I downloaded Custom Boards in December 2011. After downloading the app, I created my first board within about 5 minutes. The app is easy to navigate and create material quickly. The templates were appropriate for the activities that I use with my students.
As a Boardmaker user for the past 13 years, I think that both have a place when supporting students. Depending on the student, they gravitate towards a specific symbol set. What I like is that I now have options. Before, I was limited to the Boardmaker pictures, searching and re-naming pictures, or using photographs. Custom Boards provides me with an addition symbol set that I can try with students. Another bonus of Custom Boards is portability. With Boardmaker, I was limited to my desktop computer at school and I needed to have the CD with me. If I needed a visual while supporting students outside the classroom, I would wither have to go without or have to go back to my room to create and print. With Custom Boards, I can create with my iPad, email it to the teacher whose room I’m in or email to my self, then print form email. In a perfect school, with air print set up, it would be even easier to create visuals or adapt curriculum using Custom Boards.
As an intervention specialist, I did find some of the Custom Boards templates were a little more therapy based than what I would use in my classroom. However, I found that some of the templates provided me with ideas to incorporate into my classroom.
Custom Boards Premium is a great alternative to other symbol sets available or it can be used to compliment what you are using in your classroom. Initially, the price for Custom Boards was over $80. I found this to be a little more than I would spend if I purchased myself. This price point was a lot more than what my school district would purchase for me. Currently, Custom Boards is $39.99, which makes it a little more assessable for teachers and therapists and a great addition to what you may be already be using.