NetOp Vision 7 review

A very clear interface makes NetOp Vision 7 an attractive choice across the primary and secondary phase. It has an impressive array of tools and even allows remote access via the free Vision@Hand feature, which allows teachers to control classroom PCs from a PDA or mobile device enabled with wireless internet access.

It’s easy to arrange the display of pupil computers to reflect the existing classroom layout, dragging and dropping users into a specific configuration while displaying pupil names adjacent to these.

Once set up, a good range of tools allows the user to take control of setting up approved website lists that can be automatically displayed in pupil browsers, making it easy to guide pupils to a specific site.

The Kiosk mode limits distractions because pupils are restricted to launch only the applications selected by the teacher. This is very handy for the test mode as it keeps pupils on task, but it can also be used to guide pupils towards specific resources for a more “open question” approach to testing.

Additionally, NetOp Vision 7 comes with its own onboard annotation interface called NetOp Pointer, with more than 20 tools on hand.

These include the ability to zoom, magnify and spotlight specific features. It’s even possible to capture notes and group discussions, as well as capturing screenshots – very useful as an assessment record.

It’s possible to broadcast MPEG, AVI, QuickTime or Flash movies and animations to pupils’ computers. This not only helps to speed up the process but also reduces time wasted searching for incorrect resources.

File management is easy, with the option to drag and drop a file, folder or group of files from the teacher’s PC to pupils’.

Although somewhat limited compared to the gold standard set by NetSupport, it’s easy to conduct instant surveys using NetOp Vision 7 and teachers can provide simple multiple-choice and true/false questions, with responses displayed in a pie chart; useful for a quick snapshot of understanding.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth testing console you’ll have to look outside of NetOp Vision 7.

Overall, it’s a good set of tools that holds up well against the competition. It’s somewhat limited by its testing console, but stands out for its ability to be controlled using a handheld device.