. She can send a web link or page to all the FizzBooks for the pupils to see, copy or read and save on time and photocopying.

Then the teacher simply creates a question and the system becomes a complete response system. The answers can be anonymous or form part of a lesson or terms assessment. The graphs and data are easily created or displayed for immediate feedback to topic questions or simple assessment of what direction to take the lesson.

The pupils can use it as an eBook, laptop or even touch sensitive tablet PC – it’s amazing and really fun to use. It doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive but does have two USB ports so connecting one is still an option if additional software is necessary.

Sally mckeown writes (http://www.sallymckeown.co.uk):

The touch screen can be used with finger or stylus so will be good for children with dyspraxia or who have poor fine motor skills. The best features are that the screen flips round so children can easily show off their work to others. It also has a decent size screen, will last the whole school day without needing to recharge its batteries and has a built-in camera and microphone to make it easy for children to create their own multimedia. It also has Office 7 and software which will turn handwriting into text and help pupils with their note taking.

Fizzbook Spin is just the sort of machine which should be part of the Home Access Project. Hopefully it will soon be a regular feature in UK classrooms.

Hurry up October!